Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 12, 2004
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Ed Penhale, Office of Financial Management, 360-902-0619
The governor also said taxpayers fared well after the Legislature sent him a no-new-taxes, $145 million supplemental operating budget that focused on the governor’s spending priorities. The Legislature, which adjourned late last night, also left $304 million in reserve.
“From higher education to health care to economic development, the priorities I set for this Legislature last December are well represented in the legislation that will reach my desk,” Locke said.
Locke’s highest priority for the session was to make room for thousands more students in state colleges and universities.
“I am pleased the Legislature agreed that a well-educated population is the engine of economic growth,” Locke said. The House and Senate approved spending $17 million to finance up to 3,000 new enrollment slots at state colleges and universities, with about one-third of the increase in high-demand fields such as information technology, nursing and engineering.
“There is much more to do to improve our higher education system. This will become crystal clear as our growing population of young people start knocking on the doors of our colleges and universities,” Locke said. “The Legislature’s action represents a good start.”
Locke noted the Legislature agreed to spend $2.3 million to increase grant levels for his Promise Scholarships, which are given to high-performing high school students from low- and middle-income families.
“This increase raises scholarship awards from the current level of $930 per year to about $1,200,” Locke said. “I’m pleased that this will help more than 7,000 high-achieving students each year realize their dream of a college education.”
The governor was pleased that the state construction budget approved by the Legislature includes $111 million for new and expanded facilities for state colleges and universities across the state – from the University of Washington in Seattle to Spokane Falls Community College.
“This is a significant step toward making room for the coming wave of students who want to go to college,” the governor said. “There is more to do, but this is also an important step toward providing highly skilled workers for our recovering economy.”
The 2004 legislative session met many of Locke’s other goals. They include:
More help for struggling K-12 students
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) tests are made fairer and more equitable by allowing students to retake the test. In addition, students are offered alternative ways to show they have met state standards in reading, writing and math, which is a requirement to graduate beginning in 2008.
A new funding formula was passed to make sure funding for the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) goes where it is needed most. LAP helps struggling K-12 students with reading, mathematics and writing skills. Technical help is also provided to schools that fail to meet academic improvement goals.
The Legislature also approved Locke’s proposals to allow school districts to collect the full amount of voter-approved levies and to create 45 charter schools in the next six years.
Targeted tax cuts to spur economic development
Tax incentives totaling $68 million are continued for research in specific technology areas, building research facilities, construction of manufacturing facilities in rural areas and help-desk enterprises in rural areas.
Health care for vulnerable citizens
The governor said he was happy to see full funding of his plan to reduce the impact of pending health care premiums to be charged to parents of children receiving state-sponsored Medicaid health care.
For children in families up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level – which is an income of $23,500 a year for a family of three – the $15 per child monthly premiums scheduled to take effect are eliminated. Families between 150 and 200 percent of poverty ($23,500 to $31,300 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $10 per child instead of $20. Families between 200 and 250 percent of poverty ($31,300 to $39,200 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $15 per child instead of $25.
“We don’t want premiums to be so high that parents are discouraged from seeking medical care for their kids,” Locke said.
The Legislature also agreed with the governor’s request for $24 million to cover terms of a collective bargaining agreement for home health care workers, which resulted in a wage increase of 50 cents an hour plus workers’ compensation and health benefits.
Small Group Health Insurance Reform
Locke also applauded legislative action to address double-digit inflation in health insurance policies for small employers. The legislation allows insurance companies to market an “economy plan,” which provide limited benefits, at a more affordable price and to more small employers.
Funding for state construction projects
Locke applauded the $202 million 2004 supplemental construction budget approved by the Legislature.
In addition to the $111 million it provides new and expanded higher education facilities, the construction plan provides money for a number of other projects, including more than $11 million to improve water resources for people, fish and economic development.
Locke said he also appreciated the Legislature’s continued funding for the Columbia River Lewis and Clark commemoration projects created by Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The governor had words of caution, however, about the lack of funding for a new prison facility near Connell. “I hope legislators are not being short-sighted by failing to begin this prison. They need to either address our sentencing laws and send fewer people to prison or build a new prison very soon,” Locke said.
Environment
Locke commended several actions taken on the environment. Carbon Dioxide emissions standards were established for both large and small energy plants. The standard agreed to by the business and environment communities are some of the toughest in the nation.
The Legislature also adopted new stormwater management standards for industrial facilities and new construction, a top environmental priority for Locke. Funding was also provided for the Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBT) program, an important initiative supported by the governor.
Transportation
Locke said the supplemental transportation budget approved by the Legislature ensures that traffic-improvement projects added as a result of last year’s transportation-funding package remain intact and move forward.
That budget also ensures the state ferry system can comply with security standards set by the United States Coast Guard for state ferries. A $3.5 million state appropriation will be matched by a $9.4 million federal grant to protect the public.
