Governor Gary Locke’s Remarks
Associated Press Forum
January 7, 2003

Good afternoon.

·I’m glad to be here again for the annual Associated Press Statehouse Forum.

·Let me especially welcome all the editors among you – those of you who actually control the reporters who frequent these hallways. Maybe I can find out what anti-acid you use to control the heartburn they cause you.

·Of course, I’m joking. The Statehouse Press Corps do try their best to be fair and to get it right.

·I’d also like to welcome all of the fresh-faced journalism-interns among you. You personify my ideal of a relevant, progressive education. You’re on the job now – actually doing what you’ve mostly read and heard about doing.

·You have a front-row seat at a very interesting legislative session. Good luck to you, and don’t let the grizzled veterans make you too cynical!

·Before I take your questions, I’ll say a little bit about the number-one issue this year – the state budget.

·The state budget I am proposing for the next two fiscal years reflects three simple realities:

·Money is very tight.
·A general tax increase is not a wise option in a down economy.
·We settled on priorities and made very hard choices to spend the money on those priorities.

·In short, like many families suffering in this economy, we are putting some dreams on hold to pay for the things that matter most.

·My $23 billion plan shows the citizens of this state what their tax money can buy, and it shows what we can’t afford.

·I’m presenting to the 2003 Legislature a budget that lives within our means -- a budget that cuts $2.4 billion in important programs and services that we just can’t afford right now.

·For the past six months, we have looked deeply and thoughtfully at those things state government simply must do. We called this process Priorities of Government.

·This budget reflects those priorities. In short, this budget funds what matters most in getting the results people want from their state.

·The legislative session is just beginning, and I haven’t cornered the market on
good ideas. That’s why we have a Legislature.

·But I believe my proposal reflects a return to the fundamentals of what a state government can and must do.

·The fundamentals are education, jobs, healthy families, safe communities, protection of vulnerable children and adults, and common sense.

·I plan to be very engaged in the budget debate and discussion in coming months.

·I believe I have given the Legislature an unusually clear set of priorities -- along with a clear explanation of how I arrived at those priorities.

·As the House and Senate work over my proposal, I will expect them to keep faith with my approach – which is to recognize that we have limited resources and must make hard choices to pay for those things we simply must pay for.

·Now, I’m ready to take your questions.