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SECOND DAY
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NOON SESSION
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Senate Chamber, Olympia, Tuesday, January 10, 1995
The Senate was called to order at 12:00 noon by President Pritchard. No roll call was taken.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Spanel, the reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was approved.
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT
The President signed:
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8401.
MESSAGE FROM STATE OFFICES
STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
January 9, 1995
The Honorable Mike Lowry
Washington State Governor
Legislative Building
P. O. Box 40002
Olympia, Washington 98504-0002
Dear Governor Lowry:
In accordance with Section 483 of the Washington Health Services Act of 1993, it gives me great pleasure to submit the enclosed report on the medical services component of the Crime Victims Compensation Program of the Department of Labor and Industries.
A copy of the report will be delivered to the Legislature for their review. If you have any questions regarding the report, you may contact Mr. Cletus Nnanabu, Program Manager of the Crime Victims Compensation Program at (206) 956-5341 or Karen Terwilleger, Assistance Director, Legislative and Governmental Affairs Division at (206) 956-4233.
Sincerely,
MARK O. BROWN, Director
The Report from the Department of Labor and Industries is on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate.
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR
January 4, 1995
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.
Myron (Mike) B. Kreidler, appointed January 4, 1995, for a term ending January 15, 1996, as a member of the Pacific Northwest Power and Conservation Planning Council.
Sincerely,
MIKE LOWRY, Governor
Referred to Committee on Energy, Telecommunications and Utilities.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
January 9, 1995
MR. PRESIDENT:
The House has adopted HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4400, and the same is herewith transmitted.
TIMOTHY A. MARTIN, Chief Clerk
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
SB 5078 by Senators Fraser, Prentice, Newhouse and Sellar
AN ACT Relating to delinquency and cancellation charges on premium finance agreements; and amending RCW 48.56.100.
Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions and Housing.
SB 5079 by Senator Fairley
AN ACT Relating to annexations of territory by direct petition method; and amending RCW 35.13.125, 35.13.130, and 35A.14.120.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5080 by Senators Smith, Gaspard, Roach, Long, Deccio, Haugen, Schow, Newhouse and Oke
AN ACT Relating to use of electronic security systems to prevent fraud involving driver's licenses and identicards; amending RCW 46.20.091, 46.20.117, 46.20.118, and 46.20.120; adding a new section to chapter 46.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.04 RCW; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5081 by Senators Smith, Haugen and Long
AN ACT Relating to possession of firearms; amending RCW 9.41.040, 9.41.042, 9.41.047, 9.41.050, 9.41.060, 9.41.075, 9.41.080, 9.41.0975, 9.41.098, 9.41.110, 9.41.170, 9.41.190, 9.41.280, and 9.41.800; reenacting and amending RCW 9.41.010, 9.41.070, and 9.41.090; adding a new section to chapter 9.41 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5082 by Senators Haugen, Owen and Loveland
AN ACT Relating to death investigations systems; amending RCW 43.43.680, 46.61.5054, 43.103.030, 43.103.090, 66.08.180, 68.50.107, and 70.58.107; and repealing 1994 c 275 s 44 (uncodified).
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5083 by Senators Oke, Bauer, Franklin, Haugen and C. Anderson (by request of Department of Veterans Affairs)
AN ACT Relating to the veterans affairs advisory committee; and amending RCW 43.60A.080.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5084 by Senators Drew, Prince, Haugen, Wood, Fairley, Franklin, Deccio and Sheldon (by request of Department of General Administration)
AN ACT Relating to state agency commute trip reduction programs; amending RCW 43.01.230, 43.01.225, 46.08.172, and 43.99H.070; and adding new sections to chapter 43.01 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5085 by Senators Owen, Haugen, Pelz, Wood, Franklin, Deccio and Sheldon (by request of Department of General Administration)
AN ACT Relating to streamlining purchasing provisions for state agencies including Washington state ferries; amending RCW 43.19.1906, 43.19.1911, and 47.60.140; and repealing RCW 47.60.651, 47.60.653, 47.60.655, 47.60.657, 47.60.659, and 47.60.661.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5086 by Senators Haugen, Winsley, Deccio and Heavey (by request of Department of General Administration)
AN ACT Relating to clarifying the authority to recover cost for contracts administration services within the department of general administration; and adding a new section to chapter 43.19 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5087 by Senator Fraser (by request of Environmental Hearings Office)
AN ACT Relating to appeals involving environmental and land use boards; amending RCW 43.21B.160, 43.21B.170, 43.21B.190, 90.58.180, 34.05.518, 34.05.522, and 75.20.140; and repealing RCW 43.21B.140 and 43.21B.150.
