Green clout: You made me Governor, Inslee tells conservation voters
No political figure in the United States gets more nourishment at a morning meal than Gov. Jay Inslee at Washington Conservation Voters' annual "Breakfast of Champions."
A full house at the Westin on Friday gave Inslee three standing ovations. WCV delivered an early endorsement to Inslee's 2020 quest to serve three consecutive terms as Governor. He was acclaimed by WCV CEO Joan Crooks as the presidential candidate who "forced climate onto the national stage."
"I am the Governor of the state of Washington because of this organization," Inslee responded.
Of his experience on the "national stage," the hyperbole-prone incumbent added: "I am going to take that passion I have spread over 50 states and concentrate it in the state of Washington." If a Democrat wins the White House in 2020, he/she "are going to be taking ideas from Washington state into the White House."
Conservation in Washington used to be a bipartisan cause. Republicans were deeply engaged. Gov. Dan Evans was pivotal in creating the North Cascades National Park and, as a Senator, helped write the Washington Wilderness bill. U.S. Reps. Joel Pritchard was a key player in getting the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Rep. Sid Morrison in securing the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area.
No more. As state Republicans have moved right, the WCV has lined up with Democrats. It backed exclusively D's in last year's contested legislative races, and "green" greenbacks poured into the campaign that elected U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier to a House seat in Republican hands for 36 years.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/green-clout-you-made-me-governor-inslee-tells-conservation-voters/ar-AAIE5Bd
