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SECOND DAY
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MORNING SESSION
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Senate Chamber, Olympia, Tuesday, January 12, 1993
The Senate was called to order at 11:00 a.m. by President Pritchard. The Secretary called the roll and announced to the President that all Senators were present except Senators Niemi and Linda Smith.
The Sergeant at Arms Color Guard, consisting of Pages Kathy Leavitt and Tom Kortlever, presented the Colors. Reverend Rex Niblack, pastor of the Rainier Chapel of Rainier, offered the prayer.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Jesernig, the reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was approved.
CHANGES IN STANDING COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
The President announced the following changes in the Standing Committee assignments: Senator McDonald is removed from the Committee on Labor and Commerce and added to the Committee on Health and Human Services. Senator Barr is added to the Committee on Labor and Commerce.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Jesernig, the changes in the Standing Committee assignments were confirmed.
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
SB 5070 by Senators Prentice and Roach
AN ACT Relating to labor relations consultants; amending RCW 43.09.230; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce.
SB 5071 by Senator Haugen (by request of Law Revision Commission)
AN ACT Relating to correcting unconstitutional provisions regarding the construction, sale, and conditions of revenue bonds for pollution control facilities; and amending RCW 70.95A.030 and 70.95A.060.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5072 by Senators Haugen and von Reichbauer (by request of Law Revision Commission)
AN ACT Relating to deleting obsolete provisions related to the printing and duplicating center; and repealing RCW 43.19.640, 43.19.645, 43.19.650, 43.19.655, 43.19.660, and 43.19.665.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5073 by Senators Wojahn, Pelz and Vognild
AN ACT Relating to health reform; amending RCW 70.47.010, 70.47.020, 70.47.030, 70.47.060, 70.47.080, 70.47.120, 82.03.130 and 82.03.140; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 48 RCW; adding a new title to the Revised Code of Washington to be numbered Title 82A RCW; creating new sections; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
SB 5074 by Senators Vognild, Newhouse, Gaspard, Snyder, Sellar and Erwin
AN ACT Relating to political advertising; and adding new sections to chapter 42.17 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5075 by Senators Winsley, Fraser and Erwin
AN ACT Relating to hazing at state and independent institutions of higher education; adding new sections to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
SB 5076 by Senators Talmadge, Gaspard, Snyder and Pelz (by request of Governor Gardner)
AN ACT Relating to health care reform; amending RCW 70.47.010, 70.47.020, 70.47.030, 70.47.040, 70.47.060, 70.47.080, 70.47.120, 48.20.032, 48.21.050, 48.30.300, 48.44.220, 48.46.370, 70.170.010, 70.170.020, 70.170.080, 70.170.070, 5.60.070, 18.130.160, 18.130.190, 70.41.200, 48.14.020, 82.26.020, 82.24.020, 82.08.150, 82.08.160, 66.08.180, 66.24.210, 66.24.290, 41.16.050, and 41.24.030; adding a new section to chapter 70.47 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.170 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 7.70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 18.130 RCW; adding a new section to Title 70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.22 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 48.14 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; adding a new section to Title 51 RCW; adding new chapters to Title 70 RCW; creating new sections; prescribing penalties; making appropriations; providing effective dates; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
SB 5077 by Senator Vognild
AN ACT Relating to survival of actions and damages; and amending RCW 40.046.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5078 by Senators Owen, Oke, Sheldon, McDonald, Sutherland and Erwin
AN ACT Relating to Hood Canal fisheries; adding a new section to Title 77 RCW; and adding a new chapter to Title 75 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
SB 5079 by Senators Owen, Snyder, Hargrove and Erwin
AN ACT Relating to the digging of razor clams for persons with physical disability permits; and amending RCW 75.25.080.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Gaspard, the following resolution was adopted:
SENATE RESOLUTION 1993-8601
By Senators Gaspard, Snyder, Sellar, Anderson, Amondson, Barr, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Deccio, Drew, Erwin, Fraser, Hargrove, Haugen, Hochstatter, Jesernig, Loveland, McAuliffe, McCaslin, McDonald, Moore, Moyer, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Oke, Owen, Pelz, Prentice, Prince, Quigley, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Roach, Sheldon, Skratek, A. Smith, L. Smith, Spanel, Sutherland, Talmadge, Vognild, von Reichbauer, West, Williams, Winsley and Wojahn
WHEREAS, A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen served the people of Tacoma, Pierce County, and the state of Washington for nearly half a century; and
WHEREAS, Slim, who lived in Tacoma for all but the first year of his life, began a career of public service that began in 1944 with his appointment to the Tacoma School Board, and continued with service in the Legislature, on the Pierce County Council, and as Mayor of Tacoma; and
WHEREAS, His constant dedication to the interests of the working people of our state was an example to all in public service; and
WHEREAS, Senator Rasmussen was well known in the Legislature as one who studied each bill that came before him, and brought to the legislative process a unique and independent point of view; and
WHEREAS, Slim was expert at deflating the egos of those whom he believed strayed too far from promotion of the public interest; and
WHEREAS, Senator Rasmussen's vast legislative experience and excellent memory proved a frequent source of perspective and information, as well as a good deal of humor; and
WHEREAS, Senator Rasmussen, at the time of his death, was the most senior member of the Washington State Legislature; and
WHEREAS, Slim, in addition to his many years of public service, was also a dedicated and devoted husband, father, and grandfather;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate express its sympathy and condolences to the family of Senator A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate hereby pay tribute to Slim's legacy of public service and his contribution to the public good; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit copies of this resolution to the members of Senator Rasmussen's family.
A tape was played on remarks by Senator Rasmussen on a Senate Bill being debated in 1983.
Senators Gaspard, Snyder, Oke, Owen, Anderson, Deccio, Rasmussen, McCaslin, Wojahn, McDonald, von Reichbauer and Winsley spoke to Senate Resolution 1993-8601 and Senator A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen's legacy of public service and his contribution to the public good.
The President introduced members of Senator Rasmussen's family who were seated in the gallery.
President Pro Tempore Wojahn assumed the Chair.
MOTION
At 11:43 a.m., on motion of Senator Jesernig, the Senate was declared to be at recess.
The members of the Senate retired to the House Chamber for the purpose of a joint session.
JOINT SESSION
The Sergeant at Arms announced the arrival of the Senate at the bar of the House.
The Speaker (Representative R. Meyers presiding) instructed the Sergeant at Arms of the House and Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard, President Pro Tempore R. Lorraine Wojahn, Vice-President Pro Tempore Al Williams, Majority Leader Marcus S. Gaspard, and Minority Leader George L. Sellar to seats on the rostrum.
The Speaker (Representative R. Meyers presiding) invited the Senators to seats within the House Chamber.
Speaker Ebersole assumed the chair.
The Speaker appointed Senators Quigley, Roach and McCaslin and Representatives Basich, Valle, Stevens and Schoesler as a special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the State Reception Room to the House Chamber.
The Speaker appointed Senators Snyder, Sheldon and Oke and Representatives Bray, Scott, Van Luven and Cooke as a special committee to escort the elected officials from the State Reception room to the House Chamber.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS
The Speaker introduced His Excellency, the Consul General of Korea, Mr. Hae Soon Lee; His Excellency, the Consul General of Mexico, Lopez-Lira; the former Honorary Consul of Chile, Mr. Kerry Monterey; and Mr. Donald Brody, Honorary Consul General and Mrs. Brody from Malawi; who were seated in the gallery.
The Speaker introduced the Supreme Court Justices present, Chief Justice James A. Andersen, Justices Charles Z. Smith, Robert Brachtenbach, Charles Johnson, Barbara Madsen, Barbara Durham, Robert Utter, and Richard Guy.
