Gregoire and Rossi face off in final Wash. debate

Gov. Chris Gregoire and her Republican opponent, Dino Rossi, started off their fifth and final debate talking about the economy and how they'll help get the state back on track.

"People are worried about their jobs, they're worried about their investments, they're worried by their children's futures," Rossi said Wednesday night.

He said that Democrats' control of the governor's office for decades is part of the problem.

"You can't keep electing the same people over and over again and expect a different result."

Gregoire said that no state has escaped "the failed policies of Wall Street and Washington, D.C."

Gregoire, a Democrat, beat Rossi four years ago by just 133 votes, after three vote counts and an unsuccessful Republican court challenge.

The primary and polls show it's going to be another tight race.

Asked who would be on their list for appointments to the state Supreme Court and whether there would be a "litmus test," such as positions on abortion rights and gay marriage, neither identified any possible appointees.

"Here is the litmus test," Rossi said. "I want people that I appoint as judges and justices to the Supreme Court to just rule based upon the law as it is, not as they wish it was."

Gregoire replied that she had made one appointment to the Supreme Court.

"She was unopposed in her election. I think that speaks highly of the caliber of the people I've appointed," Gregoire said, adding, "I will not use a litmus test, I never have."

Asked whether they would suspend pay raises for state employees to make up for the state's anticipated deficit, both again avoided a direct answer.

"I'm going to be fair to the taxpayers and be fair to the workers, and make sure we do right by both," Gregoire said, noting that she supported cost of living raises for teachers because the public demanded they be paid well enough to keep them.

"We're treating our employees with respect and in turn they're giving us a lot back." she said.

Rossi and Gregoire have raised almost $20 million combined in the most expensive election in Washington history. That amount doesn't include the millions spent by third party groups on TV ads and mailers.

Last month, the state's revenue forecast dropped by $530 million, pushing a projected deficit in the next budget to about $3.2 billion.

Last week, Gregoire announced immediate budget savings of about $240 million, including a 1 percent across-the-board cut at state agencies.

Gregoire's plan, which could lead to government layoffs, is expected to boost the state's surplus to more than $400 million and deliver ongoing savings in the next state budget.

Add money from the state's new "rainy day" fund, and Gregoire says she's got a blueprint for cutting the next state budget's deficit nearly in half, from $3.2 billion to about $1.7 billion.

Wednesday's debate also came as Rossi fights an effort to compel his testimony about allegations that he illegally coordinated fundraising with a major supporter, the Building Industry Association of Washington. A King County Superior Court judge is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Thursday.

In court filings, Rossi's lawyers said forcing his testimony before next month's election "is a politically motivated effort to guarantee Mr. Rossi's unavailability to his campaign, to improperly employ the court system for political gain, and to unfairly sway voter sentiment in favor of Governor Gregoire."

The lawsuit was filed by two former state Supreme Court justices, Faith Ireland and Robert Utter, who have donated money to Gregoire's re-election campaign.

Election Day is Nov. 4, and absentee ballots in Washington's mostly vote-by-mail election must be sent to voters by Friday. If forced to testify, Rossi could give a deposition Oct. 20.

Wednesday night's debate was sponsored by KING-TV, The Seattle Times and public radio's Northwest News Network.

---

On the Net:

Gregoire: http://www.chrisgregoire.com

Rossi: http://www.dinorossi.com