MARYSVILLE Is he a candidate or not?
That was the only question on peoples minds after former gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi spoke to the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 28.
A former Republican state senator, Rossi said he won two of three elections for governor in the disputed 2004 race, losing a third count to Democrat Christine Gregoire by 129 votes. GOP officials have long counted on Rossi for a rematch for the 2008 race, and as he worked the stage at the Tulalip Resort Casinos Canoes Cabaret Club, Rossi looked and sounded like the real thing to several chamber members.
He spoke on the business climate in Washington state, noting that many people running the government have never held a private sector job in their life.
A dapper, affable man, Rossi worked the stage as he talked to the early morning crowd, telling the small-business owners that to many government officials, Boeing and Microsoft are the only businesses in the state. He said Washington is the 14th most expensive state in the nation for businesses, and listed a medley of concerns. The state budget has grown 33 percent since 2005, with $5.7 million in new spending per day. A former budget chief, Rossi said legislators found only $114 million in cuts, offset by more than $2.2 billion in additional spending. Adding 8,000 new employees helped turn a $2.1 billion surplus into a deficit that will approach $700 million to $1 billion.
Thats due to the modus operandi of most elected officials, according to Rossi.
The easiest way to get re-elected is to give people things, Rossi said.
His litany of woes included a presentation showing Washington has the highest business failure rate of all states, and the third highest workers comp insurance, as well as the highest unemployment insurance costs.
Add the 50 state health care mandates and a punitive death tax on inheritances, and youve got a bad climate for business.
He noted that increased education requirements for teachers mean that Microsoft founder Bill Gates couldnt teach computer science.
Rossi said he would like to double the business and occupation tax credit, fund real education reform, and add to the states rainy day fund. To accomplish this, he would start by restoring state spending limits, mandated by voters with Initiative 601, and circumvented by legislators using emergency clauses.
You couldnt have a 33 percent increase in the budget if you had spending limits, Rossi said.
He would focus on restoring Washingtons economic competitiveness and would reassess the collective bargaining with the states civil service unions, accusing Gregoire of backroom negotiations with unions.
After the meeting Rossi said he was not a candidate for the governorship, although he acknowledged the hopes of the Republican Party for a rematch with Gregoire. It should be about a month and a half before he and his wife make the decision on whether he runs again, Rossi said.
For Lake Goodwin resident Jennie Cooney, Rossi sure sounded like a candidate, and for someone who leans to the right like the Lakewood financial planner, Rossi fits the bill.
I love it how hes so down-to-earth, Cooney said. Hes part of the government but he doesnt talk like it.
Brandon Heslop is a Marysville contractor and he said he thought Rossis speech was very good, and it sounded like a stump speech to him. Heslop leans to the Democratic side but said many of Rossis fiscal arguments hit home.
I think hes definitely got potential, Heslop said.
Tulalip Wal-Mart manager Mary Jane Hayes said it wasnt clear that Rossi was campaigning for the governors job, but she would still vote for Gregoire again. Progress is being made on health care coverage and other works needs to be finished, and Gregoire will be her candidate, Hayes said.