The Speaker greeted the outgoing, incoming and continuing state elected officials, State Auditor Robert Graham, State Attorney General Ken Eikenberry, Commissioner of Public Lands Brian J. Boyle, Insurance Commissioner Richard Marquardt, Auditor-elect Brian Sonntag, Attorney General-elect Christine Gregoire, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Judith Billings, Commissioner of Public Lands-elect Jennifer Belcher, Insurance Commissioner-elect Deborah Senn, Secretary of State Ralph Munro and Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard.
The Speaker appointed Representatives Hine, Sommers and Grant to escort Congresswoman Maria Cantwell to her place on the rostrum.
The Speaker appointed Senators Vognild and Prince and Representatives Dorn and Miller as a special committee to escort Governor-elect Mike Lowry from the State Reception room to the House Chamber.
The Speaker appointed Senators Jesernig and Anderson and Representatives Anderson and Schmidt as a special committee to advise His Excellency, Governor Booth Gardner, that the Joint Session had assembled and to escort him from his Office to the House of Representatives.
The Speaker called the Joint Session to order.
The Clerk of the Senate called the roll of the Senate and all members were present except Senators Niemi and Linda Smith.
The Clerk of the House called the roll of the House and all members were present.
REMARKS BY THE SPEAKER
Speaker Ebersole: "This joint session has more than one purpose. It has been called to hear the State of the State Address of the Governor. This occasion also provides the legislature with the most appropriate opportunity to recognize retired and retiring state officials for their long and distinguished service to the state of Washington. The Joint Session also complies with the constitutional requirement to canvass the vote for the constitutional elective offices of the state of Washington. In view of the election results certified by the Secretary of State, and to which there have been no protests, this joint session now declares the following qualified citizens to be elected in accordance with the constitution of the State of Washington:
MIKE LOWRY, GOVERNOR
JOEL PRITCHARD, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
RALPH MUNRO, SECRETARY OF STATE
DAN GRIMM, STATE TREASURER
BRIAN SONNTAG, STATE AUDITOR
CHRISTINE GREGOIRE, ATTORNEY GENERAL
JUDITH BILLINGS, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
JENNIFER BELCHER, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS
DEBORAH SENN, INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
FURTHER REMARKS BY THE SPEAKER
Speaker Ebersole: "Having discharged the constitutional requirement imposed upon the Speaker of the House, it is now my pleasure to call upon the President of the Senate, Joel Pritchard, to preside over the Joint Session."
The Speaker presented the gavel to President Pritchard.
President Pritchard: "Thank you, Brian. Well it's a joyous occasion. We have a new start; we have a lot of new faces; we have the same old artwork. As the Speaker has announced, this occasion provides all of us with the opportunity to recognize old friends who are leaving office after long and effective service to the state of Washington.
"For this part of the program, I am going to call upon Secretary of State Ralph Munro to join me and the Speaker in making presentations to these distinguished individuals. Secretary Munro, will you please make the first introduction."
INTRODUCTION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
DICK MARQUARDT
Secretary of State Munro: "Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, a long-time Insurance Commissioner for our state, Mr. Dick Marquardt is a former Senator from north Seattle and the Director of the Washington State Selective Service Commission. Commissioner Marquardt was first elected in 1976. Under his leadership, Washington became the first state to outlaw low benefit, high-cost life insurance, including the so-called funeral plans. The rule survived all court challenges by insurance companies, even to the State Supreme Court. The Commissioner's crusade against deceptive television advertising and misleading cold-lead insurance mail marketing to get prospect's names has won him national acclaim from consumer groups in 1987 and 1988. The Commissioner's Senior Health Insurance Benefit's Advisors, commonly called SHIBA, is a volunteer program that was the first of its kind in the nation, and is the model for a new federal grant program establishing similar ideas and plans in forty-nine states.
"Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, I give you the Insurance Commissioner of the state of Washington, the Honorable Richard Marquardt."
The President and the Speaker presented Insurance Commissioner Marquardt with a plaque of appreciation.
