Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee burst to national prominence this past January when his administration reacted instantly with what was called a “battering ram attack” on President Donald Trump’s travel ban aimed directly at people from largely Muslim countries.
He went right to SeaTac airport, where chaos and confusion reigned as the instant ban took shape and noted its clumsiness, which is now a Trump hallmark.
“These people couldn’t organize a two-car funeral,” said Inslee. He and state attorney general Bob Ferguson mounted an adroit legal challenge and enlisted support from all the heavyweight employers in the region to fight the ban. Washington was first out of the gate in the legal struggle that continues, and the challengers have forced a considerable retreat.
If you think fighting Trump goes over well in Democrat-held Washington state, you should see it play in B.C.
The warmest round of applause Inslee got in a speech to the B.C. legislature on Tuesday was after he expressed doubts about Trump’s leadership and reminded MLAs of his state’s challenges to Trump’s “illegal and immoral” attempted immigration clampdowns.
Premier John Horgan, who had a brief sit-down with the governor before the legislature appearance, said he was personally proud of Inslee’s challenge to the travel ban, and it was important to everyone to see him “defending principles so close to us.” Horgan said the continuing protectionist elements of the federal executive shouldn’t be a deterrent to the Washington-B.C. relationship.
Inslee, one of dozens of Democrats getting early mentions for the 2020 election ticket, recognized the questions countries have about “whether my nation will remain a shining city on the hill.” He said Washington and B.C. share an understanding that “society is stronger when we build it on the basis of inclusion rather than exclusion.”
Building on that strong opening, he arrived at what apparently was the reason for the first legislature visit by a governor since 1984 — prepping B.C. for the concept of a Vancouver-Seattle high-speed rail corridor.
He cited a number of grabby selling points. Economic integration, cleaner air, less traffic, three hours of travel cut to one. There was even one tailor-made for metro Vancouver — “enable affordable housing.” It would need more than a few billion dollars, with cost-sharing to be discussed later. He’ll have to wait for a change in the presidency before he asks for any federal help. But Washington is a can-do kind of place. “We invented the first commercially successful jet airliner. We do some pretty good software. We even invented the $4 cup of coffee — $5 in Canada.”
Delivered in a legislature that can’t even decide what to do about a gloomy old tunnel under the Fraser River, it was rather inspiring.
A pre-pre-feasibility study is due shortly, and Inslee is looking forward to slotting a Cascadia bullet train into the clean-energy vision he’s also known for south of the line.
He stressed the need to continue fighting climate change, saying it’s the one thing any current politician will be remembered for 100 years from now.
B.C. contributes $130,000 a year toward the cost of a Pacific Coast Collaborative that co-ordinates emission-reduction strategies up and down the West Coast. Inslee paid due tribute to B.C. for its role in recognizing the crisis.
It’s also another point of departure from a blundering presidency that’s taking a pass on the fight.
Said Inslee: “I want to assure this assembly that no matter who is in the White House, it won’t affect Washington state’s relationship with Canada or B.C.”
But his remarks suggest it already has, because he felt moved to encourage British Columbians, so put off by Trump they might not be visiting Washington any more, to keep travelling.
“The divisiveness, the conflict, the inane tweeting has created anxiety and concern,” said Inslee. It’s important that it “not prevent us from going about our lives … and travelling as much as we want to.
“I don’t want people in B.C. for one second to think about not travelling to Washington state because there’s concern about the president of the U.S. Maybe show defiance and come twice as often.”
