VETO MESSAGE ON ESSB 5749

June 6, 2011

To the Honorable President and Members,
The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Section 1, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5749 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the Washington advanced college tuition payment program."

Section 1 would expand the membership of the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment, limit private sector and citizen representatives on the committee to four year terms and require Senate confirmation of citizen and business representatives. The work of this committee involves oversight of complex financial issues. The bill does not stagger the terms of the committee members, and expands the number of term-limited members to four of the committee's seven members. Unstaggered and limited terms for a majority of the committee members would leave the committee highly vulnerable to the loss of expertise accumulated by citizen and business representatives and inhibit the work of this committee.

For these reasons, I have vetoed Section 1 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5749.

With the exception of Section 1, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5749 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,
Christine Gregoire
Governor