REMARKS BY INSURANCE COMMISSIONER MARQUARDT
Insurance Commissioner Marquardt: "Well, it's a wonderful thrill to have served the public for these past sixteen years. You folks have been very cooperative with my office, and I thank you. I'd like to ask that same cooperation for my successor. Thank you, again."
INTRODUCTION OF PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSIONER BRIAN BOYLE
Secretary of State Munro: "Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, Brian Boyle studied at the Montana School of Mines and earned his tuition each summer working as a hard rock miner himself. He went on to the University of Portland and the University of Chicago. Mr. Brian Boyle, formerly a Cowlitz County Commissioner, was elected as our Public Lands Commissioner in 1980.
"Under his leadership, the Department of Natural Resources has achieved many milestones, including the Timber, Fish, Wildlife Agreement, The Commission on Old Growth Alternatives and the Olympic Experimental State Forest--establishing a network of natural area preserves and natural resource conservation areas. He created the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account which gives us aquatic lands lease payments for public access trails, restoration of estuaries, and improvement of beaches and boater access and lastly, a state landscape that will be better because of his work. Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, I present to you our Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands, Mr. Brian Boyle."
The President and the Speaker presented Commissioner of Public Lands Boyle with a plaque of appreciation.
REMARKS BY COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS BRIAN BOYLE
Commissioner of Public Lands Boyle: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Mr. President. It's interesting to be here twelve years later, and realize how I sat there, kind of in awe of this room, in 1980, as the new state elected officials are today. It's also interesting, and I think it's a mark of progress, that a Commissioner of Public Lands could show up wearing canary yellow. There is a substantial difference in, I suspect, it's obvious in the make-up and I suspect in the temperament of the new elected officials, and I wish you well.
"I think it's a mark of progress that those of us who recognize our time has past, step aside, and make room for other progressive ideas. You should remember that Voltaire, when asked to eulogize someone that he detested, said that he was a great writer, a statesman, a wonderful husband and father, and I'll say that all, presuming he's actually dead.
"We should remember that those of us who claim that we've accomplished things through leadership sometimes have had to step aside, because it's really the followers that provide the leadership, and we've had to step aside to make room for them. One of the things that I have enjoyed, and I hope you as new legislators do, is that the caliber of people in state government, as state employees, is incredibly high and they're terribly dedicated to the quality of living in the state of Washington. Thank you."
INTRODUCTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN EIKENBERRY
Secretary of State Munro: "Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ken Eikenberry, Washington State's fourteenth Attorney General, was born and educated in the Wenatchee Valley, received a law degree from the University of Washington, was a deputy prosecutor for King County and an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For three terms, he worked in this room as a member of the House of Representatives. General Eikenberry has now served twelve years as our Attorney General, appointed on numerous occasions by the White House to National Commissions. Ken Eikenberry is known for his consumer protection work. Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, I give you the Attorney General of the state of Washington, the Honorable Ken Eikenberry."
The President and the Speaker presented Attorney General Eikenberry with a plaque of appreciation.
REMARKS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN EIKENBERRY
Attorney General Eikenberry: "Well, thank you for this handsome memento, and this occasion. It's nice of the Legislature and the officers to do this. I should start out by addressing Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of this joint session and ladies and gentlemen. I hope Mr. President, you don't mind, I'm not being disrespectful, but as a former House member, I always address the Speaker first.
"It has been a high honor and a privilege to serve as the Attorney General for the people of our state, and to serve with you during the past twelve years. As a former House member, I do appreciate the pressures and the challenges that confront this body as you hammer out legislation designed to benefit the citizens of our state. It's in that spirit that I want to comment and express appreciation for the attention and the amendments you've given to the consumer, and fair business practices laws of our state, to the attention you've given to improving the law on crime, particularly as it relates to sex predators, and to victims of crime, culminating in the Amendment to our Constitution in 1989 on behalf of crime victims.
