Transportation fix is key to recovery, Locke told

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Friday, March 1, 2002

OLYMPIA-- Members of Gov. Gary Locke's Washington Competitiveness Council still think major fixes to the state's transportation infrastructure are the most needed investment in improving the state's business climate, they told the governor in a meeting Thursday.

"We need a transportation fix as soon as possible," Locke said. "We've got to continue progress on this important issue."

The House is poised today to act on the long-awaited transportation fix. After nearly two years of continually stalled efforts to fix transportation, the body is set to vote on a plan, assembled by majority Democrats, which would raise $5.6 billion during the next 10 years, mostly by asking voters to approve an additional 8-cent a gallon sales tax on gasoline.

The Democratic proposal cleared the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday night, and will be debated by the full House today barring any last-minute obstacles.

At the meeting with Competitiveness Council officials, Locke and his staff provided the business, labor and government leaders on the council with reports on the progress of its priorities in the current session. Besides transportation, Locke pointed to legislation that would simplify municipal business and occupation taxes, and another bill that would clarify the tax treatment of investment income.

Locke also reiterated his support for regulatory reform and a Senate proposal for more than $100 million in state bonding for new building projects around the state.

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