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THIRD DAY
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MORNING SESSION
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Senate Chamber, Olympia, Wednesday, January 10, 2001
The Senate was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by President Owen. The Secretary called the roll and announced to the President that all Senators were present except Senator Deccio. On motion of Senator Honeyford, Senator Deccio was excused.
The Sergeant at Arms Color Guard consisting of Pages Shannon Colacurcio and Beth Wittig, presented the Colors. Reverend Anna Grace, pastor of the Unity Church of Olympia, offered the prayer.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was approved.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
January 9, 2001
MR. PRESIDENT:
The Co-Speakers have signed SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8400, and the same is herewith transmitted.
CYNTHIA ZEHNDER, Co-Chief Clerk
TIMOTHY A. BROWN, Co-Chief Clerk
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
SB 5052 by Senators Johnson and Constantine
AN ACT Relating to technical corrections to trust and estate dispute resolution; and amending RCW 11.96A.100, 11.96A.230, 11.96A.250, 11.96A.300, and 11.96A.310.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5053 by Senators Constantine and Johnson
AN ACT Relating to technical amendments and corrections to Article 9A of the Uniform Commercial Code and related statutes; amending RCW 19.40.081, 43.163.130, 60.10.010, 60.11.030, 60.11.904, 60.56.015, 62A.1-105, 62A.1-201, 62A.2A-303, 62A.2A-306, 62A.3-102, 62A.4-210, 62A.8-110, 62A.8-510, 62A.9A-102, 62A.9A-104, 62A.9A-105, 62A.9A-107, 62A.9A-201, 62A.9A-208, 62A.9A-301, 62A.9A-305, 62A.9A-306, 62A.9A-311, 62A.9A-313, 62A.9A-317, 62A.9A-322, 62A.9A-328, 62A.9A-331, 62A.9A-333, 62A.9A-334, 62A.9A-336, 62A.9A-406, 62A.9A-407, 62A.9A-509, 62A.9A.513, 62A.9A-608, 62A.9A-613, 62A.9A-615, 62A.9A-625, 62A.9A-628, 62A.9A-702, 62A.9A-703, 62A.9A-704, 62A.9A-705, 62A.9A-706, 62A.9A-707, and 62A.9A-708; reenacting and amending RCW 60.13.040; adding a new section to Article 62A.9A RCW; repealing RCW 60.11.9001; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5054 by Senators Johnson and Constantine
AN ACT Relating to the rule against perpetuities; amending RCW 11.98.130, 11.98.140, and 11.98.150; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5055 by Senators T. Sheldon, Swecker, Fairley, Prentice, McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, Oke, Rasmussen, Winsley and McCaslin
AN ACT Relating to awarding service credit under the teachers' retirement system plan 1 for military service; and amending RCW 41.32.260.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 5056 by Senators T. Sheldon, West, Stevens, Finkbeiner, Zarelli, Oke and Rossi
AN ACT Relating to a state employment freeze; creating a new section; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5057 by Senators Gardner, Hale, Haugen, Horn, Spanel, Patterson, Costa, Kline and McCaslin
AN ACT Relating to cities and towns changing plans of government; amending RCW 35A.06.030, 35A.06.060, and 35A.08.030; and reenacting and amending RCW 35A.01.070.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5058 by Senators Gardner, Hale, Haugen, Horn, Costa, Patterson, Kline and McCaslin
AN ACT Relating to public record protection; and reenacting and amending RCW 42.17.310.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5059 by Senators Winsley, Finkbeiner, Parlette, Oke, Carlson, McCaslin and Long
AN ACT Relating to reducing the state property tax; amending RCW 84.52.065, 84.52.043, 84.52.050, 36.58.150, 36.60.040, 36.69.145, 36.73.060, 36.83.030, 36.100.050, 67.38.130, 84.52.010, and 84.69.020; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 5060 by Senators Winsley and Patterson
AN ACT Relating to alternative public works contracting procedures; amending RCW 39.10.010, 39.10.020, 39.10.050, 39.10.065, 39.10.110, 39.10.115, and 39.10.902; amending 2000 c 138 s 106 (uncodified); reenacting and amending RCW 39.10.060 and 39.10.120; adding a new section to chapter 39.10 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5061 by Senators Winsley and Patterson
AN ACT Relating to awarding contracts for building engineering systems; and adding a new section to chapter 39.04 RCW.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5062 by Senators Patterson and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to job order contracting for public works; amending RCW 39.10.020, 39.08.030, 39.30.060, and 60.28.011; adding new sections to chapter 39.10 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 39.12 RCW.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5063 by Senators Patterson and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to limited public works; and amending RCW 239.04.155.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5064 by Senators Prentice and Winsley (by request of Gambling Commission)
AN ACT Relating to cheating at gambling; amending RCW 9.46.196; reenacting and amending RCW 9.94A.320; adding new sections to chapter 9.46 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Financial Institutions.
