Oregon Gov. Kate Brown delivered her first State of the State speech Friday, calling on state lawmakers to pass government ethics reforms and to keep working to close economic gaps among Oregonians.
Brown, in her second major speech since taking over as governor Feb. 18, told a sold-out crowd at Portland's Sentinel hotel that she would continue cleaning up the mess left by her predecessor through a number of ethics and transparency bills introduced in the Legislature.
At the same time, she indicated she would keep fighting for many of the policies supported by former Gov. John Kitzhaber and other Oregon Democrats to create middle-class jobs, fix roads and reform the state's struggling education system.
"My priority is to ensure that this economic recovery results in meaningful opportunities for Oregonians who are working hard to make a better life for their families -- that it means more good family-wage jobs," Brown said. "It's important, as our economic future continues to brighten, that all Oregonians can thrive, no matter who they are or what part of the state they live in."
Related: Read the full text of Gov. Kate Brown's State of the State address
Reflecting on her unprecedented rise to the governor's office, Brown sought to assure Oregonians that she's up the challenge.
"I don't feel like I was thrown into the deep end of the pool," Brown said. "I dove in."
Brown struck a forceful tone at times, demanding that lawmakers pass her package of ethics reform bills and a statewide transportation package before adjourning the session.
"The Legislature cannot go home until we get this done," Brown said. "And I'm not gonna let them."
Brown issued a "wake-up call" for lawmakers to come up with a large-scale transportation package this year. House Republicans have said they'll block new taxes needed to fix roads, and Democratic leaders in the Senate have said they won't pass a package unless they can get bipartisan support.
"Passing a transportation package is among my highest priorities," Brown said. "It will not be easy, but we cannot shy away from this important work. Let your legislators know how crucial this is."
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-- Ian K. Kullgren
503-294-4006; @IanKullgren