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THIRD DAY
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MORNING SESSION
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Senate Chamber, Olympia, Wednesday, January 15, 1997
The Senate was called to order at 11:30 a.m. by President Pritchard. The Secretary called the roll and announced to the President that all Senators were present.
The Sergeant at Arms Color Guard, consisting of Pages Andy Pelz and Julie Flynn, presented the Colors. Reverend Kathryn Everett, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Olympia, offered the prayer.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Johnson, the reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was approved.
MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR
GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS
January 2, 1997
TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have the honor to submit the following reappointment, subject to your confirmation.
Robert E. Quoidbach, reappointed January 2, 1997, for a term ending January 1, 2003, as a member of the Forest Practices Appeals Board.
Sincerely,
MIKE LOWRY, Governor
HOLD.
January 13, 1997
TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have the honor to submit the following appointment, subject to your confirmation.
Dr. Thomas F. Sanquist, appointed January 13, 1997, for a term ending December 26, 2000, as a member of the Board of Pilotage Commissioners.
Sincerely,
MIKE LOWRY, Governor
HOLD.
January 14, 1997
TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have the honor to submit the following appointment, subject to your confirmation.
Joe Taller, appointed January 14, 1997, for a term ending December 31, 2002, as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Sincerely,
MIKE LOWRY, Governor
HOLD.
January 14, 1997
TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have the honor to submit the following appointment, subject to your confirmation.
Joan K. Thomas, appointed January 14, 1997, for a term ending December 31, 2002, as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Sincerely,
MIKE LOWRY, Governor
HOLD.
January 15, 1997
TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have the honor to submit the following appointment, subject to your confirmation.
Mark Brown, appointed January 15, 1997, for a term ending December 31, 1999, as a member of the Investment Board.
Sincerely,
MIKE LOWRY, Governor
HOLD.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Johnson, the Gubernatorial Appointments were held on the desk.
MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE
January 14, 1997
MR. PRESIDENT:
The Speaker has signed HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4400, and the same is herewith transmitted.
TIMOTHY A. MARTIN, Chief Clerk
January 14, 1997
MR. PRESIDENT:
The Speaker has signed HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4401, and the same is herewith transmitted.
TIMOTHY A. MARTIN, Chief Clerk
January 15, 1997
MR. PRESIDENT:
The Speaker has signed SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8400, and the same is herewith transmitted.
TIMOTHY A. MARTIN, Chief Clerk
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT
The President signed:
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4400,
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4401.
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
SB 5100 by Senators Oke and Strannigan
AN ACT Relating to professional service corporations; and amending RCW 18.100.030, 18.100.090, 18.100.095, 18.100.110, and 18.100.116.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5101 by Senators Oke, Winsley and Sheldon
AN ACT Relating to juror privacy; adding new sections to chapter 4.44 RCW; creating new sections; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5102 by Senators Oke and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to an annual recreational surcharge on personal use food fish licenses; and amending RCW 75.54.140.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Parks.
SB 5103 by Senators Oke and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to commercial fishery licenses; and amending RCW 75.28.030 and 75.28.046.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Parks.
SB 5104 by Senators Oke, Loveland, Hale, Morton, Swecker, Rossi, Snyder, West, Bauer, Haugen and Rasmussen
AN ACT Relating to game birds; adding new sections to chapter 77.12 RCW; and creating new sections.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Parks.
SB 5105 by Senators Deccio, McCaslin, Hale, Goings, Johnson, Haugen, West, Winsley, Oke, Schow and Roach
AN ACT Relating to administrative rule making; amending RCW 34.05.380; and adding a new section to chapter 34.05 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5106 by Senators McAuliffe, Wood, Kohl, Prince, Patterson, Hochstatter, Bauer, Sheldon, Brown, Rasmussen, Long, Goings, Haugen, Franklin, Thibaudeau, Loveland, Snyder, Winsley and Oke
AN ACT Relating to the Washington advanced college tuition payment program; and adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW.
Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
SB 5107 by Senators Roach and Johnson
AN ACT Relating to consent provisions under the Washington business corporation act; and amending RCW 23B.02.020, 23B.07.040, and 23B.19.040.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5108 by Senators Roach and Johnson
AN ACT Relating to the transfer of a community property interest in an individual retirement account at death; and amending RCW 6.15.020.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5109 by Senators Roach and Johnson
AN ACT Relating to the dissolution of limited liability companies caused by the loss of members; and amending RCW 25.15.270.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5110 by Senators Johnson and Roach
AN ACT Relating to probate; amending RCW 11.02.005, 11.07.010, 11.28.240, 11.28.270, 11.28.280, 11.40.010, 11.40.020, 11.40.030, 11.40.040, 11.40.060, 11.40.070, 11.40.080, 11.40.090, 11.40.100, 11.40.110, 11.40.120, 11.40.130, 11.40.140, 11.40.150, 11.42.010, 11.42.020, 11.42.030, 11.42.040, 11.42.050, 11.42.060, 11.42.070, 11.42.080, 11.42.090, 11.42.100, 11.42.110, 11.42.120, 11.42.130, 11.42.140, 11.42.150, 11.44.015, 11.44.025, 11.44.035, 11.44.050, 11.44.070, 11.44.085, 11.44.090, 11.48.130, 11.68.050, 11.68.060, 11.68.080, 11.68.090, 11.68.110, 11.76.080, 11.76.095, 11.86.041, 11.95.140, 11.98.070, 11.98.240, 11.96.070, 11.104.010, 11.104.110, 11.108.010, 11.108.020, 11.108.025, 11.108.050, and 11.108.060; adding new sections to chapter 11.40 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 11.42 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 11.68 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 11.104 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 11 RCW; and repealing RCW 11.40.011, 11.40.012, 11.40.013, 11.40.014, 11.40.015, 11.42.160, 11.42.170, 11.42.180, 11.44.066, 11.52.010, 11.52.012, 11.52.014, 11.52.016, 11.52.020, 11.52.022, 11.52.024, 11.52.030, 11.52.040, 11.52.050, 11.68.010, 11.68.020, 11.68.030, and 11.68.040
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5111 by Senators Winsley and Loveland
AN ACT Relating to the preparation of maps by county assessors for listing of real estate; and amending RCW 84.40.160.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5112 by Senators Oke and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to interest on property tax refunds; amending RCW 84.69.100; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 5113 by Senator Oke
AN ACT Relating to license fees; and amending RCW 46.68.010 and 88.02.055.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5114 by Senator Oke
AN ACT Relating to including solid waste collection in the taxation of retail sales of tangible personal property; and amending RCW 35.21.710.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 5115 by Senator Oke
AN ACT Relating to renewal of salon/shop or booth renter's licenses; and amending RCW 18.16.110.
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor.
SB 5116 by Senators Snyder, Hargrove, Bauer and Rasmussen
AN ACT Relating to natural area preserves; and adding a new section to chapter 79.70 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Parks.
SB 5117 by Senators Hochstatter, Fraser, Johnson and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to schools with special standards; and amending RCW 28A.320.140.
Referred to Committee on Education.
SB 5118 by Senators McAuliffe, Hargrove, Winsley, Long and Sheldon
AN ACT Relating to truancy petitions; and reenacting and amending RCW 28A.225.035.
Referred to Committee on Education.
SB 5119 by Senators Swecker, Snyder and Roach
AN ACT Relating to compensating members of the forest practices appeals board; amending RCW 76.09.220; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Parks.
SB 5120 by Senator Morton
AN ACT Relating to fish enhancement with remote site incubators; adding a new chapter to Title 75 RCW; and creating new sections.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Parks.
