Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Washington governor criticizes Microsoft over state-government ad
Washington Gov.
Bob Ferguson criticized Microsoft over a political ad in leaked audio from a business conference.
The ad, from the PAC Washington Needs to Compete, described state government as broken and said it used to be easier to pursue an idea in Washington.
Ferguson said he had worked as a lawyer for Microsoft, respects the company and considers it a key partner, but objected to its role in funding the ad.
He said the ad gave an unfair picture of Washington, pointing to Seattle-area startups raising $3.5 billion in the third quarter, more than three times the amount a year earlier.
He acknowledged the state faces challenges and said he welcomes constructive feedback, but urged business leaders to also talk about its workforce, economy and startup funding.
Ferguson said he plans to remain governor for a long time and works with Microsoft; the audio was published after an unnamed source provided it to an independent state-politics newsletter.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson criticized Microsoft over a TV ad calling state government broken, according to leaked audio from a business conference.
Ferguson said he disagreed with the ad’s suggestion that it had become harder to pursue a business idea in Washington.
The ad was produced by Washington Needs to Compete, a political action committee that Microsoft has helped fund.
Ferguson said Microsoft was a key partner and argued that partners should treat each other as partners.
He cited $3.5 billion raised by Seattle-area startups in the third quarter, more than triple the amount in the same period a year earlier.
- Who
- Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson criticized Microsoft and the ad’s backers, Washington Needs to Compete.
- What
- Ferguson objected to a TV ad describing state government as broken and questioning Washington’s business climate.
- When
- Ferguson made the remarks at a conference last week; the audio was published Friday.
- Where
- The remarks were made at the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Leadership Conference at the Suncadia resort near Cle Elum, Washington.
- Why
- Ferguson said he disagreed with the ad’s portrayal of Washington and did not think it was helpful to the state’s goals.
Bob Ferguson
Washington Needs to Compete
Ad’s portrayal of Washington
Bob Ferguson
Ferguson said he did not believe the suggestion that pursuing a business idea in Washington had become harder, and cited startup funding as evidence of economic strength.
Washington Needs to Compete
The PAC’s TV ad described state government as broken and said it used to take an idea, a dream and the guts to pursue it.
Public criticism
Bob Ferguson
Ferguson said the ad was not helpful and urged business leaders to communicate the state’s strengths alongside its challenges.
Washington Needs to Compete
The ad criticized state government; the sources do not state the PAC’s response to Ferguson.
Ferguson spoke at an event in Olympia, according to the photo caption.
Ferguson criticized Microsoft over the ad at the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Leadership Conference.
The Washington Observer published audio of Ferguson’s remarks, saying it had obtained it from an unnamed source.
- Governor
- Bob Ferguson
- PAC
- Washington Needs to Compete
- Startup funding
- $3.5 billion raised by Seattle-area startups in the third quarter
- Funding comparison
- More than triple the same period a year earlier
- Conference venue
- Suncadia resort near Cle Elum, Washington
What people are saying
First, does anyone else in this room believe that? I sure as hell don’t.
If we’re partners, partners should treat partners like partners, right?
Are there challenges? Sure,
What we have here is so bloody special,