Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 25, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Emphasizes Priorities on Primary, Budget

Gov. Gary Locke today emphasized his priorities for a new state primary system and criticized the Senate Republican budget proposal during his weekly news conference in Olympia.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it would not hear the state’s appeal of the Ninth Circuit court’s ruling that the blanket primary is unconstitutional. The state must enact a new system to be used for the 2004 primary.

“My staff is already working with legislative leaders, party officials, the Washington State Grange, and other stakeholders to look at the options,” Locke said. “They will compare their strengths and weaknesses – both constitutionally and practically – and recommend an appropriate solution.”

Locke outlined his priorities for the new primary system. They include:
·Avoiding legal and constitutional uncertainty;
·Protecting voters’ independence;
·Protecting voters’ privacy; and
·Providing a system that is easy to understand and administer.

Locke also discussed the recent budget proposals submitted by the state House and Senate. Locke presented his budget plan last December.

“I am pleased that the budget proposed by the House Democrats funds most of our state’s important priorities,” Locke said. “I am very disappointed that some of the our state’s key priorities are missing from the Senate Republicans’ plan.”

Locke emphasized the need for increased enrollment slots at the state’s colleges and universities. He applauded the House Democrats for supporting the need to expand enrollments. Locke requested $30 million to expand college enrollments by as many as 5,200 fulltime students – more than half of them in high-demand fields such as nursing, computer science and engineering. He called on the Senate Republicans to do the same.


Locke also focused on other areas of concern in the legislative budgets:
·He criticized the Senate Republicans’ proposal to gut the General Assistance Unemployable program by imposing harsh limits on eligibility. “Not only does this cut access to a minimum amount of cash for these very poor Washington citizens, but it also blocks their access to medical care,” he said.
·Locke emphasized that Senate Republicans need to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for doctors who deliver babies or work in emergency rooms.
·The governor praised House Democrats for recognizing the need to help parents of children receiving state-subsidized health care pay their premiums. Locke urged Senate Republicans to also fund this proposal.

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