Referred to Committee on Ecology and Parks.
SB 5088 by Senator Smith
AN ACT Relating to sexually violent predators; amending RCW 71.09.020, 71.09.025, 71.09.030, 71.09.040, 71.09.050, 71.09.060, 71.09.070, 71.09.080, 71.09.090, 71.09.110, and 9A.76.120; adding new sections to chapter 71.09 RCW; repealing RCW 71.09.100; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
SB 5089 by Senators Loveland, Finkbeiner and Sutherland
AN ACT Relating to 911 compatibility with private telecommunications systems and private shared telecommunications services; amending RCW 80.04.010 and 43.63A.320; adding new sections to chapter 80.36 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.32 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.22 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
Referred to Committee on Energy, Telecommunications and Utilities.
SB 5090 by Senators Drew, Quigley, Long, C. Anderson, Rasmussen and Fairley
AN ACT Relating to public-private transportation initiatives; and repealing RCW 47.46.010, 47.46.020, 47.46.030, 47.46.040, 47.46.050, and 47.46.900.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5091 by Senators Haugen, Winsley and Pelz
AN ACT Relating to public utility district alternative bid procedure; and amending RCW 54.04.082.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5092 by Senators Haugen, Winsley and Quigley
AN ACT Relating to library facilities; adding a new section to chapter 36.32 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 27 RCW; and repealing RCW 27.14.010, 27.14.015, 27.14.020, 27.14.030, 27.14.035, 27.14.040, and 27.14.050.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5093 by Senators Haugen, Winsley, Rasmussen and Drew
AN ACT Relating to fire protection; amending RCW 4.24.400, 9.40.100, 18.20.130, 18.46.110, 18.51.140, 18.51.145, 19.27A.110, 28A.305.130, 35.21.779, 38.54.010, 38.54.030, 38.54.050, 43.43.710, 43.63A.300, 43.63A.310, 43.63A.320, 43.63A.330, 43.63A.340, 43.63A.350, 43.63A.360, 43.63A.370, 43.63A.377, 46.37.467, 48.05.320, 48.48.030, 48.48.040, 48.48.050, 48.48.060, 48.48.065, 48.48.070, 48.48.080, 48.48.090, 48.48.110, 48.48.140, 48.48.150, 48.50.020, 48.50.040, 48.53.020, 48.53.060, 70.41.080, 70.75.020, 70.75.030, 70.75.040, 70.77.170, 70.77.250, 70.77.305, 70.77.315, 70.77.330, 70.77.360, 70.77.365, 70.77.375, 70.77.415, 70.77.430, 70.77.455, 70.77.460, 70.77.465, 70.77.575, 70.77.580, 70.108.040, 70.160.060, 71.12.485, 74.15.050, 74.15.080, and 52.12.031; adding a new section to chapter 43.10 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.43 RCW; creating new sections; recodifying RCW 43.63A.300, 43.63A.310, 43.63A.320, 43.63A.330, 43.63A.340, 43.63A.350, 43.63A.360, 43.63A.370, 43.63A.375, 43.63A.377, and 43.63A.380; repealing RCW 48.48.120; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5094 by Senators Haugen, Winsley, Rinehart, Drew, Rasmussen, Pelz and Oke
AN ACT Relating to emergency management; amending RCW 38.52.005, 38.52.090, 38.52.420, 38.54.010, 38.54.020, 46.16.340, and 88.46.100; reenacting and amending RCW 38.52.010; adding a new section to chapter 38.52 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
SB 5095 by Senators Hargrove and Franklin (by request of Department of Corrections)
AN ACT Relating to admissibility in court of records certified by the secretary of corrections or his or her designee; and adding a new section to chapter 72.01 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Human Services and Corrections.
