Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 15, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
“These are trying times,” Locke said. “We’ll pull through, just as we have in the past, but only by working together.”
“I believe in a better future for our state,” the governor added. “How well and how fast we rebound depends on the foundations we lay in the coming months.”
Locke said the state weathered an earthquake, drought, wildfires, an energy crisis and the uprooting of The Boeing Co. headquarters in 2001. He noted accomplishments in strategic planning for the state’s energy future, reforming outdated water laws, moving people from welfare to work, improving education and establishing the Washington Competitiveness Council to reinvigorate the state’s business climate.
“We must build upon our past successes this session,” the governor said, “To enhance our economic vitality, to preserve our way of life and to put our people back to work.”
Just as thousands of families across Washington have had to adjust their personal budgets during these tough economic times, Locke told legislators the state, too, would have to rewrite its budget.
The state faces a $1.25 billion budget deficit and is constitutionally charged to have a balanced budget.
“I’ve proposed many state budgets as a legislator and governor, but believe me, this was the toughest,” Locke said. He expects the half-a-billion dollars of his proposed spending cuts will save more than a billion dollars in the next biennium.
“In addition to reducing costs and preserving core services, we continue to improve business practices within state government and achieve millions of dollars in efficiencies,” the governor said. “And, we can balance our budget without a general tax increase.”
The governor welcomed legislator’s ideas to develop a fair, balanced and humane budget for all of Washington’s citizens.
Locke emphasized that education remains the state’s paramount duty.
“Great public schools are the cornerstone for our state’s long-term success,” the governor said. “That’s why funding for basic education, class-size reduction and high academic achievement simply cannot be compromised.”
Locke added that planned enrollment increases in higher education must be maintained and more worker retraining resources must be added so people will be ready when the economy improves.
Addressing the transportation crisis, Locke said, “We all want Washington and our citizens to prosper and to flourish. But our livelihoods are hemmed in by a broken transportation system that chokes progress and diminishes our competitiveness.”
The Competitiveness Council determined that the single most important element in enhancing the state’s economy and quality of life is enacting a long-term transportation plan that fixes congestion.
“We must not allow our economic future to grind to a halt on our broken streets and highways,” Locke said. “Improving transportation provides lasting economic development in rural and urban counties, reduces congestion, enhances safety and enables business to grow.”
“We must act, because what’s at stake is the future of our state,” the governor said.
“This is no ordinary session and this is no ordinary time,” Locke said. “If we want to reinforce the faith of citizens in government, we must deliver.”
“We approach the enormous challenges before us, not because they’re easy – they’re not – but because they’re right for our state and for generations to come,” the governor said.
“We volunteered for public office to serve the people of our state and to create a better way of life for our children and our grandchildren,” Locke said in closing. “Now we must do our duty for the love of our state.”
Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Washington Competitiveness Council
- Gov. Locke's State of the State Address: Meeting Today's Challenges for the Future
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 15, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
State of the State address - Gov. Locke calls on legislators to make tough choices
OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today delivered his State of the State address to a joint legislative session, urging Washington’s leaders to make tough choices to lay the needed foundations in transportation, education, environment and water.“These are trying times,” Locke said. “We’ll pull through, just as we have in the past, but only by working together.”
“I believe in a better future for our state,” the governor added. “How well and how fast we rebound depends on the foundations we lay in the coming months.”
Locke said the state weathered an earthquake, drought, wildfires, an energy crisis and the uprooting of The Boeing Co. headquarters in 2001. He noted accomplishments in strategic planning for the state’s energy future, reforming outdated water laws, moving people from welfare to work, improving education and establishing the Washington Competitiveness Council to reinvigorate the state’s business climate.
“We must build upon our past successes this session,” the governor said, “To enhance our economic vitality, to preserve our way of life and to put our people back to work.”
Just as thousands of families across Washington have had to adjust their personal budgets during these tough economic times, Locke told legislators the state, too, would have to rewrite its budget.
The state faces a $1.25 billion budget deficit and is constitutionally charged to have a balanced budget.
“I’ve proposed many state budgets as a legislator and governor, but believe me, this was the toughest,” Locke said. He expects the half-a-billion dollars of his proposed spending cuts will save more than a billion dollars in the next biennium.
“In addition to reducing costs and preserving core services, we continue to improve business practices within state government and achieve millions of dollars in efficiencies,” the governor said. “And, we can balance our budget without a general tax increase.”
The governor welcomed legislator’s ideas to develop a fair, balanced and humane budget for all of Washington’s citizens.
Locke emphasized that education remains the state’s paramount duty.
“Great public schools are the cornerstone for our state’s long-term success,” the governor said. “That’s why funding for basic education, class-size reduction and high academic achievement simply cannot be compromised.”
Locke added that planned enrollment increases in higher education must be maintained and more worker retraining resources must be added so people will be ready when the economy improves.
Addressing the transportation crisis, Locke said, “We all want Washington and our citizens to prosper and to flourish. But our livelihoods are hemmed in by a broken transportation system that chokes progress and diminishes our competitiveness.”
The Competitiveness Council determined that the single most important element in enhancing the state’s economy and quality of life is enacting a long-term transportation plan that fixes congestion.
“We must not allow our economic future to grind to a halt on our broken streets and highways,” Locke said. “Improving transportation provides lasting economic development in rural and urban counties, reduces congestion, enhances safety and enables business to grow.”
“We must act, because what’s at stake is the future of our state,” the governor said.
“This is no ordinary session and this is no ordinary time,” Locke said. “If we want to reinforce the faith of citizens in government, we must deliver.”
“We approach the enormous challenges before us, not because they’re easy – they’re not – but because they’re right for our state and for generations to come,” the governor said.
“We volunteered for public office to serve the people of our state and to create a better way of life for our children and our grandchildren,” Locke said in closing. “Now we must do our duty for the love of our state.”
Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Washington Competitiveness Council
- Gov. Locke's State of the State Address: Meeting Today's Challenges for the Future
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