SB 5065 by Senators McCaslin, Carlson, Patterson and Johnson
AN ACT Relating to independent commissions to set salaries for city and town elected officials, and county commissioners and councilmembers; amending RCW 35.22.200 and 36.17.020; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.17 RCW; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5066 by Senators Prentice and Winsley (by request of Department of Financial Institutions)
AN ACT Relating to licensing and regulation of consumer loan companies; amending RCW 31.04.015, 31.04.025, 31.04.045, 31.04.055, 31.04.075, 31.04.085, 31.04.093, 31.04.105, 31.04.145, 31.04.155, 31.04.165, and 31.04.175; adding new sections to chapter 31.04 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Financial Institutions.
SB 5067 by Senators Prentice, Winsley and Rasmussen (by request of Department of Financial Institutions)
AN ACT Relating to the investigation of alien banks; and amending RCW 30.42.140.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Financial Institutions.
SB 5068 by Senators Prentice and Winsley (by request of Department of Financial Institutions)
AN ACT Relating to credit unions; amending RCW 31.12.005, 31.12.065, 31.12.085, 31.12.115, 31.12.225, 31.12.235, 31.12.255, 31.12.267, 31.12.326, 31.12.335, 31.12.365, 31.12.367, 31.12.402, 31.12.404, 31.12.426, 31.12.428, 31.12.436, 31.12.438, 31.12.445, 31.12.461, 31.12.464, 31.12.467, 31.12.471, 31.12.474, 31.12.516, 31.12.545, 31.12.565, 31.12.567, 31.12.569, 31.12.571, 31.12.575, 31.12.585, 31.12.595, 31.12.625, 31.13.010, and 31.13.020; adding a new section to chapter 31.12 RCW; decodifying RCW 31.13.900; and repealing RCW 31.12.275, 31.12.407, 31.12.448, 31.12.555, 31.12.605, 31.12.615, 31.12.627, 31.13.030, 31.13.040, and 31.13.050.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Financial Institutions.
SB 5069 by Senators Hargrove and Gardner
AN ACT Relating to absentee voting for precinct committee officers; and amending RCW 29.36.030.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5070 by Senators Kline, McCaslin, Franklin, Kastama, Thibaudeau, Fraser, Patterson, Fairley and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to jury service; and amending RCW 2.36.010 and 2.36.080.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5071 by Senators Kline, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Swecker, Haugen, Hale, Costa and Patterson
AN ACT Relating to tax incidence information and reporting; amending RCW 43.88A.010, 43.88A.030, 43.88A.040, and 43.88A.900; adding a new section to chapter 43.88A RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 82.01 RCW.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5072 by Senators Kline, McCaslin, Kastama, Thibaudeau, Fraser, Patterson, Winsley, Kohl-Welles and Prentice
AN ACT Relating to juror compensation; and amending RCW 2.36.150, 3.50.135, and 35.20.090.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5073 by Senators Kohl-Welles, Gardner, Costa, Constantine, Finkbeiner, Thibaudeau, Hargrove, B. Sheldon, Snyder, McDonald, Oke, Stevens, Rasmussen and Rossi
AN ACT Relating to liveaboard uses of public aquatic lands; and adding a new section to chapter 79.90 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks and Shorelines.
SB 5074 by Senators Kohl-Welles, Winsley, Costa, Thibaudeau, Fairley, Eide, Franklin, Rasmussen, Prentice and McAuliffe
AN ACT Relating to the women's health advisory committee; adding new sections to chapter 43.70 RCW; and making appropriations.
Referred to Committee on Health and Long-Term Care.
