WHEREAS, we are called upon in these unprecedented economic times to both conserve resources and continue to meet our responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, the current recession is causing severe economic stress for small businesses and governments; and

WHEREAS, in a time of severe budget constraints, small businesses and governments find it more difficult to monitor and respond to proposed changes in rules and policies; and

WHEREAS, a stable and predictable regulatory and policy environment will conserve resources for small businesses and local governments and promote economic recovery; and

WHEREAS, suspending non-critical rule making will allow agencies to focus staff resources on direct service delivery; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christine O. Gregoire, Governor of the state of Washington, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the state of Washington, do hereby order and direct:

(1)	The suspension of non-critical rule development and adoption from the date of this Executive Order through December 31, 2011.
(2)	The Office of Financial Management to publish guidelines identifying circumstances in which rule making may proceed.

This Order applies to all cabinet agencies and boards, commissions and other agencies that report to the Governor. I invite all other elected officials, institutions of higher education, agencies, boards, commissions and other entities with rule making authority to follow the requirements of this Order.

This Order is not intended to, and does not confer any legal rights and shall not be used as a basis for legal challenges to rules or other actions or to any inaction of the governmental entity subject to it.

This Order shall expire by its own terms on January 1, 2012.

Signed and sealed with the official seal of the state of Washington on this 17th day of November 2010 at Olympia, Washington.

		By:
		Christine O. Gregoire Governor
BY THE GOVERNOR:
Steve Excell
[Assistant] Secretary of State

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