SB 5121 by Senators Johnson, Newhouse and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to the waiver or cancellation of interest or penalties for certain estate tax returns; and amending RCW 83.100.070.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 5122 by Senators West, Oke, Hargrove, Swecker, Haugen, Snyder, Anderson, Morton, Sellar, Strannigan, Bauer, Winsley and Rasmussen
AN ACT Relating to county excise tax on harvesters of timber; and amending RCW 84.33.051, 84.33.035, 84.33.040, and 84.36.473.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 5123 by Senators Kohl, Long, Hargrove, Franklin, Zarelli, Winsley, Goings, Oke and Schow
AN ACT Relating to the placement of sexually aggressive youth; adding a new section to chapter 13.40 RCW; and creating new sections.
Referred to Committee on Human Services and Corrections.
SB 5124 by Senators Kohl, Roach, Long, Fairley, Hargrove, Haugen and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to assessments for the prostitution prevention and intervention account; amending RCW 9.68A.105 and 9A.88.120; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Human Services and Corrections.
SB 5125 by Senators Deccio, Wojahn and Winsley (by request of Department of Social and Health Services)
AN ACT Relating to statutory authority to revise medical assistance managed care contracting under federal demonstration waivers granted under section 1115; amending RCW 74.09.522; repealing RCW 48.46.150; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Health and Long-Term Care.
SB 5126 by Senators Deccio, Wojahn and Winsley (by request of Department of Social and Health Services)
AN ACT Relating to delegation of lien and subrogation rights to medical health care systems by contract; and amending RCW 74.09.180 and 43.20B.060.
Referred to Committee on Health and Long-Term Care.
SB 5127 by Senators Wojahn, Deccio, Thibaudeau, Wood, Oke, Loveland, Sellar, Snyder, Fairley, Spanel, Sheldon, McCaslin, West, Bauer, Winsley, Goings and Schow
AN ACT Relating to funding trauma care services; amending RCW 70.168.040, 46.16.060, 46.16.606, 63.14.010, and 63.14.130; adding a new section to chapter 70.168 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 46.70 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Health and Long-Term Care.
MOTIONS
On motion of Senator Johnson, the Committee on Ways and Means was relieved of further consideration of Senate Bill No. 5074.
On motion of Senator Johnson, Senate Bill No. 5074 was referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
MOTION
At 11:38 a.m., on motion of Senator Johnson, 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 instructed the Sergeants at Arms of the House and Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Joel Pritchard, President Pro Tempore Irv Newhouse, Majority Leader Dan McDonald, and Minority Leader Sid Snyder to seats on the rostrum.
The Speaker invited the Senators to seats within the House Chamber.
The Speaker presented the gavel to the President of the Senate, Joel Pritchard.
The President declared the Joint Session to be in order.
The Clerk of the House called the roll of the members of the House.
The Secretary of the Senate called the roll of the members of the Senate.
APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE
The President appointed Representatives Mastin and Kenney, and Senators Winsley and Bauer as a special committee to advise Governor-elect Gary Locke that the Joint Session had assembled, and to escort him and Mrs. Locke to the House Chamber.
The President appointed Representatives Van Luven, Skinner, Sullivan and Gardner, and Senators Kohl, Finkbeiner, Goings and Hochstatter as a special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the State Reception Room to seats within the House Chamber.
The President appointed Representatives Sehlin, McMorris, Butler and Kastama, and Senators Oke, Schow, Spanel and Haugen as a special committee to escort the State Elected Officials from the State Reception Room to seats within the House Chamber.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS
The President introduced the Supreme Court Justices, the State Elected Officials and United States Senator Patty Murray, and Congresswoman Linda Smith.
The President called on Secretary of State Ralph Munro to introduce the visiting dignitaries, delegates and diplomats.
INTRODUCTIONS BY SECRETARY OF STATE MUNRO
Secretary of State Munro: “Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, member of the Legislature and distinguished guests all. Washington State's relationship with our neighbors abroad is immensely important. Today, we are pleased that a number of our major trading partners have sent representatives to this occasion. On the floor of the House of Representatives are esteemed members of the Consular Corps. They are: the Dean of the Consular Corps of Washington and Consul General of the Russian Federation, the Honorable Georgi Vlaskin; Her Majesty's Consul of Britain, The Honorable Michael Upton; The Consul General of the People's Republic of China based in San Francisco, the Honorable Song Zeng Shou; Consul General Song is here today as the official representative of Ambassador Li Daoyu of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, D. C.; the Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Honorable Irene Plank; The Acting Consul General of the Republic of Korea, the Honorable Duck-bo Shim; The Consul General of Japan, the Honorable Naotoshi Sugiuchi; the Consul of Mexico, the Honorable Hugo Abel Castro; and The Vice Consul of Spain, the Honorable Luis Fernando Esteban.
