Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 10, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Washington wins 'Digital State' award again

OLYMPIA - For the second year in a row, the state of Washington has been named the leading state in the nation for using information technology to deliver services to citizens and improve government operations.

The state won the coveted "Digital State" award from the Progress and Freedom Foundation, in association with the publication Government Technology.

The information appears in the latest edition of Government Technology.

The annual study scores the states in eight basic areas, including education, business regulation, revenue and taxation, social services and law enforcement. Washington's overall score was an 82 out of a possible 100 points. Next came Wisconsin with a 77, Missouri with a 75 and Pennsylvania with a 74.

Winning the "Digital State" award in both of the first two years it has been offered validates one of the main priorities of Gov. Gary Locke, which is to make government more responsive and efficient. Using technology to help citizens get better service from their government is what it is all about, according to Steve Kolodney, director of Washington's Department of Information Services.

One key to the state's high score is the existence of a separate Department of Information Services, which is headed by Kolodney.

The Progress and Freedom Foundation noted that Washington state was especially advanced in the way that government uses technology to eliminate barriers between departments so that when citizens interface with government departments, the transactions are smoother.

The state scored a perfect 100 for the use of technology in kindergarten-through-12th grade public schools. And it scored an 83 for using technology in higher education.

Gov. Gary Locke complimented state employees and the Department of Information Services after the award was announced.

"We are committed to making government work better for our citizens," Locke said, "so it is indeed a good sign that we have won the 'Digital State' award twice in a row. We are making significant progress toward our goals, and I commend the state employees involved."

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