Gov. Gregoire signs construction budget

For Immediate Release: May 15, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed House Bill 1216, which funds key construction projects statewide.

�The capital budget I am signing today will support more than 13,000 jobs at its peak,� Gregoire said. �These jobs are critical in helping our state recover from the economic downturn. At the same time, the investments build the infrastructure needed to keep Washington at the forefront of the 21st century economy.�

The 2009�11 capital budget invests $3.3 billion in construction projects throughout the state and includes funds to:
� Support K-12 school construction
� Provide adequate housing for inmates
� Construct adequate facilities for college students
� Protect the environment
� Continue work to protect and restore Puget Sound
� Finance low-income housing
� Fix failing infrastructure in sewer and waters systems
� Preserve infrastructure in state-owned facilities
� Design and construct the new state Data Center in Olympia

�While the 2009�11 capital budget is 30 percent smaller than the current biennium�s budget, we successfully addressed our major priorities,� said Sen. Karen Fraser, vice chair for capital budget on the Ways & Means Committee. �We prioritized �ready to go� projects that will get our economy moving now, as well as projects that will help Washington build the innovation economy of the future. This is a budget that includes many local infrastructure projects that will keep our communities vibrant and lead to sustained prosperity down the road.�

�At a time when the capital budget took a 30 percent cut so that we could keep more teachers on the job, we still funded all K-12 construction projects,� said Rep. Hans Dunshee, chair of the House Capital Budget Committee. �This will create jobs in every corner of the state while taking care of our school facilities.�

Gregoire vetoed sections 6028, 6029 and 6030 of the capital budget, which would have required the Washington State Arts Commission to purchase artwork displayed in state agencies, schools and universities from artists living only in Washington state. Gregoire feared the section would have negative impacts on Washington artists who may be performing work on public works projects in other states.

For a county-by-county list of all construction projects, visit: http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/20090515_CapitalProjects.pdf.

Gregoire also signed the following bills. She partially vetoed bills 1272, 2072, 2327, and 5560:

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1004, relating to adding products to the energy efficiency code.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1216, relating to the capital budget.

� Substitute House Bill No. 1170, relating to the modification of parenting plans based on the military service of a parent.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1272, relating to state general obligation bonds and related accounts.

� House Bill No. 1287, relating to sales and use tax exemptions in respect to aircraft used in intrastate commuter operations

� Substitute House Bill No. 1332, relating to the authority of a watershed management partnership to exercise powers of its forming governments.

� Substitute House Bill No. 1420, relating to real estate seller disclosure.

� House Bill No. 1579, relating to a business and occupation tax exemption for nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to low-income individuals.

� Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1701, relating to authorizing the department of information services to engage in high-speed internet activities.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1709, relating to fee and installment plan assistance for borrowers at risk of default on small loans.

� Substitute House Bill No. 1751, relating to the time period during which sales and use tax for public facilities in rural counties may be collected.

� Engrossed House Bill No. 1815, relating to current use valuation under the property tax open space program.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1959, relating to land use and transportation planning for marine container ports.

� Engrossed House Bill No. 2040, relating to the work of the Joint Select Committee on Beer and Wine Regulation.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2072, relating to advancing effective transportation for persons with special transportation needs.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2125, relating to community preservation and development authorities.

� Substitute House Bill No. 2208, relating to the return or cancellation of new motorsports vehicles.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2254, relating to construction financing for state colleges and universities.

� Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2327, relating to eliminating or reducing the frequency of reports prepared by state agencies.

� Substitute House Bill No. 2339, relating to requiring the Department of Licensing to collect a donation to benefit the state parks system as part of motor vehicle registration unless a vehicle owner opts not to provide a donation.

� Engrossed House Bill No. 2358, relating to increasing liquor license fees limited to fees for beer and/or wine restaurants; taverns; snack bars; combined beer and wine retailers; grocery stores; beer and/or wine specialty shops; passenger trains, vessels, and airplanes; spirits, beer, and wine restaurants; spirits, beer, and wine private clubs; beer and wine private clubs; and public houses.

� Substitute Senate Bill No. 5537, relating to having one debt limit by eliminating the statutory debt limit.

� Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5560, relating to state agency climate leadership.

� Substitute Senate Bill No. 6095, relating to the Puget Sound pilotage district tariff.

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