In an appearance Friday sponsored by the Young Democrats, Gov. Christine Gregoire returned to her alma mater to speak in the HUB auditorium about her three biggest priorities concerning Washington and the future she envisions for all Washingtonians.

Gregoire said education, health care and jobs were the most pressing matters constituents voiced in the town hall meetings she has been holding across the state for the past 12 months. Taking a page out of Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat, she stressed the importance of reforming education and remaining competitive in a climate of increasing globalization.

"When I was growing up and we wouldn't eat everything on our plate, my mother would tell us to eat up because there are others less fortunate than us who are starving," Gregoire said. "Nowadays I tell my kids to do your homework, because if you don't, someone is going to take your job."

The governor stressed it is not merely keeping K-12 class size manageable and throwing money at the problem that will reform education in the state.

"Look at the Washington, D.C. school system," Gregoire said. "They have the third most spending per student in the country, yet they have one of the worst performing school districts in the country."

Gregoire touted her plan to give students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in the eighth grade who maintain at least a C-average through their senior year of high school free college tuition at any state institution as an innovative solution to fixing education in Washington.

On the issue of health care, Gregoire called the current situation a "national tragedy."

"Why can't a nation as rich as ours provide health care to our poorest kids? I believe it is our moral obligation and the responsible choice," she asked.

The governor shifted her focus to the economy and expressed hope for the quality of life Washingtonians will be able to enjoy. Gregoire made the case that Washington is positioned to capitalize on the many opportunities emerging in the 21st century.

"We're the only state with a surplus in trade with China," Gregoire said. "We're the third largest producer of wind power in the country. Moses Lake is now a refinery for bio fuel."

These factors add up, the governor said, to a strong economic standing for the state. She articulated her vision of an idyllic Washington-centric future as well.

"This is my goal: I want to have some trip where I fly in a plane that was built in my own state ... drive past a skyscraper that says Microsoft on it, look across the street and see a Starbucks, then go to a Costco where I can buy food that is from Washington state," she said.

Gregoire fielded questions from the audience covering a wide variety of topics, ranging from local transit issues to state tax laws to the federal government calling up Washington National Guard troops.

"Doing nothing is going to compound our problems. It is not perfect and I don't like everything that is in the package, but it is a lot better than the alternative, which is to accept the status quo and do nothing. I do not accept the status quo; we can do better. We have failed in our infrastructure. Take the 520 bridge, for instance. One way or another, it is coming down. Either we can take it down or Mother Nature is going to take it down," Gregoire said about the transit package known as Proposition One.

Asked whether she would defy the calling up of National Guard troops, the governor lamented that once her troops have been federalized she no longer has any say in the matter.

"If I could say 'No, you can't have the 2,800 National Guard troops,' I would, but unfortunately I can't," Gregoire said.

Following the appearance, Young Democrats member and chief organizer of the event, senior Elliot Helmbrecht said, he thought Gregoire was a compelling speaker and kept the audience involved with her speech.

"There are a lot of important decisions facing voters coming up in the November elections, and it was great to get her input on such issues like the Roads and Transit Proposition. She has a lot of big ideas for the state of Washington that will really help our generation in the long run," he said.

Sophomore Tierney Cooke was also in attendance for the governor's speech. "I'm really appreciative that she would take time out of her schedule to meet with students like this." Cooke said.

[Reach reporter Garrett Troy at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]