SB 5096 by Senators Hargrove, Franklin, Kohl and Oke (by request of Department of Corrections)
AN ACT Relating to work ethic camps; amending RCW 9.94A.137; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Human Services and Corrections.
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF HOUSE BILL
HCR 4400 by Representatives Foreman and Ebersole
Establishing legislative cutoff dates.
HOLD.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Spanel, House Concurrent Resolution No. 4400 was held on the desk.
MOTIONS
On motion of Senator Spanel, the Committee on Ways and Means was relieved of further consideration of Senate Bill No. 5003.
On motion of Senator Spanel, Senate Bill No. 5003 was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Agricultural Trade and Development.
MOTION
At 12:07 p.m., on motion of Senator Spanel, the Senate recessed until 4:30 p.m.
The Senate was called to order at 4:34 p.m. by President Pritchard.
The members of the Senate retired to the House Chamber for the purpose of a joint session.
JOINT SESSION
The Sergeant at Arms of the House 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, Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard; President Pro Tempore R. Lorraine Wojahn; Vice President Pro Tempore Rosa Franklin; Majority Leader Marcus S. Gaspard; and Minority Leader Dan McDonald to seats on the rostrum.
The Speaker invited the Senators to seats within the House Chamber.
The Speaker presented the gavel to President Pritchard.
The President called the Joint Session to order.
The Clerk of the House called the roll of members of the House.
The Secretary of the Senate called the roll of members of the Senate.
The President announced the purpose of this Joint Session is to receive a message from his Excellency, Governor Mike Lowry.
The President appointed Senators Sheldon and West and Representatives Brumsickle and Mason as a special committee to inform Governor Mike Lowry that the Joint Session had assembled and to escort him from his office to the House Chamber.
The President appointed Senators Smith, Cal Anderson, Roach and Johnson and Representatives Sheahan, Hickel, Lambert, Costa and Cody to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the State Reception Room to the House Chamber.
The President appointed Senators Fraser, Franklin, Morton, and Hochstatter and Representatives Fuhrman, Cooke and Dickerson to escort the Elected Officials from the State Reception Room to the House Chamber.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS
The President greeted and introduced the foreign dignitaries with the Consular Corps of the State of Washington: Mr. Masaki Saito, Consul General from Japan and Dean of the Consular Corps of Washington State; Mr. Haisson Lee, Consul General from South Korea and Vice-Dean of the Consular Corps, and Mrs. Lee; Mr. Stephen Turner, Consul General from Great Britain; Mr. Bernard Gagosz, Consul General from Canada; Mr. Andreas Prothmann, Consul from Germany, and Mrs. Prothmann; Vicente Montemayor, Consul from Mexico; Mr. Georgi Vlaskin, Consul from Russia and Mr. H. T. Chen, Director General of Taiwan.
The President greeted and introduced the Justices of the Supreme Court: Chief Justice Barbara Durham, Justice Robert Utter, Justice James M. Dolliver, Justice Richard Guy, Justice Charles Z. Smith, Justice Charles Johnson, Justice Barbara Madson, Justice Gerry Alexander and Justice Phil Talmadge.
The President greeted and introduced the State Elected Officials: Secretary of State Ralph Munro, State Treasurer Dan Grimm, State Attorney General Christine Gregorie, Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn, State Auditor Brian Sonntag and Superintendent of Public Instruction Judith Billings.
The President greeted and introduced former Governor Al Rosellini and Mrs. Rosellini, who were seated in the gallery.
The President introduced the Blaine High School Choir, directed by Andy Harmening, who sang the National Anthem and a selection entitled 'Sweet Freedom' by Mac Huff.
The President instructed the special committee to escort Governor Lowry to his place on the rostrum.
The President introduced the Governor's wife, Mrs. Mary Lowry, and his mother, Mrs. Helen Lowry who were seated in the gallery.
INTRODUCTION OF THE GOVERNOR BY SPEAKER BALLARD
Speaker Ballard: "It is a pleasure and honor for me to join with President of the Senate, Joel Pritchard, in introducing the Governor of the state of Washington. Governor Mike Lowry has served our great state with distinction. He continues to serve the people of Washington with uncommon dedication and commitment. Throughout a career that has seen him work right here in the legislative committee process, serve the people of King County on their county council, represent our state in the U. S. Congress and now providing leadership for all Washingtonians as our Governor.