SB 5075 by Senators Haugen, Gardner and Prentice
AN ACT Relating to the commercial driver's license skills test; and amending RCW 46.25.060 and 46.25.010.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5076 by Senators Haugen, Spanel, Oke, T. Sheldon, Gardner and Kohl-Welles
AN ACT Relating to the use of credit or debit cards for ferry fares or reservations; and adding a new section to chapter 47.60 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5077 by Senators Haugen and Rasmussen
AN ACT Relating to the provisional employment of sheriff's employees; and amending RCW 41.14.060.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5078 by Senator Haugen
AN ACT Relating to the deposit of vehicle license fees; amending RCW 46.68.030; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5079 by Senators Gardner, Winsley and Haugen
AN ACT Relating to technical and clarifying amendments regarding the motor vehicle excise tax; amending RCW 46.01.040, 46.16.023, 46.16.070, 46.16.371, 46.16.374, 46.16.480, 46.16.630, 46.70.051, 46.70.061, 82.36.280, and 82.36.290; and reenacting and amending RCW 46.12.370 and 46.16.305.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5080 by Senators Haugen and Gardner
AN ACT Relating to the use of state-owned aquatic lands for construction of a street or highway; and amending RCW 79.90.470.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks and Shorelines.
SB 5081 by Senators Haugen and Rasmussen
AN ACT Relating to wild animal care facilities; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks and Shorelines.
SB 5082 by Senators Haugen, T. Sheldon, Rasmussen and Gardner
AN ACT Relating to defining rural counties for purposes of sales and use tax for public facilities; and amending RCW 82.14.370.
Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Telecommunications.
SB 5083 by Senators Haugen, Patterson and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to capital facility fees; amending RCW 82.02.020; reenacting and amending RCW 43.155.050; adding a new section to chapter 82.45 RCW; and repealing RCW 82.02.050,82.02.060, 82.02.070, 82.02.080, 82.02.090, and 82.02.100.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5084 by Senators Haugen and Winsley
AN ACT Relating to new counties; amending RCW 36.32.020 and 84.09.030; adding new sections to chapter 36.09 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 47.01 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 4.12.070, 36.09.010, 36.09.020, 36.09.035, 36.09.040, and 36.09.050; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5085 by Senators Haugen, Winsley, Prentice and McAuliffe
AN ACT Relating to administering emergency services to school students experiencing severe hypoglycemia; adding new sections to chapter 28A.210 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 18.79 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Education.
SB 5086 by Senators Haugen, Winsley and Oke
AN ACT Relating to false reporting; amending RCW 9A.84.040; adding a new section to chapter 9A.84 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5087 by Senators Haugen, Winsley, Rasmussen, Gardner and McAuliffe
AN ACT Relating to the issuance of license plates for recipients of the law enforcement medal of honor or their spouses; and reenacting and amending RCW 46.16.305.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5088 by Senators Haugen, Rasmussen, Winsley, T. Sheldon, Patterson, Carlson and McCaslin
AN ACT Relating to nonpartisan sheriffs; and amending RCW 29.18.010.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5089 by Senators Haugen, Oke, Gardner, Costa and Fairley
AN ACT Relating to the designation of state ferries as no smoking areas; and amending RCW 47.56.730.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5090 by Senators Haugen, Winsley, Rasmussen, Gardner, Kohl-Welles and Johnson
AN ACT Relating to property tax exemptions for persons confined in adult family homes and certain boarding homes; and amending RCW 84.36.381 and 84.36.383.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 5091 by Senators Haugen, Oke, Spanel, Gardner and Kohl-Welles
AN ACT Relating to vehicles boarding ferries; adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 47.60 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 5092 by Senators Kastama, Winsley, Regala and Rossi
AN ACT Relating to dangerous dogs; amending RCW 16.08.070, 16.08.080, and 16.08.100; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5093 by Senators T. Sheldon, Oke and Rasmussen
AN ACT Relating to unlawful dumping of litter; amending RCW 70.95.240; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks and Shorelines.
SB 5094 by Senators T. Sheldon, Sheahan, Gardner, Honeyford, Hargrove and Costa
AN ACT Relating to sales and use tax exemptions for call centers in distressed areas; adding a new section to chapter 82.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.12 RCW; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Telecommunications.
