| VETO MESSAGE ON 2SSB 5945 |
| May 18, 2009 |
| To the Honorable President and Members, |
| The Senate of the State of Washington |
| I have approved, except for Section 3, Second Substitute Senate Bill 5945 entitled: |
"AN ACT Relating to creating the Washington health partnership plan." |
| Section 3 creates the Washington health partnership advisory group and requires me to convene quarterly meetings of the group from October 2009 through June 2010. Creating in statute a new advisory group, even one of limited duration, is contrary to our recent effort to reduce the number of such groups across all of state government. I will emphasize to the relevant state agencies the importance of keeping all interested parties up to date on our state's health care reform efforts, and if appropriate will convene the type of meeting called for in this section without the need to create this group in statute. |
| With the exception of Section 3, Second Substitute Senate Bill 5945 is approved. |
| Respectfully submitted, |
| Christine O. Gregoire |
| Governor |