"Mike Lowry has remained a true, honest and steadfast servant of the people. In politics and government, those of us in public service are judged both by our philosophy and our personal qualities. While we may not always share the same philosophy, it is our personal qualities that enable us to work together for the betterment of our state. From personal experience, I can assure you that Mike Lowry is a man of honor, a man who is true to his beliefs and absolutely committed to what he believes to be the best interest of all citizens.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Governor of the great state of Washington, the Honorable Mike Lowry."
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
GOVERNOR MIKE LOWRY
Governor Lowry: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. President, distinguished members of the Supreme Court, Governor Rosellini, distinguished state elected officials, members of the Legislature and citizens of the great state of Washington. Thank you, for the privilege of serving as your Governor.
"First, I know I speak for every person in this state in extending our condolences to the families and friends of four Seattle firefighters who, this week, gave their lives in service. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.
"I would like to begin by acknowledging the members of the Consular Corps of Washington, who are here today representing many of the nations with which our state maintains bonds of friendship and of trade. Your efforts help us create and expand markets in the rest of the world. To supply those markets, our people get up every morning and go to work to build the best airplanes, grow the best wheat and apples, design the best computer software, and develop a cure for cancer. One in five jobs in Washington depends on trade. Trade sustains our economy and that economy, in the past two years, has put more Washingtonians to work than ever before. We welcome you and we value your friendship.
"The history of Washington State is one of partnership, of people coming together to work for the progress of all the people of the state. It is a history of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, rising above short-term politics for the good of the state, and more importantly, for our children and our grandchildren. This ability to work together, to form partnerships for the common good, is our Northwest ethic. As Governor, I see examples of that ethic at work every day.
"It is the kind of ethic we̓ve seen working in Hoquiam. When the Grays Harbor Paper Company closed, local officials and a private citizen, Bill Quigg, put together a team of business, labor, state and federal representatives with the citizens of Grays Harbor, got that pulp mill running again and saved three hundred jobs. Bill Quigg could not be here today, but Hoquiam Mayor, Phyllis Shrauger, is. Please join me in congratulating Bill Quigg, Mayor Shrauger, and their whole team for their leadership.
"We saw another example of our Northwest ethic at work in Central Washington this last summer, when public employees and private citizens joined together in a massive effort to control the nation̓s largest forest fire. In less than twelve hours, our emergency response plan delivered to the scene more than sixty firefighting units--teams--with the end result of their work, no loss of life and minimum loss of structures. With us today is Ray Dobbs of KOZI Radio on the shores of Lake Chelan. His station kept broadcasting the fire news twenty-four hours a day, providing critical information to the public. Also, with us is Ed Small, Director of Emergency Services, and Richard Small of Fire Protection Services. They represent the many fine state and other public employees, who with Land's Commissioner Jennifer Belcher, Speaker Clyde Ballard, Senator George Sellar and Representative Dale Foreman worked night and day coordinating that massive response. We applaud you and all the people who worked with you. Please stand.
"This Northwest ethic has made this a great state in which to live and raise a family. I am here to talk to you about continuing that Northwest ethic of partnership for the good of the state of Washington. I̓d like you all to consider just how far that partnership has brought us in the past two years. In two years, we cut unemployment from 7.8% to 6.1%--a 23% reduction; we cut growth in state staffing levels to less than zero, when for the past decade they had grown by an average of 5,000 positions every biennium. We cut the sky-rocketing costs of health care. Two years ago, state employee premiums were increasing faster than 11% a year. This year, we changed that 11% increase to a 6% decrease for a savings of millions of dollars. These are only a few examples, and we still have much to do, but we are making excellent progress.
"One message we̓ve all heard loud and clear is that the voters want a smaller state government--one that operates efficiently and concentrates on priorities. I agree and see this as one of our primary responsibilities. The new budget I submitted to you last month takes additional steps to get government out of areas where it doesn̓t need to be, while focusing on such key priorities as private sector jobs, public safety, education and protection of our natural resources. It holds the number of state employees to less than existed when I took office in 1993--a dramatic reversal of the trend established over the past decade. Reducing state employment to its lowest level in years will require courage. We sometimes have to disagree with our friends. I know many of my friends certainly disagree with me on this subject. Nevertheless, the cutbacks must go forward. We will have a smaller government. We will have a better government.
"The most important reason we are able to have a smaller, better government is the dedication of hard-working, skilled state employees. My admiration for them grows daily. I admire them for what they do and how well they do it and without receiving a cost-of-living adjustment in their pay for the past two years. On behalf of everyone in this chamber, I want to say to the state employees of this state, 'Thank you for a job well done.'
"Smaller and better government means more efficient and less intrusive regulations. This week, I sent to you legislation that, among other things, directs state agencies to focus on helping businesses comply with necessary rules, rather than penalizing them for minor infractions. And I have requested additional funding to help local governments better coordinate growth management planning with existing environmental laws. These recommendations come from sixteen months of hard work by the Regulatory Reform Task Force. This task force comprised of state legislators and representatives from business, labor, agriculture, conservation groups, state agencies and local governments, have reduced significant regulatory reform. Working together has again brought meaningful progress. I congratulate and thank them.
"Reducing duplication and regulations without removing those that protect the environment and public health and safety will make our state a better place to live, raise a family, and hold a good paying job. Good paying jobs are the top priority of the Lowry Administration. If everyone in the state had a family-wage job, ninety-five percent of the problems we deal with would be resolved. Since this time two years ago, our economy has created 70,000 net new jobs. Despite a loss of 20,000 jobs in the aerospace industry and job losses in our timber and fishing communities, we nevertheless have 70,000 more people employed now than we did in 1992. That net growth in jobs is ten times greater than the last time there were comparable Boeing cutbacks--ten times greater.
"But, we cannot rest now. Investment incentives, regulatory reform, quality education, a quality environment, safe communities are all important for a strong Washington economy. I am offering for your approval a Manufacturing Tax Incentive that would create as many as 45,000 high-wage jobs in our state over the next four years, according to a report from the Association of Washington Business. I am also putting before you a program to provide tax credits to companies that hire and train people now on welfare. Over the next two years, this measure would put 5,000 people to work at wages adequate to support their families and remove them permanently from the welfare rolls. That's a good tax investment for the future that will pay for itself many times over.
"It's easy to blame people on welfare--or new immigrants--or anyone else having trouble securing a stable place in our society, where more and more good paying jobs are connected with getting a good--often technical--education. But the facts are that most people who have to ask the government for help are in their mid-forties and have recently lost their jobs. Many others are recently divorced single women with children. Mocking them, denying them aid, keeping their children from receiving medical care or going to school--does neither help them, nor does it help society. But, providing them the tools to get a good job will help us all.
"Nothing the state does is more important for quality jobs in our society than education. No state government investment is more important, and nearly one-half of the General Fund Budget for the next two years will go to paying for schooling our youngsters. For twenty years, young students have been staying after school for Aki Kurose̓s science club at Laurelhurst Elementary, where she teaches first grade. The forty-some youngsters in the club discuss science with University of Washington physicists, chemists, zoologists and other scientists. With astronomers, they watched the meteor showers that recently stretched across our skies. Some former club members have now chosen careers in science. In 1990, Ms. Kurose received the Presidential Award for Excellence in teaching science and math from President George Bush. She is here today. Thank you, Aki; and will you please stand, so we can thank you and the thousands of other educators who in this state daily make a difference in the lives of many, many children.
"Because of a burgeoning population and the increasing educational demands of the job market, we expect a considerable rise in the number of students wanting to enter our excellent higher education system. Making sure that they have the chance for quality education, is critically important to our top priority of family-wage jobs. The Higher Education Tax Incentive that I am proposing would increase funding for student financial aid by nearly fifty percent. This will protect middle-income and lower-income families from being excluded from higher education.
"Altogether, I am asking you to approve measures that would increase financial aid eligibility limits on family incomes that are now too low--$17,000 a year, to as high, in some cases--$55,000 a year, to help the families that need the help. We cannot afford to lose any of our leaders of tomorrow, because they could not pay the cost of their education today.
"One thing we have done as a state that is also making a big difference in the lives of many children and adults, as well, is the adoption in 1993 of the Historic Washington Health Services Act. In its first two years of existence, that new law will make 138,000 children from lower-income families eligible to receive health coverage--children who might otherwise be denied adequate care. And in our state, no one will be denied from health insurance because of pre-existing conditions or job change. Those are things that everyone in this chamber should be proud of. I am pleased to report that cost increases in private insurance claims have dropped to the lowest rate in seven years. Increases in insurance premiums for large companies of Washington State are about half the national average. We must preserve the gains made under reform. We all need to keep working to achieve universal coverage and cost savings and we must not let special-interest lobbying keep us from that goal.
"We are the seventh fastest growing state in the nation. Every two years, that increase equals the population of another Tacoma. As population grows, our sense of community comes under strain, as does our natural environment. We have threatened watersheds and polluted and overdrawn sources of ground water. Our choices are clear. We can restore our watersheds ourselves or we can wait and let the federal courts or federal government decide for us. Waiting would be politically shortsighted. I am seeking your approval of a Water Policy/Salmon plan to fund local watershed and restoration efforts. This measure protects the environment and leaves a lasting legacy for our future generations.
"We must also continue our efforts to address the growing problems of crime in our many communities. Not just as Governor, but as a father, a son, and a husband, I share the public̓s concern about crime and their anger at those who victimize innocent people. I am asking in our Smart on Crime Initiative for tougher sentences for violent criminals. I remain unconvinced that we know how to cure the violence. Until we do, we must secure these people behind prison walls and we must increase penalties for crimes committed with guns. We also must recognize that any realistic solution to our crime problems does not stop at the prison door. Anyone in law enforcement can tell you that criminal behavior is closely linked to joblessness, lack of education, domestic violence, fetal alcohol syndrome and child abuse. The answers to these problems can be found in strong families and strong communities.
"Last year, the Legislature approved the Youth Agenda designed to provide additional support in these areas. This year̓s Smart on Crime Initiative would strengthen law enforcement̓s ability to pick up runaways, support parents better, and increase their responsibility for their children. It would provide safe places to help troubled youth stay away from crime and violence, to protect them from abuse, and provide job training to those who need it. We all want to be tough on crime. To do that, we also must be Smart on Crime.
"For two years, our Youth Agenda teams have been asking people, 'What are the most important factors in the development of our youth?' The answer consistently has been that every child needs to know that there are adults who love them--every child needs to know that there are adults who care. The answer to our youth problems is in strong families, strong communities and adults who care.
"I grew up in a wonderful family in Eastern Washington. There were fourteen in my high school graduating class. In our town, everybody knew what everybody else was doing. Maybe we were snoopy, but we had a sense of community. Every once in awhile, I would get into trouble, but there were always adults who would ask, 'Have you seen Mike today?' because they cared. Today, we need that same caring. Today, we must refuse to accept the excuse that just because most of us now live in larger populations, that it is okay for us to ignore our responsibilities to our communities, because it is not. Everyone of us must make sure that each child in our community knows we care--that each child knows we care today, and everyday in the future. That, more than anything else, is what we must put before political expediency.
"Today, I am calling for a recommitment by all of us to community. A recommitment that will create family wage jobs, reduce crime, fight bigotry and discrimination; ensure health care, reduce traffic congestion, protect the environment and better the lives of our children. None of these are partisan matters. They are above partisanship. They are the challenges our citizens expect us to meet. I know we can do that. I know we can say 'no' to partisan divisiveness and 'yes' to working together for the common good of the state of Washington--'yes' to a Northwest ethic of partnership that will make our great state even greater.
"Thank you, for the honor of serving as your Governor."
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Governor from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the State Elected Officials from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Justices of the Supreme Court from the House Chamber.
MOTION
On motion of Representative Foreman, the Joint Session was dissolved.
The President of the Senate returned the gavel to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Speaker instructed the Sergeants at Arms of the House and the Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard; President Pro Tempore R. Lorraine Wojahn; Vice President Pro Tempore Rosa Franklin, Majority Leader Marcus S. Gaspard; Minority Leader Dan McDonald and members of the Washington State Senate from the House Chamber.
The Senate was called to order at 5:43 p.m. by President Pritchard.
MOTION
At 5:43 p.m., on motion of Senator Newhouse, the Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 11, 1995.
JOEL PRITCHARD, President of the Senate
MARTY BROWN, Secretary of the Senate