SB 5095 by Senators T. Sheldon, Sheahan, Gardner, Honeyford, Hargrove, Rasmussen, Costa, Haugen and McCaslin
AN ACT Relating to economic development in rural counties; and amending RCW 82.62.030.
Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Telecommunications.
SB 5096 by Senators T. Sheldon, Sheahan, Gardner, Honeyford, Hargrove, Rasmussen, Costa and Haugen
AN ACT Relating to tax deferrals in rural counties; and amending RCW 82.60.010, 82.60.020, 82.60.049, and 82.62.030.
Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Telecommunications.
SB 5097 by Senators Kastama, Winsley, Constantine, Hargrove, Oke, Rasmussen and Patterson
AN ACT Relating to displaying flags; and adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.
SB 5098 by Senator Winsley
AN ACT Relating to the costs for reproducing health care records; and amending RCW 70.02.010.
Referred to Committee on Health and Long-Term Care.
SB 5099 by Senators Winsley and Thibaudeau
AN ACT Relating to the designation of licensed medical directors by carriers offering dental only coverage; and amending RCW 48.43.540.
Referred to Committee on Health and Long-Term Care.
SB 5100 by Senators Fraser, Swecker, Regala, Eide, Rasmussen, Gardner, Haugen, Franklin, McAuliffe, Jacobsen and Fairley
AN ACT Relating to expediting the processing of pending applications relating to existing water rights by clarifying when pending applications for new water rights are not existing rights, allowing pending applications relating to existing water rights to be processed independently of pending applications for new water rights, and allowing applications to be processed ahead of previously filed applications that have insufficient information; amending RCW 90.03.380; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Environment, Energy and Water.
SB 5101 by Senators Prentice, Winsley, Kohl-Welles, Fairley and Fraser (by request of Department of Labor and Industries)
AN ACT Relating to consumer protection regarding contractors; amending RCW 18.27.010, 18.27.030, 18.27.040, 18.27.050, 18.27.090, 18.27.100, 18.27.110, 18.27.114, and 60.04.031; reenacting and amending RCW 18.27.060; adding new sections to chapter 18.27 RCW; repealing RCW 18.27.075; and prescribing penalties.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Financial Institutions.
SB 5102 by Senators Snyder, Rasmussen, T. Sheldon, Gardner, Prentice and McCaslin
AN ACT Relating to sales and use taxation of nonprofit hospitals; adding a new section to chapter 82.08 RCW; and adding anew section to chapter 82.12 RCW.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
SCR 8401 by Senators Snyder, West, Spanel, Hale and B. Sheldon
Adopting joint rules.
HOLD.
SCR 8402 by Senators Snyder, West, Spanel, Hale and B. Sheldon
Establishing cutoff dates.
HOLD.
SCR 8403 by Senators T. Sheldon, Swecker, Kline, Regala, Prentice and Costa
Promoting state and tribal relations.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, Senate Bill No. 5089 was referred to the Committee on Transportation.
MOTION
On motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the rules were suspended, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8401 and Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8402 were advanced to second reading and placed on the second reading calendar.
MOTION
At 10:12 a.m., on motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the Senate recessed until 11:45 a.m.
The Senate was called to order at 11:45 a.m. by President Owen.
MOTION
At 11:45 a. m., on motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the Senate was declared to be at ease to retire to the House Representatives 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.
Co-Speaker Ballard requested the Sergeants at Arms of the House and the Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen, President Pro Tempore Rosa Franklin, Majority Leader Sid Snyder and Minority Leader Jim West to seats on the rostrum.
Co-Speaker Ballard invited the Senators to seats within the House Chamber.
The Joint Session was called to order by Co-Speaker Ballard.
The Clerk of the House called the roll of the House.
The Secretary of the Senate called the roll of the Senate.
Co-Speaker Ballard presented the gavel to President Owen.
The President of the Senate stated that the purpose of this joint session was to administer the oath of office to the statewide elected officials and to receive the inaugural address from Governor Gary Locke.
APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES
The President of the Senate appointed Senators Constantine, Johnson, Kline and Sheahan and Representatives Ahern, Esser, Miloscia and Romero to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the State Reception Room to the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate appointed Senators Costa, Hochstatter, Oke and Tim Sheldon and Representatives Mielke, Ruderman, Simpson, and Skinner to escort the State Elected Officials from the State Reception Room to the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate appointed Senators Finkbeiner and Rasmussen and Representatives Lisk and Ogden to inform Governor Gary Locke that the Joint Session has assembled and to escort him from his office to the House Chamber.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS
The President of the Senate greeted and introduced the Supreme Court Justices: Chief Justice Gerry L. Alexander, Justice Charles W. Johnson, Justice Barbara A. Madsen, Justice Faith Ireland, Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, Justice Tom Chambers and Justice Susan J. Owens.
The President of the Senate greeted and introduced the State Elected Officials: Secretary of State Sam Reed, State Treasurer Mike Murphy, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, State Attorney General Christine O. Gregoire, Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland.
The President welcomed and introduced former Governor Al Rosellini, who was seated in the Chamber.
The President of the Senate greeted and introduced Governor Gary Locke and his wife, Mona Lee Locke, and instructed the committee to escort them to the rostrum.
The flags were escorted to the rostrum by the Washington State Patrol Honor Guard.
The National Anthem was sung by Marci Morrell, accompanied by Dainius Vaicekonis.
The prayer was offered by Reverend Joseph Yoshihara of the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Bellevue.
INTRODUCTION OF CONSULAR ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
The President welcomed and introduced the honored guests of the Consular Association of Washington, who were seated in the back of the House Chamber: The Honorable Ronald Masnik, President of the Consular Association of Washington and Consul of Belgium; The Honorable Dave Baron, Secretary of the Consular Association of Washington and Vice Consul of the United Kingdom; The Honorable Roger Simmons, P.C., Consul General of Canada; The Honorable Jorge Gilbert, Consul of Chile; The Honorable Fumiko Saito, Consul General of Japan; The Honorable Moon Byung-rok, Consul General of The Republic of Korea; The Honorable Miguel Angel Velasquez, Consul of Peru; The Honorable Andre Veklenko, Consul General of the Russian Federation and Dean of the Consular Corps; The Honorable David Broom, Her Majesty’s Consul, United Kingdom, and The Honorable Frank Lew, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of Seattle.
The President called forward the state elected officials to take their oath of office.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Representative Joe Marine was appointed as State Representative for the 21st District today, replacing Representative Renee Radcliff who has resigned.
OATH OF OFFICE TO REPRESENTATIVE JOE MARINE
Chief Justice Gerry Alexander administered the oath of office to Representative Joe Marine, who assumed the Office of State Representative, and Co-Speaker Ballard presented him the Certificate of Office.
OATH OF OFFICE TO STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS
Justice Charles Johnson administered the oath of office to Doug Sutherland, Commissioner of Public Lands, and the President of the Senate presented him with the Certificate of Office.
Justice Tom Chambers administered the oath of office to Mike Kreidler, Insurance Commissioner, and the President of the Senate presented him with the Certificate of Office.
Justice Susan Owens administered the oath of office to Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the President of the Senate presented her with the Certificate of Office.
Justice Faith Ireland administered the oath of office to Christine Gregoire, Attorney General, and the President of the Senate presented her with the Certificate of Office.
Justice Charles Johnson administered the oath of office to Brian Sonntag, State Auditor, and the President of the Senate presented him with the Certificate of Office.
Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, administered the oath of office to Sam Reed, Secretary of State, and the President of the Senate presented him with the Certificate of Office.
Justice Barbara Madsen, administered the oath of office to Mike Murphy, State Treasurer, and the President of the Senate presented him with the Certificate of Office.
Justice Bobbe Bridge administered the oath of office to Brad Owen, Lieutenant Governor, and Co-Speaker Ballard presented him with the Certificate of Office.
Chief Justice Gerry Alexander administered the oath of office to Governor Gary Locke, and the President of the Senate presented him with the Certificate of Office.
INTRODUCTION OF GOVERNOR LOCKE
President Owen: “I have brought with me a special gavel today. It was made by an outstanding craftsman from Olympia named Jim McDermott. No, not the Congressman Jim McDermott that we all know. The gavel is meant to represent the strength and diversity of our great state.
“The handle is a melding of black ebony wood from Africa, a reddish brown wood called Chote kok from Mexico, a maple wood from the United States and a light yellowish-brown-red delicious apple wood--Mr. Speaker--from Washington State. By laminating them together, they strengthen the handle and all come together and join the apple wood mallet as one. The head of the gavel has the state of Washington in brass, skillfully embedded into it.
