Gov. Gregoire discusses health care ruling.

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire "couldn't be more happy and relieved" by the Supreme Court's majority decision that the Affordable Care Act was constitutional.

The decision is good for state residents with pre-existing medical conditions, for young adults who remain on their parent's insurance until they reach 26 and for people who will eventually have coverage through an expansion of Medicaid.

"The real winners are the people of our state," she said.

She also had harsh words for Attorney General Rob McKenna, her wouldbe replacement, for joining the suit. He was wrong on his insistence that the court could overturn the individual mandate and keep other parts of the law that Washington needs, Gregoire said.

"He was dead wrong on that. You can't have your cake and it it too," she said.

Health care reform is sure to come up in McKenna's run against former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, she added.

"Inslee went back (to Congress) and fought for health care reform and the attorney general was just wrong." 

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