One of the most powerful tools for empowering individuals and communities is making certain that any individual who wants to receive a quality education can do so.

There is just no reason why the richest nation in the world can't provide health care to all its people.

It was very constraining, much more than I ever would have thought, to run for governor.

Vernon Reis opened the world to me through books. He taught me that while I was physically firmly planted in blue-collar Auburn, Washington in the 50s and early 60s, intellectually I could go anywhere, explore anything, and sample exciting new ideas simply by opening a book.

We all leave personal legacies for the people we know and love.

I'm free. I'm free to say what I feel.

We can leave our legacy only if we are willing to change - to go beyond partisan labels, and to solve the problems facing Washingtonians.