OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington officially has a new governor for the first time in over a decade.
Bob Ferguson was sworn into office on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 15. In his inaugural speech, Ferguson addressed challenges facing the state such as housing, public safety, the ferry system and the budget shortfall.
“The era of assuming unrealistic growth in revenue is over,” Ferguson said. “To be specific, I will not sign a budget that requires unrealistic revenue growth to balance. Moreover, I will veto policy bills that defer major spending obligations more than 4 years after the legislation is adopted. These bills violate the spirit of Washington’s requirement that state budgets be balanced over a 4-year period.”
He announced several executive orders that will seek to protect reproductive freedom, review housing regulations and direct state agencies to cut down on permit and license processing times.
The new governor also expressed his willingness to work with the incoming Trump administration despite their past disagreements.
“Let me be very clear – my administration will work with President Trump where we can,” Ferugson said. “We will stand up to him when we must. That most certainly includes protecting Washingtonians’ reproductive freedom.”
Ferguson went on to highlight his plan for a 6% spending cut across most state agencies amid a $12 billion budget deficit. Former governor Jay Inslee pushed back against the move in his farewell speech on Tuesday, instead advocating for a wealth tax.
Ferguson has previously voiced his opposition to a new tax on the state’s richest residents.
