Phase I: Changing the culture of state government.
   Washington has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Businesses are leaving this state and new businesses are not coming here. Many talented people cannot find good jobs, and face the frightening prospect of not being able to provide for themselves and their families. After 20 years of Democratic governors in Washington – 20 long years of the same old failed policies – it is time for a change. The people of Washington deserve new leadership in the governor's office.

THE PROBLEM:
   We have the workers and the products, but our government gets in the way Washington 's problem isn't with our resources. We have smart, experienced, highly skilled workers. We make world class products, from high-tech and aerospace to natural resources and agriculture. We have productive farm and forest land. We are perfectly located to trade our goods and services with the rest of the world… and yet, our state is losing the competition for jobs and economic opportunity.
   The problem is with our state government which, instead of working to help promote new jobs, has too often been an obstacle to economic growth. The leadership of our state government and its agencies is mainly focused on regulating and controlling the economy, instead of promoting business and job creation. As a result, Washington state now has a terrible business climate.
   As Governor, I intend to fundamentally change the culture of state government. In the Rossi administration, state agencies will no longer see the public as a nuisance – they will be required to treat the people of Washington as their customers…and ultimately, as their bosses. The question “how may I help you?” will return to state government. There are plenty of hard-working state employees on the front lines who are doing a great job – what they need is better leadership.

CHANGING THE WAY STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS: People must come first.
   Washington is the home of Nordstrom, Costco, Starbucks and countless other customer-friendly businesses. People here understand the idea of first-class customer service. I believe we must apply that same customer-service ethic to state government.
   We are lucky to have many dedicated and talented state employees, but most Washingtonians would probably agree that overall, customer service is not state government's strong suit. Ever felt like state government just doesn't care if you're inconvenienced? Bad customer service from state government can make or break businesses. If you manage a business, your job and the jobs of all the people you employ depend on you being able to get the right permits and other documents from state government in a timely fashion. Right now, that's not happening.
   Back in 2001, Gov. Locke's own bipartisan Competitiveness Council noted about the Department of Ecology that it “must adopt a greater service ethic to improve employees' attitude in dealings with business and to improve the agency's accountability to those it serves.” The same can be said for all of state government.
   For the past 20 years the leaders of our state agencies have acted as though government is more important than people. As a result, state government has grown arrogant and out of touch. State government has forgotten why it exists in the first place…to serve the taxpayers, the people of Washington . I will change this attitude because I believe that the people should be the boss of the government, not vice versa.

Government must be accountable to the people.
   In recent years, state government agencies have been imposing rules and regulations on their own, without getting approval from the Governor or the state Legislature. Agency directors appointed by the Governor have enormous power over people's lives and businesses.
   Another huge problem is red tape, which strangles economic growth and job creation. State agencies develop incredibly complex and confusing processes for businesses to obtain permits. Whether it's a winery owner or farmer trying to get a water permit to grow more crops, or a shop-owner wanting a permit to expand his or her business, the maze of bureaucracy is overwhelming. Some businesses have had to wait years for their permits to be approved – that's time they can't afford to waste.
   The people of Washington deserve efficiency and results from their state government. They also deserve respect and fair treatment. As your governor, state government will be overhauled, reformed and brought back to its true purpose: serving the people of Washington State.

THE SOLUTION: Change starts at the top.
   I am the only candidate for Governor who has worked extensively in the private sector, understands the ethic of customer service, and knows what it takes to create jobs. As your Governor, I will fundamentally change the culture of our state government and make job creation, economic growth, and the well-being of Washingtonians my top priorities.

Here are some of the ways I will change the way state government does business:

• Hire state agency heads who understand that we need to bring jobs and healthy businesses back to Washington. Agency directors will understand that they are public servants and not masters of the public. In a Rossi administration, agency heads will improve service to all citizens who interact with state agencies.
• Conduct a complete review of every state agency, from top management on down. Every position must be justified, just as it is in the private sector. Over the past 20 years of Democratic governors there has been a huge increase in state bureaucracy, from just under 70,000 state employees in 1985 to almost 105,000 last year, but customer service hasn't improved.
• Institute accountability measures for state agency regulations. For every rule an agency imposes, it must have the clear permission of the Governor and/or the Legislature.
• Make the process for getting permits and other documents from state government more simple and reliable. Every state agency that issues permits to the public will be required to follow new standards of customer service.
• Assign a “people's advocate” to each state agency whose only job will be to interact with the public and make sure the agency is properly serving the public and getting its job done.

COMING SOON: More on getting our state moving again.
   Changing the culture of state government and making state agencies efficient and responsive to people will go a long way toward improving the environment for job creation and economic opportunity. In the coming weeks I will lay out other parts of my agenda to get the economy moving, including reducing the tax burden and other costs imposed by state government that are driving jobs away from Washington.