Governor discusses legislative budget priorities

Gov. Jay Inslee

Gov. Jay Inslee took questions and addressed his priorities for the 2021 legislative session at the Associated Press' annual Legislative Preview Day Thursday, January 7, 2021.

"Our priorities are right, fair and just, unequivocally rising to the challenges we face. Because my agenda is focused on three things: Relief, recovery and resilience," Inslee said. 

"Relief for the here-and-now; a recovery plan to turn the corner; and resilience for our long-term economic health."

Inslee’s 2021-23 budget proposals would:

• Continue an aggressive response to the ongoing pandemic and build more capacity for tackling future public health crises.
• Rebuild the state’s economy and continue efforts to support households, students, workers and businesses impacted by the pandemic.
• Protect previous investments in areas such as education, childcare and early learning, climate action, behavioral health reform, combating homelessness and access to health care.

Inslee also discussed his historic package of equity legislation, which focuses on reforming independent investigations of police use of force, supporting immigrant workers impacted by the pandemic, further advancing equity-focused policies for state agency operations and $365 million total for equity-related agenda items.

More on the governor's proposals to address climate change, fix the state's regressive tax system and more can be found here.