“When I bring this gavel down, I hear the voice of the people echo in the Chamber. It is a reminder to us all that we are here to represent all of the diverse cultures and people that strengthen our state and make it a wonderful place to live, work, and play.”
“I believe us to be fortunate that in our Governor, we have a person with all these qualities of strength, skill and diversity. He grew up helping his parents in their store. After some hard work and commitment to excellence, he because an Eagle Scout. He went on to graduate from Yale with a Bachelor’s Degree and received his Law Degree from Boston University.
“Today, he brings the same work ethic and commitment to excellence in his duties as our chief executive. It is always an honor for me to present to you His Excellency, Governor Gary Locke.”
INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR GARY LOCKE
Governor Locke: “Mr. President, Mr. Speakers, Honorable Chief Justice, distinguished Justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Consular Association, statewide elected officials, members of the Washington State Legislature, citizens of Washington. It's been an honor to have served the people of Washington for four years and it is a privilege to serve four more. I'm excited about the prospects before us. I am humbled by our large margin of victory--maybe because of the influx of people fleeing the energy crisis in California--or my new haircut-- or because I'm the bold, dynamic leader the press has made me out to be. Whatever the reason, I want to thank the people of our state for their confidence in me to lead our state for another four years.
“Let me also take this opportunity to introduce and thank my family who have been so supportive all of these years and so instrumental to my success. The 57th Legislature is the first of the new century and we must ask ourselves--what are the ingredients for prosperity in this new century? The answer--a transportation system that works, an education system that enriches every child, enough water and energy to meet the needs of our people and our industries. These are the basics. Let's focus on those basics and accomplish much.
Over the past four years I've traveled our state from corner to corner.
* I've met people thrilled to be off of welfare, now holding down jobs that pay well.
* I've seen children in our schools beaming because they've participated in the Reading Corps and are now great readers.
* Young adults, the first in their families to go to college thanks to the Promise Scholarship.
* Young parents who now have low-cost health insurance for their children for the first time.
“Each individual I meet reinforces in me the belief that the job of state government is to provide the foundations upon which our citizens can build quality lives. Legislators and all of us sworn in today--we're ordinary people entrusted to do extraordinary things. Nothing is more extraordinary, more rewarding, than helping to fulfill the hopes, dreams and desires of the very people who make this the vibrant state that it is.
“This Fifty-seventh Legislature marks a time of passage. Yesterday we said farewell to three statewide elected officials and we begin this session in remembrance because of the passing of State Representative Pat Scott, Senator George Sellar, and Tour Coordinator Don Shaw. All three accomplished extraordinary things. We will miss them. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families. Let's carry their spirit with us through this session.
“Families like yours and mine want to spend more time with each other instead of being stuck in traffic. We want to know our children will get the very best education with the very best teachers in the best learning environments. We want clean, cool water for our families and for fish, and enough affordable energy to light our homes, cook our meals and power our industries. These are the basics. We cannot predict the future.
“One hundred years ago our nation couldn't have known we would soar the heavens or communicate across the globe with the click of a button and that much of that progress would originate right here, because of the insight and innovation of people in the state of Washington.
But, we do know future generations will need transportation, education, water and energy, so they can build their lives on solid ground.
“Transportation--Time to put the Pedal to the Medal! Given our population growth, two million new vehicles will hit our roads over the next twenty years. After Referendum 49 and Initiative 695, however, we now have less money for transportation today than we did ten years ago. Our state's record on transportation has been nothing but a series of fits and starts--projects begun but never finished, solutions presented then dismissed--years wasted. If we don't fix our transportation problems now, our businesses won't grow. They'll leave our state. If we don't have businesses, we won't have jobs. It's that simple. Our traffic congestion is among the worst in the nation and we're losing two billion dollars a year in productivity because of it.
“A state that gave a ‘turbo charge’ to the Information Superhighway should not have a transportation system that's out of gas. The Legislature created the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation. I embrace its solutions. Bipartisan remedies are right in front of us -- remedies that were two-and-a-half years in the making. We all campaigned on transportation improvements. Any mention of needing more time to think about this is out of the question. It's time to get Washington moving again and now. We will make our Department of Transportation as lean and efficient as it can possibly be. We will streamline the permitting process and expedite projects without compromising our environment. There is no reason we can't enact these reforms within the first few weeks of this session. That's the first order. The second order is that we must reach agreement on critical projects to be completed within the next six years.
