MV Highway linked to governor candidate’s ideas

Dino Rossi, the Republican candidate for governor, counts one involving the Maple Valley Highway among his pet projects for relieving traffic congestion.

Speaking recently in King County, Rossi emphasized nine ways to address the largest traffic jams throughout the state, including widening Interstate 405 from State Route 169 (Maple Valley Highway) in Renton to Interstate 90, finishing State Route 167 to Tacoma and increasing capacity on the State Route 520 floating bridge.

“Our economy will fail if we don’t do something about this,” he predicted.

Rossi said that although Governor Christine Gregoire, his opponent in the election in November, has endorsed the same nine transportation projects, his transportation plan is “the most comprehensive” since Al Rosselini was governor from 1957 to 1965. Referring to an ethnic heritage he shares with Rosselini, Rossi quipped, “I guess you need another Italian to fix things around here.”

As well as hurting commerce, traffic issues impact “the quality of life and time spent with your family,” Rossi said.

While discussing healthcare, Rossi said there is “a problem with access.” He said he wants to see “how many health insurance companies can chase you for your business. You ought to be able to choose for yourself and for your employees, reduce costs and increase access.”

On other topics while addressing a luncheon meeting of Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Rossi:

• Noted that Washington lost $13 million in grant money for education “while adults were squabbling about how to divvy up the money. Let squabbling adults’ chips fall where they may. What is in the best interest of the children?”

• Criticized the releases of violent offenders who’ve gone on to commit more crimes. He added that he has been endorsed by the police guilds of King County and Seattle, the two largest police unions in the Northwest.

• Said he wants to make Washington “the worst place in America to be a criminal and the best place for someone to start a business.”

• Spoke out against the death tax, said alcohol and cigarette taxes are already among the highest in the nation and that we can’t raise sales taxes more than 10 percent. “Raising taxes would harm our economy, put people out of work,” he said.

• Vowed to “protect the most vulnerable, the mentally ill, developmentally disabled and elderly.”

The Nov. 4 election will decide the rematch between Rossi and Gregoire. In 2004, Gregoire won by 133 votes after two recounts.