“In the North Gallery, other guests we are pleased to welcome are: The Honorable Dr. Jason Hu, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, D.C.; The Honorable Allan Lii-shang Jiang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, D.C.; The Honorable Katharine Chang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle; The Honorable Dr. Kuen-chen Fu, a member of the Legislative Yuan of Taipei; and in the South Gallery, we wish to welcome from Spain, Ms. Mercede Sala, a trustee of the Mira Foundation. Please give a warm welcome to these distinguished guests who contribute so much to our economy, our culture and our quality of life. We thank all of our friends for being here with us today.”
The President welcomed Linda Owen, wife of Lieutenant Governor-elect Brad Owen, who was seated on the rostrum, and distinguished guests, former Governor and Mrs. Al Rosellini, the reigning Miss Washington, Janet Reasons and Mr. Charlie Hodde, former Speaker of the House.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the arrival of Governor-elect Gary and Mrs. Mona Locke. The President introduced them and asked that they be escorted to a place on the rostrum.
The flag was escorted to the rostrum by the Washington State Patrol Honor Guard.
The National anthem was sung by Doris Clark.
The prayer was offered by Rabbi Richard Rosenthal of Temple Beth El Tacoma.
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT PRITCHARD
President Pritchard: “The purpose of this Joint Session is to administer the Oath of Office to the constitutionally elected state officials of the state of Washington and to receive the Inaugural Address of Governor Gary Locke. At this point, I will call forward the elected officials to take their oaths of office.”
OATH OF OFFICE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
Justice Barbara Madsen administered the oath of office to Deborah Senn, Insurance Commissioner, and the President of the Senate presented her the Certificate of Office.
Justice Charles Z. Smith administered the oath of office to Jennifer Belcher, Commissioner of Public Lands, and the President of the Senate presented her the Certificate of Office.
Justice Richard B. Sanders administered the oath of office to Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instructions, and the President of the Senate presented her the Certificate of Office.
Justice Richard Guy administered the oath of office to Christine Gregoire, Attorney General, and the President of the Senate presented her the Certificate of Office.
Justice Charles W. Johnson administered the oath of office to Brian Sonntag, State Auditor, and the President of the Senate presented him the Certificate of Office.
Justice Gerry Alexander administered the oath of office to Mike Murphy, Treasurer, and the President of the Senate presented him the Certificate of Office.
Justice James Dolliver administered the oath of office to Ralph Munro, Secretary of State, and the President of the Senate presented him the Certificate of Office.
Justice Phillip Talmadge administered the oath of office to Brad Owen, Lieutenant Governor, and the President of the Senate presented him the Certificate of Office.
Former President of the Senate Joel Pritchard passed the gavel to President of the Senate Brad Owen.
REMARKS BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRAD OWEN
President Owen: “Thank you, Mr. President. Over the last year, as I traveled from town to town, appeared before a dozen editorial boards and spoke to numerous organizations your name, Mr. President, regularly came up followed by comments like 'a man of integrity,' and 'he served with distinction,' and 'he's sure a darn nice guy.'
“All of us who have had the privilege of serving with you, Mr. President, of course know that all of these descriptions are very accurate and very deserving. Should any of us here leave office with anywhere near the same level of respect that you have acquired over your years of service, we can claim success in our careers.
“Mr. President--Joel--thank you for thirty-eight years of public service.
