Gov. Jay Inslee doubles down on his Syrian refugee stance

Gov. Jay Inslee isn’t letting reports of murders involving Syrian refugees in Europe change his stance of acceptance in Washington.

Speaking to KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson on his way home from the Democratic National Convention, Inslee said he believes in America’s vetting system and in welcoming those in need.

“I think that we should have a couple principles in our nation: One, that we should have a robust, multi-faceted approach to vetting anyone who comes into our country, particularly in these circumstances,” he said. “Two, we should not adopt a discriminatory religious test, which we have never had before, and Donald Trump is basically saying we should bar people of a particular faith. I think two tow principles should hold.”

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Inslee said he thoroughly investigated the screening process before taking the position last November, saying he believes people would be impressed by the depth of the security involved.

“It is much, much, much more intensive and robust than what happens in Europe,” he said. “I would not be satisfied with what Germany and some of the other European nations are doing. I don’t think they’re vetting standards are anywhere close to what we have here or what we should expect. This is about a two-year screening process. You can’t guarantee that no one who will ever get into this country. But will it be mayhem? No, it won’t, because we have right-wing terrorists as well.”

Dori has a different perspective, recalling FBI Director James Comey’s warning to the House Homeland Security Committee about challenges related to adequately screening Syrian refugees since they don’t have the paper trail.

“Worst case scenario, they come into Washington state to do harm,” Dori said. “Best case scenario, in a time where we have limited finances, it’s going to be a gigantic economic burden on your state’s citizens.”

Inslee disagreed, saying Dori needs to get to know some of these people. Inslee mentioned meeting a person of Syrian heritage whose father worked as an engineer at Boeing and that he met another man who works at Microsoft.

“I think it really is a mis-impression,” he said. “You go to Microsoft and walk the halls, you’re going to see a lot of people there of Muslim faith, Hindu faith and of no faith at all who are building our economy, and I think that is the real impact of this.”

Dori also asked Inslee about the Washington Democrat’s platform that calls for a state income tax. Does he support that position?

“No, I do not and I’m not proposing or accepting a state income tax,” he said. “I don’t think it’s right for the State of Washington.”

Is the party misguided for calling for the tax?

“I do not agree with it, so I guess you can say it’s misguided because I suppose anything I don’t agree with is misguided by definition,” he said. “… They don’t let me write the whole platform.”

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