| VETO MESSAGE ON ESHB 2190 |
| March 23, 2012 |
| To the Honorable Speaker and Members, |
| The House of Representatives of the State of Washington |
| Ladies and Gentlemen: |
| I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Sections 102(9), 604, 212(2), 216(7), 602(4), and 717, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2190 entitled: |
"AN ACT Relating to transportation funding and appropriations." |
| Section 102(9), pages 4-5, Office of Financial Management |
| Section 604, page 93, Washington State Patrol |
| These provisos require the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and the Washington State Patrol to conduct a technical review of the State Patrol's conversion to narrowbanding. Funding was not provided in either proviso, and review of the narrowbanding project has already been done by external entities. For these reasons, I have vetoed Section 102(9) and Section 604. |
| Section 212(2), page 28, Department of Transportation |
| This proviso directs the Department to provide a report about a possible move of the Aviation Division from Arlington to Olympia, and states that this move cannot occur unless approved by the Legislature during the 2013 session. A financial analysis has already been completed that identifies savings by moving the Aviation Division office to a state-owned building. For this reason, I have vetoed Section 212(2). |
| Section 216(7), page 35, Department of Transportation |
| This proviso requires the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, upon the request of a county, to reduce the maximum speed limits on a state highway in proximity to a state university research and extension center. As highway safety remains one of my top transportation concerns, I have instructed the Department to work with the affected counties identified in this proviso by June 30, 2012. Nevertheless, for safety reasons, state highway speed limits should be managed in a consistent manner at the state level. For this reason, I have vetoed Section 216(7). |
| Section 602(4), page 91, Department of Transportation |
| This proviso requires that the Department of Transportation's 2013-15 biennial budget submittal include a three percent reduction in workforce in Information Technology, Program Delivery Management, Administration and Support, and Planning and Research. The Department believes it is more appropriate that the budget be informed by workload needs, federal planning requirements and other management responsibilities, which are balanced against project delivery expectations and available resources. The proviso also imposes a management-to-staffing ratio on the Department's administrative operating programs. These programs require a higher-than-average concentration of managers as they provide statewide management and oversight of the highways construction program and other core programs. Therefore, it is not appropriate to impose a management-to-staffing ratio on these programs. For these reasons, I have vetoed Section 602(4), and instructed the Department to continue to find efficiencies and make reductions in its administrative overhead this biennium and in the 2013--15 biennial budget submittal. For this reason, I have vetoed Section 602(4). |
| Section 717, page 98, Conditionally Additive Appropriations |
| This proviso ties the appropriation of additional transportation funding in sections 702, 705, 708, 710, 711(2), 712, and 713 to the passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6455, which did not pass. In order to preserve the appropriations, I have vetoed Section 717. |
| With the exception of Sections 102(9), 604, 212(2), 216(7), 602(4) and 717, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2190 is approved. |
| Respectfully submitted, |
| Christine Gregoire |
| Governor |