“Our single greatest privilege is to serve the people we live, work and socialize with. It is a great responsibility. I feel it most when I sit alone in the House or the Senate Chambers, leaning back in my chair and stare at the magnificence of these great chambers. I see not just the beauty and grandeur of the architecture, but the phenomenal history that has been written here. Sometimes, I step outside at night and
look at the capitol building whose lights dramatically outline it against the dark blue sky, making it appear even more awesome than it already is. I do this and if you do this as I do, I believe it will help you realize the magnitude of the importance of the job that you have been given us the honor to come here and do for the citizens of our great state.
“With this great honor comes great expectations, which create great challenges for us all. I believe the greatest of these challenges for our nation, for our state, and our communities is to reverse the skyrocketing increase of drug and alcohol use and abuse by our kids. Please do not forget them.
“If I and my office can help you to meet these great challenges, please ask. I am here to work with you. To the citizens of our great state, thank you for this tremendous honor. I will do my best to uphold the dignity of the office.
“I would like to say how much I appreciate the tremendous support I have received--and for all of you that are in politics know how important it is to receive the support of your wife--and I would like to say 'thank you' to Linda for all the years that she has been there with me. Finally, to my mother, I would like to say ' thank you' for your tremendous support and for giving me the, 'Things are tough, but don't give up' work ethic that got me here today. Thank you.”
Chief Justice Barbara Durham administered the oath of office to Gary Locke, Governor, and the President of the Senate presented him the Certificate of Office.
INTRODUCTION OF GOVERNOR GARY LOCKE
President Owen: “Ladies and gentlemen of the House and Senate, Honorable Elected Officials, distinguished guests, it is a great honor for my first official responsibility to be introducing our new Governor on this historic occasion. He has had a distinguished career as an assistant prosecuting attorney, Appropriation Chair in the House of Representatives, and King County Executive.
“You will find him to be a tough negotiator, yet a compassionate person with a vision for Washington State.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Governor Gary Locke.”
INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR GARY LOCKE
Governor Locke: “Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Madam Chief Justice, distinguished Justices of the Supreme Court, statewide elected officials, members of the Washington State Legislature, other elected officials, members of the Consular Corps, fellow citizens, and friends of Washington State across America and around the world.
“I am deeply humbled by this honor of being this state's twenty-first Governor. And I am deeply grateful to all those who have made this day possible, and to all those who made our American tradition of freedom and democracy possible.
“I also want to express my gratitude to members of my family, and with your permission, I'd like to introduce them to you. First I'd like you to meet my father, Jimmy Locke, who fought in World War II and participated in the Normandy invasion. I'd like you to meet my mother, Julie, who raised five children, learned English to become a United States citizen at the same time that I was learning English in kindergarten, and who went back to community college when she was almost sixty years old, my mom Julie Locke. I'd like to introduce my brothers and sisters. First my older sister, Marian Monwai, and her family; and my sister, Jannie Chow, who traveled from Sacramento, and her family; my younger brother, Jeffrey Locke, and his family, and my kid sister, whose son I have always borrowed shamelessly for those pictures, Rita Yoshihara, and her husband, Joseph. I also would like to introduce you to Mona's mother and father, my mother and father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Lee. In fact, we should just have all the relatives stand up. Will all the relatives stand up--who have come long and far? Those are just the aunts and uncles; the cousins are downstairs.
“Finally, it is my greatest pleasure to introduce to you a person who made tremendous sacrifices, who has really, according to many of you, changed my life completely, who has just been a great confidant, a great campaigner, a true partner, Washington's new First Lady, Mona Lee Locke.”
“This truly is a wonderful day for the Locke family and it is great to see so many relatives return to Olympia for this celebration, because our family has its roots in Olympia. One of my ancestors--a distant cousin--actually was a merchant who immigrated to Olympia in 1874, and became a leader of the Chinese-American community just a few blocks from this state capitol. He acted as a bridge between the Chinese and white communities, and became friends with the other downtown merchants, and with the sheriff, William Billings.
“In 1886, an anti-immigrant, anti-Chinese mob threatened to burn down the Chinese settlement here, but what happened next is a story that every Washington resident ought to know. Sheriff Billings deputized scores of Olympia's merchants and civic leaders and those citizen deputies stood between the angry mob and the Chinese neighborhood. Faced by the sheriff and the leading citizens of Olympia, the mob gradually dispersed. Not a single shot was fired, nor a single Chinese house burned.