“This summer we're breaking ground on a new traffic lane to eliminate the snarl at I-405 and Highway 167 in Renton, but we will do more than that. The new transportation plan I've presented will also widen lanes on I-90 in Spokane, extend HOV lanes on I-5 all the way from
Everett to Tacoma, widen SR 17 to four lanes in Moses Lake, separate downtown train and auto traffic in Yakima and Seattle, guarantee transit services for seniors and vulnerable adults, and Replace our pre-Depression era ferries.
“These are just some of the projects I've proposed to improve congestion across our state, but all are solutions we can implement right now for the greatest good. You may wonder how will we pay for this? Well, we're not just going to drop a pile of money on the table and then figure out how to spend it. My proposal is a deliberate strategy to get results. Only after we agree on these improvements will I outline and recommend a funding plan. We will stay in session until we've agreed on all three--efficiencies, projects and funding. People of Washington, especially those of you listening on your car radios, because you're stuck in traffic, hold us accountable. We must and we will move on transportation--just like we did for education.
“Education at the Threshold of Excellence! My vision of education is straightforward--great learning, great teaching and great leadership.
With the hard work of this Legislature and the firm and active support of our citizens, we have reached the threshold of educational excellence with higher expectations of both students and teachers. We've made great strides. More and more of our students are exceeding our tough new academic standard and you, the people, have responded with tremendous enthusiasm. Last year I proposed class-size reduction without a tax increase. When the Legislature didn't respond, I helped put it on the ballot as Initiative 728, which swept through our state, county by county, passing with the largest margin of any initiative in our history--because people care passionately about improving our education system. It's their number one priority. But, this isn't only about money. Lawmakers, I call on you to join me. We will give educators the powers and the tools that they need to spend that money effectively. We will not leave Olympia this session until we have removed the barriers hindering academic performance and great teaching. Specifically, we'll agree to abolish the current education code and have a new one in place by 2004.
“To get the ball rolling, I propose to waive regulations for schools that want to set even higher achievement standards and to reward schools for meeting those goals. Exceptional teachers deserve exceptional compensation. If we're to attract and retain the best teachers in the face of a national teacher shortage--we must change the way we pay them. My proposal calls for select school districts to lead the way and design a new teacher compensation system based on knowledge, skill and performance. To further encourage great teaching, and to increase the number of great educators, we will adopt alternative certification programs for teachers. If a Microsoft retiree wants to teach math, she should be able to do so without going back to college for an education degree.
“The Professional Standards Board we created just six months ago has devised a quicker method for qualified people to get into the classroom. A person can retire from one profession in May and be teaching in September. You know, just recently a Dean of a teaching college applied to be a school principal. She has a Ph.D. and she taught hundreds of the teachers in our schools. The school wanted to hire her. She wanted the job, but it went to someone else. Why? Because the education code says to be a principal in a Washington school, you have to be a certificated teacher. So, we have an expert who can't enter the school. It's time to stop letting the education code hinder our schools and start doing things the right way, with common sense.
“Finally, a good learning environment has to be a safe one. Until now, only schools that applied received money for school safety. Safety is as essential as the three R's. So this year, each and every school will receive money for school safety. Great Learning, Great Teaching, Great Leadership--that's where we're headed. This session we'll empower our teachers and our schools to move to the next level of performance so our children can do the same.
“Water a century behind! No one has to tell us the importance of water. We need it for people, wildlife and agriculture. Our water laws are not in concert with present reality. That sentiment was expressed twenty-five years ago by Governor Dan Evans, and virtually no progress has been made since then. Indeed, our water laws have hardly changed in one hundred years even though we have five times as many people. We have towns battling farmers for water. We have businesses battling fish, towns battling towns. Some of our cities have been forced to enact building moratoriums--no new homes, no new businesses, rivers and streams drying up. Why? There isn't enough water to accommodate growth. We will not have the paved troughs that pass for rivers in Los Angeles. So, I say it again in 2001, ‘Our water laws are not in concert with reality.’