More Convenient Government
Locke said he also was glad to see approval of his plan to allow motorists to renew drivers’ licenses through the Internet, mail or by telephone.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 12, 2004
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Ed Penhale, Office of Financial Management, 360-902-0619
Gov. Gary Locke’s Priorities Advance in 2004 Legislative Session
OLYMPIA – March 12, 2004 – Gov. Gary Locke today expressed satisfaction that his priorities for education, health care and the state economy made significant gains in the 2004 legislative session.The governor also said taxpayers fared well after the Legislature sent him a no-new-taxes, $145 million supplemental operating budget that focused on the governor’s spending priorities. The Legislature, which adjourned late last night, also left $304 million in reserve.
“From higher education to health care to economic development, the priorities I set for this Legislature last December are well represented in the legislation that will reach my desk,” Locke said.
Locke’s highest priority for the session was to make room for thousands more students in state colleges and universities.
“I am pleased the Legislature agreed that a well-educated population is the engine of economic growth,” Locke said. The House and Senate approved spending $17 million to finance up to 3,000 new enrollment slots at state colleges and universities, with about one-third of the increase in high-demand fields such as information technology, nursing and engineering.
“There is much more to do to improve our higher education system. This will become crystal clear as our growing population of young people start knocking on the doors of our colleges and universities,” Locke said. “The Legislature’s action represents a good start.”
Locke noted the Legislature agreed to spend $2.3 million to increase grant levels for his Promise Scholarships, which are given to high-performing high school students from low- and middle-income families.
“This increase raises scholarship awards from the current level of $930 per year to about $1,200,” Locke said. “I’m pleased that this will help more than 7,000 high-achieving students each year realize their dream of a college education.”
The governor was pleased that the state construction budget approved by the Legislature includes $111 million for new and expanded facilities for state colleges and universities across the state – from the University of Washington in Seattle to Spokane Falls Community College.
“This is a significant step toward making room for the coming wave of students who want to go to college,” the governor said. “There is more to do, but this is also an important step toward providing highly skilled workers for our recovering economy.”
The 2004 legislative session met many of Locke’s other goals. They include:
More help for struggling K-12 students
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) tests are made fairer and more equitable by allowing students to retake the test. In addition, students are offered alternative ways to show they have met state standards in reading, writing and math, which is a requirement to graduate beginning in 2008.
A new funding formula was passed to make sure funding for the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) goes where it is needed most. LAP helps struggling K-12 students with reading, mathematics and writing skills. Technical help is also provided to schools that fail to meet academic improvement goals.
The Legislature also approved Locke’s proposals to allow school districts to collect the full amount of voter-approved levies and to create 45 charter schools in the next six years.
Targeted tax cuts to spur economic development
Tax incentives totaling $68 million are continued for research in specific technology areas, building research facilities, construction of manufacturing facilities in rural areas and help-desk enterprises in rural areas.
Health care for vulnerable citizens
The governor said he was happy to see full funding of his plan to reduce the impact of pending health care premiums to be charged to parents of children receiving state-sponsored Medicaid health care.
For children in families up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level – which is an income of $23,500 a year for a family of three – the $15 per child monthly premiums scheduled to take effect are eliminated. Families between 150 and 200 percent of poverty ($23,500 to $31,300 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $10 per child instead of $20. Families between 200 and 250 percent of poverty ($31,300 to $39,200 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $15 per child instead of $25.
“We don’t want premiums to be so high that parents are discouraged from seeking medical care for their kids,” Locke said.
The Legislature also agreed with the governor’s request for $24 million to cover terms of a collective bargaining agreement for home health care workers, which resulted in a wage increase of 50 cents an hour plus workers’ compensation and health benefits.
Small Group Health Insurance Reform
Locke also applauded legislative action to address double-digit inflation in health insurance policies for small employers. The legislation allows insurance companies to market an “economy plan,” which provide limited benefits, at a more affordable price and to more small employers.
Funding for state construction projects
Locke applauded the $202 million 2004 supplemental construction budget approved by the Legislature.
In addition to the $111 million it provides new and expanded higher education facilities, the construction plan provides money for a number of other projects, including more than $11 million to improve water resources for people, fish and economic development.
Locke said he also appreciated the Legislature’s continued funding for the Columbia River Lewis and Clark commemoration projects created by Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The governor had words of caution, however, about the lack of funding for a new prison facility near Connell. “I hope legislators are not being short-sighted by failing to begin this prison. They need to either address our sentencing laws and send fewer people to prison or build a new prison very soon,” Locke said.
Environment
Locke commended several actions taken on the environment. Carbon Dioxide emissions standards were established for both large and small energy plants. The standard agreed to by the business and environment communities are some of the toughest in the nation.
The Legislature also adopted new stormwater management standards for industrial facilities and new construction, a top environmental priority for Locke. Funding was also provided for the Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBT) program, an important initiative supported by the governor.
Transportation
Locke said the supplemental transportation budget approved by the Legislature ensures that traffic-improvement projects added as a result of last year’s transportation-funding package remain intact and move forward.
That budget also ensures the state ferry system can comply with security standards set by the United States Coast Guard for state ferries. A $3.5 million state appropriation will be matched by a $9.4 million federal grant to protect the public.
More Convenient Government
Locke said he also was glad to see approval of his plan to allow motorists to renew drivers’ licenses through the Internet, mail or by telephone.
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