“For the Locke family, that incident helped establish a deep faith in the essential goodness of mainstream American values: The values that reject extremism and division, and embrace fairness and moral progress; the value of working together as a community; and the values of hard work, hope, and opportunity.
“Just a few years after that Olympia show of courage, my grandfather came to America to work as a 'house boy' for the Yeager family, who lived in a house that's still standing, less than a mile from here. His purpose was to get an education, and so the Yeager family agreed to teach him English in return for work. Like everyone else in our family, my grandfather studied and worked hard, and he eventually became the head chef at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.
“So, while I may be standing less than a mile from where our family started its life in America, we've certainly come a long, long way--one hundred years to travel one mile. Our journey was possible because of the courage of Sheriff Billings and the heroes of Olympia history. And our journey was successful because the Locke family embraces three values: Get a good education; work hard; and take care of each other.
“Our family history is more the norm than the exception. There is Governor Rosellini, this state's first Italian-American Governor, whose parents migrated to America at the beginning of this century; there is Representative Paul Zellinsky, whose grandfather was a Russian sea captain; there is Senator Dan McDonald, whose ancestors were among the pioneer families of this state; and there is Senator Rosa Franklin, whose family rose from slavery in South Carolina to civic leadership in Tacoma.
“There are millions of families like mine, and millions of people like me; people whose ancestors dreamed the American Dream and worked hard to make it come true. Today, on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, we are taking another step toward that dream. This is a historic day. I'm humbled and honored to be the first Asian-American Governor in the continental United States and I am humbled and honored to be the first person of color to be Governor of this great state of Washington. These honors are a testament to how great our state is and how far we have progressed.
“In the one hundred and eight years since Washington became a state, we have gone from riding horses to flying in jets; from sending telegrams to sending e-mail; and from cooking on wood stoves to cooking in microwave ovens. Can anyone even guess what the next hundred years will bring? We already know that people are developing computers that actually think, that telephones and television will merge, and that biotechnology will reveal the secrets of our genetic code that will cure many of today's diseases. Many of our children will produce goods and services that haven't even been invented yet.
“Our challenge then is to embrace change rather than to fear it. We have no time to waste. To keep the American Dream alive in a high-tech and unpredictable future, we have to raise our sights and our standards. We must raise our sights above the partisanship, the prejudice, and the arrogance that keep us from acknowledging our common humanity and our common future. We must raise our standards of academic achievement, of government productivity and customer service, of preserving our environment, and of protecting the well-being of Washington's working families.
“The principles that will guide me in this quest for higher standards and the principles that will guide my response to legislative proposals are clear and simple. My first principle is that education is the great equalizer that makes hope and opportunity possible. That's why I am passionately committed to developing a world-class system of education. In the last century, the drafters of our Constitution made education of our children the 'paramount duty' of the state, but learning is not just for kids anymore. For the next century, the paramount duty of this state will be to create an education system for lifelong learning--a system that every person regardless of age can plug into for basic skills, professional advancement or personal enrichment.
“My second principle is to promote civility, mutual respect and unity, and to oppose measures that divide, disrespect, or diminish our humanity. I want our state to build on the mainstream values of equal protection and equal opportunity, and to reject hate, violence and bigotry. I want our state to be known as a place where elected officials lead by example.
“My third principle is to judge every public policy by whether it helps or hurts Washington's working families. Everyone who works hard and lives responsibly ought to be rewarded with economic security, the opportunity to learn and to advance in their chosen field of work, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the essential services their families need like health care, insurance, and child care will be affordable and accessible. Every senior citizen who has spent a lifetime contributing to the freedom and prosperity we enjoy, deserves dignity and security.
“My fourth principle is to protect our environment, so that future generations can enjoy the same natural beauty and abundance we cherish today. These principles require self-discipline, and a commitment not to settle for quick fixes, band-aids, or political expediency. To help us live up to these principles, I intend to set clear, challenging goals, and to measure our progress toward achieving those goals. Everyone in state government will be held accountable for achieving results--not for convening meetings, creating commissions, or following reams of clumsy regulations.
“I want to liberate the creativity and expertise of state employees, and to make working for government as respectable as building airplanes, designing software, or inventing new medical technologies. I call on every state employee to search for new and better ways of doing our work, to strive toward a higher level of customer service to citizens, and to show greater respect for every hard-earned tax dollar that we collect.
“In fact, let's take a moment to thank both state and local government employees for the truly heroic work they've done during the storms of the past few weeks. They made visible something too many of us often don't see, that we truly can't live without basic government services, and that these services are provided by people--our dedicated public employees. In the storm and its aftermath, those public employees focused on helping citizens and solving problems and they achieved results.
“Now it's time to harness that same energy and sense of urgency to solve problems and achieve results in our education system. We have to do a better job of making our schools safe, and ensuring that students respect their teachers, and each other. Let's hold our schools and students accountable for learning, not just for following all the rules or sitting through the required number of classes. We will not break our promise to raise academic standards. Every third grader must read at the third grade level, and every high school graduate must master basic academic skills and knowledge. To meet these ambitious goals, our schools need a stable base of funding, including the ability to pass school levies with the same simple majority that it takes to pass bond measures to build other public facilities.
“But, money alone is not the answer. Greater accountability, coupled with more local control and more flexibility are also essential to school improvement. To meet the growing demand for education in our colleges and universities, my administration will present a proposal to increase enrollments, to improve quality, and to provide more management flexibility while insisting on greater productivity and accountability.
“To do all this, we will make education the first priority in every budget we write. That will not be easy. Developing a quality education system depends on the soundness of our fiscal and tax policies. That's why it's so important to write budgets that are sustainable beyond the current biennium and that's why we must maintain a prudent reserve, so we'll have funds to see us through a recession without cutting schools or vital services.
“This year, a balanced approach to budgeting will also include tax relief. In the last biennium, we gave almost a billion dollars in tax breaks to business. Isn't it time to help working families? That means property tax relief for middle-class homeowners. Of course, I also support rolling back the business and occupation tax to pre-1993 levels. We raised that tax in a time of fiscal emergency. That emergency has passed, and it's important that we keep faith with the business community by repealing the increase.
“We also have a host of other problems that urgently need our attention. We need to agree on a bipartisan, comprehensive plan to invest in our transportation system, on which all our jobs and our economic growth depend. Our farmers need good highways and rail systems to get their crops to market. Our commuters need transit and car pool lanes, so they can spend more time with their children and less time stuck in traffic. Our ports need a transportation system that supports the growth of our international trade, which generates so many of our new jobs.
“There is a great deal our state can and must do to increase our competitive position in the world economy. We have an opportunity to improve Washington's international trade climate. I'm committed to establishing strong personal relationships with overseas governments and business leaders to help Washington companies expand existing export markets and establish new ones.
“It's also time to break the stalemate and make some tough decisions about how to use and protect our water resources, which have been tangled in a web of conflicts and controversies year after year. It's time to fine-tune and also re-affirm our commitments to manage growth, to protect fish and wildlife, and to preserve the vitality of our farms and our forests.
“As a result of last year's federal welfare reform legislation, we have a once-in-a- lifetime chance to redesign our social safety net, so that it reflects our mainstream values of hard work, hope and opportunity. If we do this right, we can reduce poverty and protect children and that ought to be our purpose. So, I will propose a system that puts work first--a system designed to help people in need build on their strengths rather than be paralyzed by their problems.
“To make welfare reform succeed, we need to become partners with the business community to find jobs and to improve training programs, so that every entry-level job in Washington is the first step on a career ladder rather than a treadmill that keeps the poor stuck in place. And to make work the solution to poverty, we need to make sure that work pays more than being on public assistance. At the same time, we have a duty to ensure that the ill, elderly and disabled live with dignity, and that legal immigrants who have paid local, state and federal taxes are not denied equal treatment and equal protection.
