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Jay Inslee on Government Reform

Democratic WA Governor; Former Rep/ (WA-1); withdrew from Presidential primary Aug. 2019

 


Lean management: bring disruptive change to Olympia

I heard a clear and powerful message on Election Day. The people are tired of a state government that doesn't change with the times. Today we begin a multi-year effort to bring disruptive change to Olympia. With authentic, courageous leadership, we will bring the principles of Lean management to all of state government, following the lead of Boeing and a growing number of state and local governments: replace rhetoric with quantifiable results. But this effort is about more than measurement. It's about instituting a culture shift that will endure. Moving forward, all state agencies will be rooted in the same three principles:
  1. We will measure success by the results we produce, not the money we put in.
  2. We will know our customers and what they value.
  3. Every agency will adopt a unique process for continual improvement that engages our state employees.
Change is coming to Olympia, and I want all state employees to be active partners in it.
Source: 2013 Wash. State of the State Address , Jan 16, 2013

Favors automatic voter registration

Access to democracy is a cornerstone to the enduring health of our nation and state, so let's leave a legacy of a stronger democracy by increasing voter participation and equitable representation. It is time to pass the Washington Voting Rights Act, automatic voter registration, and Election Day registration.
Source: 2018 Washington State of the State address , Jan 9, 2018

Access to Democracy package: no barriers to suppress voting

We are the state that passed the Voting Rights Act. And while other states threw up barriers to suppress voting, we're the state that passed a nation-leading Access to Democracy package to make sure more people cast their ballots, not fewer.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Washington legislature , Jan 15, 2019

End the filibuster; it dooms good legislation

One big idea [that Gov. Jay Inslee] threw his weight behind [at the SXSW conference] in Austin was eliminating the legislative blocking tactic known as the filibuster in the US Senate: "Anyone who says they want to do anything of any significance in the next several years has to be in favour of ending the filibuster or they're not serious," Mr Inslee told me. "So if you say you're serious about climate change, but you're not categorically against the filibuster, then you're dooming the US to failure."
Source: BBC.com on 2020 Democratic primary contenders at 2019 SXSW , Mar 12, 2019

Supports National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

Jay Inslee on Electoral College: It should be eliminated. 16 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Michael Bennet; Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; Amy Klobuchar; Wayne Messam; Seth Moulton; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Marianne Williamson. Twelve Democratic presidential candidates have explicitly called for the abolition of the Electoral College, while five others have said they are open to the idea.

Among those who support repealing it, the remedies vary. Some, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, said they would back a constitutional amendment. But Washington Gov. Jay Inslee encouraged states to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Still others, like South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, called the Electoral College "undemocratic," but hasn't been clear on how he would repeal the system.

Source: Politico "2020Dems on the Issues" , Jul 17, 2019

Filibuster is preventing climate change legislation

The sad fact is [that] at the moment... we're going to have to find a way to get this done without them, we still have not seen the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt. We're seeing the spirit of Mitch McConnell, who will kill any climate change bill in its cradle if he has a chance. And that means we have to get rid of the filibuster, we have to prevent Mitch McConnell from stopping climate change and we have to let majority vote--one person one vote--be the Democratic rule in the U.S. Senate.
Source: NPR Morning Edition: Election 2020 Special Series , May 31, 2019

Outlaw efforts by pols whose election lies cause violence

We just marked the 1-year anniversary of the insurrection in our nation's Capitol. That continues to this day under the banner of the "Big Lie." The right to representative government is under attack. It is time we stand up to those who challenge the integrity of our elections, who undermine basic democratic principles and who would do away with the rule of law. I think we
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Washington legislature , Jan 11, 2022

Voluntary public financing for all general elections.

Inslee adopted the manifesto, "A New Agenda for the New Decade":

Return Politics to the People
At a time when much of the world is emulating American values and institutions, too many Americans have lost confidence in their political system. They are turned off by a partisan debate that often seems to revolve not around opposing philosophies but around contending sets of interest groups. They believe that our current system for financing campaigns gives disproportionate power to wealthy individuals and groups and exerts too much influence over legislative and regulatory outcomes.

The time for piecemeal reform is past. As campaign costs soar at every level, we need to move toward voluntary public financing of all general elections and press broadcasters to donate television time to candidates.

The Internet holds tremendous potential for making campaigns less expensive and more edifying and for engaging Americans directly in electoral politics. We should promote the Internet as a new vehicle for political communication and champion online voting.

Source: The Hyde Park Declaration 00-DLC9 on Aug 1, 2000

Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge.

Inslee co-sponsored STOCK Act

Congressional Summary:Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act): Amends the Securities Exchange Act and the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit purchase or sale of either securities or commodities by a person in possession of material nonpublic information regarding pending or prospective legislative action.

Bill explanation (ProCon.org, `Insider Trading by Congress`, Feb. 3, 2012):

Source: H1148/S1871 11-S1871 on Nov 15, 2011

Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures.

Inslee co-sponsored DISCLOSE Act

Congressional Summary:

Wikipedia & OnTheIssue Summary: