VETO MESSAGE ON SB 5513

May 9, 2005

To the Honorable President and Members,

The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning, without my approval as to Section 14, Engrossed Senate Bill No. 5513 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to restructuring of certain transportation agencies;"

The Legislature has created, through this bill, the Joint Transportation Committee to conduct a unilateral study of the appropriate functions of the Department of Transportation (Department) and the Transportation Commission (Commission). Now that the Department is a cabinet level agency, it is critical that the executive branch exercise its responsibility for reviewing the powers, functions, roles and duties of the Department and the Commission.

The Legislature passed several bills this session that redefine the roles of the Department and the Commission, and the relationship of those agencies to the Legislature. I am directing my staff to work with the Department and the Commission to examine the statutory roles and duties of the agencies, including transportation innovative partnerships, and report back to me with any recommendations for change. I invite the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Transportation Committees and the Joint Transportation Committee to join the executive branch in this analysis with the hope that a joint recommendation can be submitted for consideration during the 2006 legislative session.

For these reasons, I have vetoed Section 14 of Engrossed Senate Bill No. 5513.

With the exception of Section 14, Engrossed Senate Bill No. 5513 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine O. Gregoire

Governor