“And finally, we have waited too long to fix our juvenile justice system--a system that lets kids get away with too much--that misses too many opportunities to turn kids around and that leaves too many of us vulnerable to violent and dangerous young criminals. To procrastinate on any one of these issues from education to water to juvenile justice is to court disaster. The clock is ticking. A new century is coming at us like a bullet train. And it's up to us to either rise to these challenges, or watch as that train rushes by.
“If we cultivate a habit of genuine partnership entered into with a commitment to solving problems and achieving results we can accomplish all of our goals. Students, parents and teachers can create the best schools in the world. Community leaders, local and state officials can build a transportation system that meets all our needs. Farmers, city-dwellers, tribal governments and developers can, if they work as real partners, untangle the web of water disputes and find ways to protect this very precious resource.
“We must all come together, work together, and stay together until we have accomplished our goals. Let's work as hard as our parents and grandparents did. Let's match their record of accomplishment, and their level of responsibility to the next generation.
“As most of you already know, Mona and I are expecting our first child in March, so in very rapid succession, I will be blessed with two titles--two titles that carry immense responsibility and immense honor--Governor and Dad. That's the thing my folks really want--forget this Governor business--Dad. As the advent of fatherhood gets closer, I am more and more conscious that everything I do as Governor and everything that we do together, we do for our children.
“Our child will be a child of the Twenty-first Century. He or she will come of age in a world that we can scarcely imagine, but it is his or her world that we must now work together to create. For our children and yours, I want to foster a new century of personal responsibility, of community, and of hope and optimism. Please help me carry on the Locke family tradition of focusing on those three crucial values: get a good education, work hard, and take care of each other.
“With your hand in partnership, and with an abiding belief in the essential goodness of the people of the great state of Washington, I want to devote the next four years to making the American Dream come true for children whose faces we have yet to see. Thank you very much and God bless you all.”
REMARKS BY SPEAKER BALLARD
Speaker Ballard: “Thank you, Governor Locke--it is going to take a little while to get used to that--for those remarks and those challenges. Congratulations on your new position and God's speed as you begin to assume the responsibility in tackling the duties of your new job. Having begun our political careers together, when we first took the oath of office as State Representatives in 1983, we share a lot of history. I dare say that when we first set out fourteen years ago neither one of us dreamed that the other would be standing here today in our respective positions, yet here we are. I am very excited about the opportunity that we now have to embark on a new chapter in our personal relationship. While we have, on rare occasions, taken somewhat different approaches to the issues we have been working on, we share common hopes and desires. Our commitment to serve what we sincerely believe to be in the best interest of our constituents and to serve them to the best of our abilities was the same--just as it is for every member of this new Legislature, you and I now have the opportunity to work with.
“I know for an absolute fact that both of us have felt challenged as we carried out our respective duties and our responsibilities over the years, but the greatest challenge of all is ours today as we begin to work together in the roles we never expected to have together and that challenge is to generate a spirit of cooperation and goodwill that enables us to reach the objectives we have in common. Most of all, I look forward to your friendship as we move together.“
PRESENTATION OF GIFT
Senator McDonald presented Governor and Mrs. Locke with a cradle for the State’s new First Baby due in March.
The closing prayer was offered by Pastor Joseph Yoshihara, Governor Locke’s brother-in-law, and pastor of the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Bellevue.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort Governor and Mrs. Locke from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate appointed Senators McDonald, Newhouse and Snyder to escort Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Elected Officials from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the Sergeants at Arms to escort the Senators from the House Chamber.`
MOTION
On motion of Representative Lisk, the Joint Session was dissolved.
The President of the Senate returned the gavel to the Speaker.
The Senate was called to order at 1:24 p.m. by President Owen.
MOTION
At 1:24 p.m., on motion of Senator Johnson, the Senate adjourned until 12:00 noon, Thursday, January 16, 1997.
BRAD OWEN, President of the Senate
MIKE O'CONNELL, Secretary of the Senate