Governor Christine Gregoire recently praised 34th Legislative District Democrats for electing state Sen. Erik Poulsen and Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe McDermott.

"This is one dynamite team that you are blessed to have working for you," Gregoire said at their campaign kickoff at South Seattle Community College.

"The entire state of Washington should be proud of you" for sending the trio to the Legislature.

"It's kind of hard anywhere in Washington to find this combination of issue leadership and just plain courageous leadership," the governor said.

With Democrats like these in the Legislature, Gregoire said, "There is no issue we are not willing to take on. There is no courageous stand we are not willing to take on."

Citing Poulsen's leadership on environmental issues statewide, Cody's work on health care legislation and McDermott's efforts on a variety of education and social legislation, she said "this team played a big role" in making the 2006 Legislature "the best short session in the state of Washington."

But, Gregoire continued, challenges await the 2007 legislative session.

"All families of Washington deserve living-wage jobs with health care and retirement," she said. "Prior budget cuts were made without compassion ... the people in the state of Washington deserve a whole lot better."