Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 15, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke lauds end of legislative session

OLYMPIA – Gov. Gary Locke praised the Legislature for reaching a compromise on a transportation plan, for finding creative solutions to balance an operating budget without a general tax increase, and for concluding their business on time.

The governor made his remarks during an early morning press conference immediately following the conclusion of the 2002 legislative session in Olympia. He thanked lawmakers and legislative leadership.

The transportation package provides more than $8 billion in funding to enhance road safety, ease congestion and improve freight mobility, and it puts thousands of Washingtonians back to work.

“The transportation plan is one I support,” said Locke. “While I would have preferred its approval in Olympia, this is a good package, and I will work tirelessly to promote its passage by voters. Transportation is not a partisan issue. I hope that legislators from both sides of the aisle who supported sending this package to voters will stand with me on the campaign trail in support of it.”

“I would like to thank Representative Ruth Fisher and Senator Mary Margaret Haugen for their hard work and tenacity to get a transportation package passed,” Locke said.

Referring to the operating and capital budgets, Locke noted the diligence of the Office of Financial Management, Senator Lisa Brown and Representative Helen Sommers for producing solid budgets.

“Faced with a $1.6 billion budget shortfall, tough choices and budget cuts had to be made,” said Locke. “The budget cuts left very few unscathed – and we all regret that. But we must balance our books,” the governor continued. “We’ve accomplished that without a general tax increase and maintained a responsible reserve while meeting our core responsibilities to the people of the state of Washington.

“The capital budget will fund much-needed improvements to our community and technical colleges and state parks. Most importantly, it will create thousands of new jobs during the ongoing economic recession,” the governor said.

Locke said he is grateful for the follow through on other priorities of his administration, most importantly, some key recommendations of the Washington Competitiveness Council.

“We’ve worked to improve equity and fairness in our unemployment insurance system, clarified taxation of investment income, and created a permit assistance center in the governor’s office,” the governor said.

Locke also highlighted other significant achievements of his legislative agenda, including:

• Making government work better by reforming civil service rules, reducing costs, eliminating lower-priority programs, reducing growth of the state workforce, and expanding use of money-saving efficiencies.
  
  
• Preserving the commitment to learning by reducing bullying and to curb school violence and also protecting funds for voter approved class-size reduction.
  
  
• Continuing to make strides in updating and reforming our state’s outdated water laws.

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Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Bill Information
- Washington Competitiveness Council
- Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10)
- Rep. Ruth Fisher (D-27)
- Sen. Lisa Brown (D-3)
- Rep. Helen Sommers (D-36)
- Office of Financial Management

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