“This session we will make progress. We're not going to leave until we've reformed our water permitting process, so people aren't waiting years for a simple, non-controversial permit. We had an agreed-upon remedy last year. There's no reason why we can't pass that remedy in the first few weeks of this session. We must put common sense into our water laws. Incentives for water conservation, re-use, and storage are critical. We will let those who conserve keep a portion of the water they save, and compensate citizens for the water they put back in our streams for fish. My ’Yakima Water Action Plan’ is a great example of how to provide water for people, fish and farms. Let's get that action plan in place.
“Energy, a clean and sustainable future! Our fourth challenge this session is energy. We have greater demands for electricity than ever before. Energy is as essential to our economy as water is to life. Thank goodness we said, ‘no,’ to energy deregulation three years ago. Look
what's happened to California. But, we still face a crisis that we must address immediately. Georgia Pacific laid off eight hundred and fifty people just before Christmas; eight hundred and fifty families were affected. Why the layoffs? Georgia Pacific could not afford its power bill. I'm proposing tax breaks so utilities can convert part-time polluting generators into full-time, clean generators, and tax breaks for companies who want to produce their own permanent power, thereby freeing up electricity for the rest of us. I'm also proposing tax breaks for citizens and businesses buying clean and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and fuel cells. I'm calling on utilities to diversify their energy sources so our citizens aren't hurt when price--or supply-problems hit a particular industry like natural gas or hydroelectric. And I propose additional financial assistance so low-income citizens don't go without power during these cold winter months. These solutions are necessary for the future of our state and there is simply no excuse not to act.
“Folks at home, let me take this opportunity to say again, that we must conserve. I'm calling on everyone to reduce consumption by ten percent. We only have so much energy, and we need to treat it as a precious resource. It's going to take each and every one of us. These are ambitious goals, but they are doable. To set the example, tonight, at my Inaugural Ball, for the first time in history, the traditional ‘three miles of lights’ that volunteers placed along Capitol Way will not be lit. The Capitol Dome will remain dark. We must all do our part.
“Conclusion: Ordinary people empowered to do extraordinary things. Finally, this budget was one of the toughest I've ever written-- and I've written many. We've made reductions--especially in human services and in the number of state workers. Services benefitting real people and state workers with families to support. Reductions I didn't want to make, but had to, to pay for unavoidable costs to better protect our children, but also to move our state forward.
“Our state faces real problems demanding real solutions. The people who can provide those solutions are right here in this Chamber. They're the people watching on television. They're the people listening on the radio. They're the people who will read this in tomorrow's paper. They're all of you. I'm enormously proud of the people of Washington. We have never been afraid to tackle the big issues. We're a state that built the airplanes that connect the world. We pioneered a whole new economy based on technology and information. We cleaned up rivers and streams after one hundred years of pollution. In that innovative and can-do spirit, let us embrace the opportunities and the challenges before us. Legislators, statewide elected officials, we can and we must do the work before us.
“We are ordinary people entrusted to do extraordinary things, but all of it is within our ability. We can find solutions. We can reach agreement. As I've said before, twenty-five, fifty or one hundred years from now citizens won't remember what parties we belonged to, but rather what we accomplished. We must put politics aside and get down to work. I want us to leave this session proud that we've solved the tough issues. Let's make our citizens proud of us. Thank you all and God bless you all.”
The President of the Senate thanked Governor Locke for his comments and requested the special committee to escort Governor and Mrs. Locke from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate requested the special committee to escort the Supreme Court Officials from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate requested the special committee to escort the State Elected Officials from the House Chamber.
On motion by Representative Mastin, the Joint Session was dissolved.
The President returned the gavel to Co-Speaker Ballard.
Co-Speaker Ballard requested the Sergeants at Arms of the House and Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen, President Pro Tempore Rosa Franklin, Majority Leader Sid Snyder and Minority Leader Jim West from the House Chamber.
Co-Speaker Ballard requested the Sergeants at Arms of the House and Senate to escort the Senators from the House Chamber.
The Senate was called to order at 1:16 p.m. by President Owen.
MOTION
At 1:16 p.m., on motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the Senate adjourned until 12:00 noon, Thursday, January 11, 2001.
BRAD OWEN, President of the Senate
TONY M. COOK, Secretary of the Senate