Inslee: I will build a wall around Washington to keep out Trump



less Governor Jay Inslee pins a Washingtonian-of-the-Day apple pin on electrician Jason Hops during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new State Route 520 floating bridge. Inslee is courting organized labor in his bid for reelection. Governor Jay Inslee pins a Washingtonian-of-the-Day apple pin on electrician Jason Hops during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new State Route 520 floating bridge. Inslee is courting organized labor in his ... more Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Inslee: I will build a wall around Washington to keep out Trump 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Gov. Jay Inslee stood for an hour in a hot, windowless room at the Seattle Labor Temple on Thursday, cozying up to a labor movement still grumbling over an $8.7 billion tax-incentive plan for Boeing that did not include job guarantees.

The governor pulled out the stops to ingratiate himself with the M.L. King County Labor Council. He brought up the state's new $12 billion transportation package -- "thousands of jobs" -- and went through a personal litany of Inslee kinfolk who have held down union jobs.

Inslee was fed an easy pitch at the end of his hour-long spiel. He was asked his opinion on right-to-work laws and a vociferous, anti-labor Wisconsin governor.

"I am going to build a wall around Washington to keep Scott Walker and Donald Trump out of Washington," Inslee promised.

The grilling of the governor came from Larry Brown of the Boeing Aerospace Machinists.

Shortly after getting its $8.7 billion package, Brown said, Boeing started shipping engineering jobs out of the state -- 5,047 jobs in all -- with another 4,000 jobs likely to be gone by June.

"What do you have in mind to increase accountability in this state?" said Brown, noting that Boeing jobs are going to states that have tax breaks linked to employment.

Not much, was the answer. Inslee said he was "frustrated," then that he is "increasingly frustrated" at the Boeing job exodus. "I am more frustrated than I was five months ago," he added.

As for what is to be done, said Inslee, "I'm going to be looking to you for what the possibilities are."

The governor accepted praise for forcing through the Legislature a 2015 pay hike for state employees and teachers. He agreed that state workers remain underpaid, and that key agencies are understaffed.

"We've got staffing shortages, like crazy, at Western State Hospital," Inslee said.

Two inmates escaped early Thursday from the troubled 800-bed psychiatric facility. One was caught. The other is still at large.

Inslee said he will strongly support -- and collect signatures for -- a minimum-wage initiative targeted for the November ballot.

He will, promised the governor, be "shining the light on the issue of (income) inequality" while stumping for re-election this November.

Inslee was closely questioned on why he allowed a rescue package for charter schools, drafted by the Legislature, to become law without his signature.

He is not "a fan of charter schools," said the governor. "I am concerned about the lack of accountability of some of these schools." (Charter schools are privately run but publicly funded schools.)

At the same time, Inslee said, he could not bear the thought of the state's nine charter schools closing at mid-year and putting their students through the "trauma" of relocation.

Of being governor, the blue jeans-attired Inslee began, "It is the best job in the world."

At the end of the hour, however, he was talking about facing "hard decisions" and waxing philosophical about how much to push issues.

"I have a fairness part, in my heart, that I do not like to see unfairness," said Inslee.

But there are limits, and the governor added: "How far can I go without losing the whole enchilada?"

Inslee is going into his re-election campaign with strong union support, but some union grumbling.