Gov. Gregoire addresses the Washington Fire Chiefs

July 10, 2008

*As written*

My sincere thanks to all of you for this great honor.

This fire chief�s helmet will come in mighty handy the next time my husband, Mike, decides to light a fire in the fireplace without opening the flue.

Maybe you heard -- he did that right after we moved into the mansion -- and I got to see first-hand how quickly fire fighters respond. I was impressed!

I think I�ll just keep this helmet close by.

Thank you so much for the helmet and plaque. This honor means a lot to me.

I�m well aware that while you care about your priorities � as you should � you�ve told me that what you really care about is having a governor who listens to you, and who partners with you to find a way to get things done.

I feel the same way. I�m not in the business of fighting fires, or of knowing how best to protect Washingtonians from the threat of fire.

You are the experts -- and that�s why I want to hear from you. That�s why I want to learn. That�s why I want to work with you � to make sure Washingtonians are protected.

I know one of your biggest priorities in the last session was to require cigarette makers to sell only �fire-safe� cigarettes in Washington.

Together, we have made sure Washington is among states that require the sale of only cigarettes designed to pose a lower risk of starting a fire. I believe it will save many lives in the years to come.

(By the way, I want you to know I�m willing to work with you next year to address the issue of �novelty lighters.� We don�t need lighters out there that look like kids� toys. They are definitely a danger to our children, and we need to take a hard look at them.)

Together, we fixed a state-funding issue to make it clear that fire departments can receive state financial aid to help other jurisdictions respond to all life-threatening emergencies � not just wildfires -- but everything from floods to earthquakes.

Together, we fixed the law so that a class of retirees who were blocked from accessing Medicare can now opt for Medicare coverage.

Speaking of retirement, I know you supported the Council of Firefighters and me when, together, we won passage of 17 different pieces of legislation to strengthen and improve our fire-fighter pension system!

Fire fighting is a tough, demanding job. And it takes a toll. So any improvement to fire fighter pensions is well deserved.

I also want you to know that I�m working very hard to make sure you and your children continue to thrive in the years to come. And I very much appreciate your support.

We have made wise decisions and investments and are well on the road to creating a world-class, seamless education system that focuses on the learning needs of Washingtonians from early childhood through adulthood.

At the same time, we have clearly understood that along with education, there are two more keys to Washington�s continued economic success�

�A diverse array of innovative businesses spread across the state � from the wheat and wine producers in Eastern Washington � to high-tech startups in Seattle and Spokane � to manufacturing from Everett to Vancouver...

�And our powerful international trade engine, which has doubled the export of Washington products since I took office.

We understand our economic strengths, and with a real business plan -- we embrace and build on those strengths.

We are not an island, and high gas prices the housing downturn, and other ills hurting the nation right now affect us too. But our economy is still stronger than those of many, many other states.

I look forward to continuing our great partnership in the years to come. We will continue to sit down together to figure out ways to make sure we are protecting the citizens of Washington � and doing it together.

We are not done yet!

Thank You