Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 10, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke Inaugural calls for focus on transportation, education, water and energy

OLYMPIA - Washington's prosperity in the 21st century requires a transportation system that works, an education system that enriches every child and enough water and energy to meet the needs of people and industry, Gov. Gary Locke said in his Inaugural Address today.

Speaking in the Capitol Rotunda at noon, Locke said, "Our state faces real problems demanding real solutions."

But he said the Legislature and people of Washington were up to the task.

"Each individual I meet reinforces in me the belief that the job of state government is to provide the foundations upon which our citizens can build quality lives," he noted.

Those foundations include transportation, education, energy and water.

On the transportation issue, Locke said, "A state that gave a 'turbo charge' to the Information Superhighway should not have a transportation system that's out of gas."

He said the state's Department of Transportation will become as lean and efficient as possible and focus immediately on the following:

Adding a new traffic lane to unsnarl traffic at Interstate 405 and Highway 167 in Renton

Widening Interstate 90 lanes in Spokane

Extending HOV lanes on Interstate 5 from Everett to Tacoma

Widening Highway 17 to four lanes in Moses Lake

Separating downtown train and auto traffic in Yakima

Guaranteeing transit services for seniors and disabled adults

Replacing pre-Depression era ferries
On the second foundation, Locke said, "My vision of education is straightforward: great learning, great teaching and great leadership."

He added he helped put his class-size reduction proposals on the ballot as Initiative 728 when the Legislature last year failed to pass them.

"Initiative 728 swept through our state ... county after county ... passing by more votes than any other initiative in our history," the governor said.

For this session, Locke called upon the Legislature to remove barriers hindering academic performance and great teaching.

"We'll agree to abolish the current education code and have a new one in place by 2004," Locke promised.

The governor also called for reform of the state's water laws.

He explained, "Our water laws are not in concert with present reality. That sentiment was expressed 25 years ago by Governor Dan Evans. Virtually no progress has been made since then."

The search for water has towns battling farmers, businesses battling fish, and towns battling each other, Locke said, since there isn't enough water to accommodate growth.

"We will not have the paved troughs that pass for rivers in Los Angeles," Locke said. "So, I say it again in 2001, our water laws are not in concert with reality."

The governor said the Legislative session's fourth challenge is energy.

"Energy is as essential to our economy as water is to life," Locke said.

Unlike California, Washington was wise enough to refuse to deregulate energy three years ago, Locke noted.

"But we still face a crisis we must address immediately," he warned.

The governor predicted Washington's residents and their elected officials would build the four foundations for this century's prosperity.

"I'm enormously proud of the people of Washington. We have never been afraid to tackle the big issues," the governor said.

Achieving the goals means both parties must put politics aside and get to work.

"I want us to leave this session proud that we've solved the tough issues. Let's make our citizens proud," Locke urged.

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