"I'd like to close on the thought of the authority that was placed in the Office of the Attorney General by this body in 1981, giving it the responsibility of prosecuting certain kinds of crimes and offenses and investigating them. That has been a demonstration project for this body since that time, expanding into especially difficult kinds of prosecutions, such as murder cases in several counties, crimes against government agencies, like the reformatory at Monroe, racketeer influence in corrupt organization prosecutions, Labor and Industries medical provider fraud cases, and that sort of thing. I do suggest to you that this will be an area that you will look at expanding into as criminal activity does become more sophisticated and more difficult to prosecute in the future. But for today, again, my appreciation to you, for the opportunity to work with you in crafting and designing these items of legislation, designed to benefit the citizens of our state. Thank you again for this occasion."
INTRODUCTION OF STATE AUDITOR ROBERT GRAHAM
Secretary of State Munro: "Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, since statehood in 1889, our Washington State has only had seven constitutional auditors. Robert V. Graham is the seventh, and was first elected to this position in November of 1964. Previously, he worked for Labor and Industries and the Budget Office. This is his forty-seventh year of state service. He received his education at Moclips High School on the Pacific Coast and Grays Harbor College. He and his lovely wife, Loydine, have been married for forty-seven years. Among his many accomplishments, Auditor Bob Graham has developed a nationally recognized fraud prevention and investigation program. He has led the states in auditing electronic data processing systems and applying computer assisted audit techniques. He's provided direct leadership in the production of the state's first audited financial statements in 1982. In 1987, and each year since, the state has received a certificate of achievement of excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officer's Association for its comprehensive annual financial report. Mr. Speaker and Mr. President, I present to you our Washington State Auditor for the last twenty-eight years, the Honorable Bob Graham."
The President and the Speaker presented State Auditor Graham with a plaque of appreciation.
REMARKS BY STATE AUDITOR GRAHAM
State Auditor Graham: "Well, Mr. Speaker, Mr. President and all of you esteemed elected officials and citizens here present--and family here present--I just want to say that I can't really believe that I'm hanging up a fifty-year career, at this particular point in time, but they do say that time passes swiftly when you are having fun--and that's been the case. As a matter of fact twenty-eight years ago tomorrow, I stood here and was sworn in as the seventh state auditor of the state of Washington by Judge Ott and that seems phenomenal, being in that position for twenty-eight years. The interesting thing, too, is the first four auditors served for just sixteen years total, so there have been three of us old birds that have served for eighty-eight years, which I think is probably a national precedent or a winning championship, as far as tenure in office.
"I really have a couple of thank you's that I want to make today. One is to the people who have given me the opportunity to fulfill a youthful desire. I wrote in my high school annual that what I hoped to do when I graduated was to go on to college and finish my education in either accounting or law and apply it in government, and nothing could have fit more than the Office of State Auditor in that. So even in my youth, I looked upon the possibility of my vocation being public service. The second thank you should go to the legislative body--the legislative body over a number of years--because I have officed continuously in this building, since May 1 of 1948. The Legislature has been a good host to allow me to office here in this Legislative Building for all those years. I am going to share a little secret with you, not everybody believes that this is the Legislative Building. There are some here today in the gallery over here, mainly my children and my grandchildren, because for a number of years this building was known as Daddy's Capital. In more contemporary history, this building is known as Grandpa's Capital, but you have been good hosts.
"It's been said, in the introduction, that we have really brought accountability and full financial disclosure to the state of Washington during my tenure, and that's true. It was a good thing that we did that with those audited financial statements, because two years after we did that, Standards, Poor and Moody came out with the ruling that unless a state had audited financial statements that they would do one of two things, either they wouldn't rate the state bonds at all or they would rate them down, so that has bode well for us in our bond rating in the state of Washington.
"I've always run the office feeling that I'm responsible to the people of this state who have elected me, but equally responsive to the state legislative body. The audits that we provide have been, I feel, a tool to this body to do the work of managing the public purse and setting the public policy, which is your role. The state has been the beneficiary of what has been said here this morning about the national recognition of the Office of Auditor. We have that strong recognition in the financial audit area.
