Jay Inslee in Vox Media
On Civil Rights:
Statehood for DC & Puerto Rico; they deserve representation
I've always supported statehood for Puerto Rico and DC. People have got to have representation--
700,000 people in the District of Columbia is as large as Wyoming.
Source: David Roberts, Vox.com, on 2020 Democratic primary
Mar 1, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Fighting climate change must be top goal of next president
Ultimately, I believe there is one central, defining, existential-with-a-capital-E threat to the future of the nation: climate change. It is clear that it will only be defeated if the United States shows leadership. And that will only happen if the
US president makes it a clear priority--the number one, foremost, paramount goal of the next administration. And I believe I'm uniquely positioned, by willingness and history and vision, to be able to do that.[When Obama won in 2008], the
Democratic team said, "We're going to do health care first." And so climate didn't get done. Now, could it have gotten done if it was put first? There are no guarantees. But once health care went first, there wasn't enough juice to get climate through.
We simply cannot have that experience again. So [climate change] can't be on a laundry list. It can't be something that candidates check the box on. It has to be a full-blooded effort to mobilize the United States in all capacities.
Source: David Roberts, Vox.com, on 2020 Democratic primary
Mar 1, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Supported renewable portfolio; supports Green New Deal
I was very involved in passing the renewable portfolio standard [in 2006]. We went from zero to a billion-dollar wind industry in the last several years. We have moved the needle on the electrification of our transportation system. We've [helped with]
electric cars, because of the work we've been doing with incentives & building the electrical charging station grid on the interstate. We have created a clean energy research facility that's doing great work. We built a clean energy development program.
So I would say we have had substantial progress here, and I have been involved in virtually all of that in some way.I don't get to vote on it, but I am totally in sync and believe that it is exactly what I have said for decades. I think these
aspirational goals are appropriate to the time and the scale. I love the fact that it is embracing economic justice issues as well. I think we have come to understand more about how marginalized communities have been the victims of climate change.
Source: David Roberts, Vox.com, on 2020 Democratic primary
Mar 1, 2019
On Health Care:
Implemented statewide public option within ObamaCare
A first-of-its-kind ObamaCare "public option" will be implemented in Washington state after Gov. Inslee signed a bill creating the new health care program. The program will be a trial run for this kind of health care expansion. Here is how the "public
option" plan actually works:- The Washington government would contract with private health carriers to sell state-sponsored health insurance plans on its ObamaCare marketplace.
- The public option plan would be required to meet certain benefits
and out-of-pocket requirements set by the state.
- The plan would pay health care providers 160% of Medicare rates, with a few limited exceptions.
- The state will explore increasing the eligibility for insurance tax subsidies from 400% of the federal
poverty level (as set by ObamaCare) to 500%.
"It really is a public option in the sense that we have a public umbrella of benefit to all Washingtonians," Inslee told me. "It is a public guarantee for the first time. It's a legal benefit."
Source: Vox.com on 2020 Democratic presidential primary
May 20, 2019
On Health Care:
Medicare for all who want it: opt-in, not mandate
Q: You've endorsed the idea of Medicare-for-all; how does your state plan compare?A: Well, I call it "Medicare for all who want it." I have not called for making all private coverage illegal. I've not called to make all private carriers illegal.
There's a little flavor difference there. We do obviously believe health care is a right; we believe in universal coverage. We believe my step is a good step forward, but it's not the only one. We've got to reduce the age of automatic entry.
I think we should reduce the age of eligibility to zero for new citizens. That will give us a full Medicare plan as more Americans come into the system.
Q: Would you be willing to let people who get insurance through their work join a government plan
if they wanted to?
A: Yes, that includes employer-sponsored plans. They're certainly eligible to come in. I believe over time, people are going to find it very, very attractive. [We hope] to give people confidence to move to a Medicare-for-all system.
Source: Vox.com on 2020 Democratic presidential primary
May 20, 2019
On Technology:
Requires major rebuilding of America, means new jobs
We should do what I said we should do in my book: a major industrial transformation to decarbonize the US economy that will result in millions of new jobs and greater prosperity. I don't think there's anything wrong with this approach.
I think it's necessary and suitable to the times. It's a major reindustrialization of America and we should talk about it in these terms. We need to build things again, all around the country
Source: David Roberts, Vox.com, on 2020 Democratic primary
Mar 1, 2019
Page last updated: Dec 02, 2023