"There's one area yet to be done, however. In the state of Washington, the Office of Auditor is the only state in the nation where the Office of Auditor is precluded from doing performance audits and I think that is something that the Legislature should look at and actually pass a law to change the law preventing that function in the Office of Auditor.
"The law says that I can give information to this body at any time or to make recommendations at any time, so I'll use this parting shot to say that my recommendation is that you amend the law prohibiting the Office of Auditor to do performance audits, because in so doing you will enhance the tool kit for yourself to do future work in the role that you have to play. You'll also be giving the citizen taxpayer of this state the biggest bang for its buck.
"Let me just say in concluding that my career has been fulfilling. It most certainly has been satisfying and it is satisfying because I think that the citizens of this state, the one thing that they want most is the accountability from their government. That is what the Office of Auditor is all about. The late President, John Kennedy, said something and I'll paraphrase it, he said, 'The most important thing that a government can have is the confidence of our people.' It is my belief that the accountability role that the Office of Auditor plays in this state for clean government has given the citizens of this state some confidence in their government, both at the state and local government level. Therein lies my satisfaction of my career and I just want to thank the people of the state for the opportunity to fill my youthful desire. Finally, I want to thank my family who have borne with me over these years, and particularly my wife, Loydine, to see that I've kept in line and to carry out the role of the Office of State Auditor. It's been a great thing and I've enjoyed it very much. Thank you."
INTRODUCTION OF GOVERNOR BOOTH GARDNER
Secretary of State Munro: "Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, the Governor of the state of Washington, The Honorable Booth Gardner, and his wonderful wife, Jean, have led our state for the last eight years. Governor Gardner will be remembered for strong environmental legislation that will keep Washington livable far into the future--growth management; water resource management; oil-spill prevention; cleaner air; Puget Sound clean-up; Hanford clean-up; hazardous waste clean-up; a plan to save the salmon; improving education, as in early childhood education for all four year-olds; smaller class sizes; improved funding; school choice; leadership towards the educational reform; setting the stage for health care reform; creating the Department of Health to focus on health efforts; establishing the Basic Health Care Plan to expand access; spearheading health care reform at the state and national levels as Chair of the National Governor's Association; making Washington a safer and healthier place for children, as in more health care and better nutrition for poor children; more CPS workers; tougher penalties for child abuse; cracking down on dead-beat dads and the finest of service to our state's disabled and handicapped children; fostering an attitude of openness and cooperation in state government so that it's now more accessible to citizens; more welcoming of women and minorities; on good terms with our Native American tribes--and more efficient and better managed.
"Mrs. Gardner will be remembered for her fine work as the Co-Chair of the state's one hundredth birthday celebration, the 1989 Centennial. She has been an active and involved supporter of our state's heritage programs. Known for her ready smile and warm personality, Jean Gardner has been an absolutely first-rate First Lady. Mr. President and Mr. Speaker, I give you Governor and Mrs. Gardner, affectionately known to the citizens of our state as Booth and Jean."
The President and Speaker presented Governor Gardner with a plaque of appreciation.
INTRODUCTION OF THE GOVERNOR BY SPEAKER EBERSOLE
Speaker Ebersole: It's a great honor for me to join with Secretary of State Munro and President of the Senate Pritchard in introducing one of the most popular Governors this state has ever had and one of the finest human beings many of us have ever known. I know that the press has been full of articles, lately, discussing and dissecting Booth's administration and his achievements, but none of them have really focused on the role that Booth and Jean have played as first citizens of this great state. In that role, both Jean and Booth have set a new standard. They are both people who have lead by example.
"As the chief organizer of this state's centennial celebration, Jean Gardner brought new depth to our understanding of our cultural diversity and history of Washington State. Without preaching, she taught us a lot about who we are as a state and about how important it is to recognize the contributions of every ethnic group in every community. As First Lady, Jean has been independent, involved, willing to take risks, and at the same time fully devoted to her family.
"Booth has been every bit her equal. His openness to people from every walk of life and his ability to make friends are legendary. I am convinced that there are at least ten thousand people across this state who count Booth among their very best friends. What's even more extraordinary, they really are. Booth is a man who can connect with people--genuinely, honestly, and with real concern for their well being. This is a Governor who has had time for every man and women in this state, unless of course there were children around. If you have ever been in a room and watched Booth at a public event, you will know of what I speak. We know that when Booth spots a child, he will snub Supreme Court Justices, political big shots and CEO's of major corporations and make a beeline to that child. When this Governor says children come first; he means it and he lives it.
"We've all learned a great deal from him and we all know that today we are about to learn something more. Please join me in again welcoming the nineteenth Governor of the state of Washington, the Honorable Booth Gardner."
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
BY GOVERNOR BOOTH GARDNER
Governor Gardner: "Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Supreme Court, existing elected officials, newly elected officials, members of the Legislature and citizens of the state of Washington.
"Before I begin my prepared remarks, I would like you to join me in a round of appreciation, first of all--although Ralph mentioned her--for the individual who I have strived to equal. Would you like to give this speech? A person who led this state through a very successful centennial and has been an outstanding First Lady of the state. Jean, would you stand to be recognized by your friends, please?
"Members of our immediate family are here. Our daughter is teaching school and could not get off today, but our son-in-law, son and daughter-in-law are here. Would you please stand, along with my cousins, grandparents, and whoever else is here? Thank you.
"In a strenuous effort to serve the Legislature and the people of the state as effectively as we could, and having made a sincere effort to do so, I would like you now to recognize--and would the staff of the governor's office and the policy office, who are here today, please stand and be thanked for the fine work which you have done?
"Lastly, I would like to recognize the cabinet members who are with us today and to thank you for a tremendous service to the state of Washington. Would you please stand and be recognized?
"I am going to begin my talk today focusing on a particular community in the state of Washington. As I do this, I want you all to keep in mind that for almost everyone of you, you represent a community like the one I am going to be talking about. It just happens that I have picked the town of Hoquiam--a timber town in Grays Harbor. For longer than anyone can remember, the Grays Harbor area has been one of the largest timber producing regions in the United States of America. For several generations, trees meant jobs in Grays Harbor. There are plenty of trees left in those forests, but there are no longer many jobs. Supply, demand and environmental issues have conspired against Hoquiam. I have been there many times--most recently this past fall, just after a permanent mill closure put another nine hundred people out of work.
"As we drove into Hoquiam, through the falling rain that afternoon, the town looked like one of those Fisher Price creations--neat rows of homes with churches and schools and stores, side-by-side, all surrounded by an endless landscape of growing trees. As I watched the rain fall, I thought of the generations of men and women who had grown up, worked, married, raised their families, lived and died, surrounded by trees. It was and it is a good life. Working in the woods is not easy, but it's an honest day's work and it is a good wage. It was something solid to pass from father to son and from mother to daughter. It was something solid upon which to build a community. The strength of that community was evident at Hoquiam High School, home of the Grizzlies, where I spoke at an assembly.
"When I looked at those young women and men, just about to embark upon adulthood, full of hope for their future, but perplexed and scared by what was happening to their parents, I was moved. I dug deep and I told them that nothing is permanent, not even the town where they had been born, or the woods and mills that gave that town its life. I told them that while their parents and their grandparents have lived a good life and productive life in Hoquiam, that same life may not be available to all of them. I advised them to look ahead and not cling to the past. I urged them to continue their education and to look, perhaps, beyond Hoquiam--beyond the mills which they could see and the trees which surrounded them--toward the more prosperous economies on I-5.
"I thought it was a pretty good speech. It was honest; it made sense; it had hope; and it was doable. Apparently it was heard, because at least one student went home and told her parents about that talk. At a community forum that evening, one of the parents asked me to share what I had told the students. When I finished, a man rose from the crowd. You could see twenty-five years of working in the woods on his face and on his hands--twenty five years which had ended a month before with a pink slip. He said, 'Governor,' and then more ominously, he said, 'Booth, what you say is all right for my kids, but what about me? I'm forty-five years old; I have four children; my mother is sick. Do you really think that I can start over again?'
"I didn't have much of an answer. Since that evening, I have thought a lot about that man and I have thought a lot about what I could say to you that would be useful--to the many new legislators who are here for the first time--to the many veterans of this body who have risen to positions of leadership--and something that could be useful to the people of the state of Washington.
"For the past eight years, I have had a perspective that has been shared by only seventeen other people. The view from the Governor's office is different from any other view. From that corner office, you inevitably come to see the big picture--the distant horizon on the future and the oncoming rush of history. It is a pinnacle of power, but it is also a daily lesson in humility. It is a daily lesson in the limits of what government can do, the inevitability of change and the challenge of passing democratic values from one generation to the next.
"Here's what I've seen from this perspective. First, and most important, I have seen that everybody matters. That man in Hoquiam matters; his children matter; his sick mother matters. Every student in our public schools matter; every teenager's dream is essential to our future and every adult of this state is an important citizen. There are no 'little people' in the state of Washington--perhaps little minds that fail to grasp the basic truth of our common humanity and our common future.
"Secondly, I have seen that change is a double-edged sword. Change is constructive; it is desirable. In a dynamic, free-market economy, it is inevitable, but it can also be painful, frightening and often terribly unfair. Government doesn't have much control over a great deal of it, but we are required to respond to it, to try to shape and direct it where we can, and to protect those who suffer from its effects.
"In some cases, we are called upon to promote change and to overcome the enormous obstacles and entrenched resistance in order to achieve it. For example, when we discover that change in other countries has resulted in their students learning more than our children, we are called upon to move heaven and earth to change the way we educate our young people. When our health care system spins out of control and devours both family and government budgets, we are called upon to change the way which we organize and deliver our medical services--and to do it quickly.
"The essential point about change is this: Our ability to sustain a stable, democratic and prosperous society depends on our capacity to change. It depends upon us having the courage to change--even when change is uncomfortable--even when there is resistance to change--and even when some of the consequences of change are unknown. In a democratic society, the status quo is the enemy of stability--not its friend.
"The final truth I have come to see in the past eight years is that we are all pretty ignorant. We never have enough information to make our decisions, but we have to make them anyway. Our power to predict the future is extremely imperfect and our knowledge of our own constituents is constantly overtaken by social and cultural changes which we barely comprehend.
"So, for all of us--everyone of us on this floor--to lead is to learn. To be Governor is simply to be the premier student in the state of Washington. To be Governor is to know that the more we differ from one another, the more we have to learn from each other. And to be Governor is to know that if the state is to prosper, all of us--of every age and in every community--must become more diligent students.
"I leave this office after eight years with a profound affection and respect for the people of this state, and for the thousands of public servants who make our state government work. I am genuinely grateful to you in the Legislature and to the citizens of this state for all that you have taught me and I will never forget that which I have learned.
"Thank you and goodbye."
The President invited all legislators and the public to attend a reception outside the State Reception Room for the outgoing State Elected Officials.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Governor and his wife from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Governor-elect from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Congresswoman from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the State Elected Officials from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the House Chamber.
MOTION
On motion of Representative Hine, the Joint Session was dissolved.
The President of the Senate returned the gavel to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Speaker instructed the Sergeant at Arms of the House and Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard, President Pro Tempore R. Lorraine Wojahn, Vice-President Pro Tempore Al Williams, Majority Leader Marcus S. Gaspard and Minority Leader George L. Sellar and members of the State Senate from the House Chamber.
The Senate was called to order at 1:04 p.m. by President Pro Tempore Wojahn.
MOTION
At 1:04 p.m., on motion of Senator Jesernig, the Senate adjourned until 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 13, 1993.
JOEL PRITCHARD, President of the Senate
MARTY BROWN, Secretary of the Senate