Associated Press
Gov. Gary Locke, surrounded by lawmakers and transportation officials, signed into law a transportation efficieny measure in Olympia on Wednesday. Officials hope the law will build public support for a highway tax increase.

Transport law may cut rural costs

No guarantees on Locke's other planned measures

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Gary Locke signed a transportation efficiency bill into law Wednesday -- approving the first of three major transportation measures he is seeking.

Progress on the second priority -- giving new taxing authority to central Puget Sound communities to raise extra money for megaprojects -- stalled for a day in the House, as Republicans requested extra time to prepare amendments.

Locke's third priority -- a statewide transportation financing plan -- is further off, although Locke said the first bill gives momentum to the effort to fix the state's gridlock.

"This is a great day for transportation in Washington state," Locke said during a bill-signing ceremony surrounded by legislators of both parties.

"I am proud to sign a bill that does so much to restore public confidence and gets the most out of every dollar spent on transportation projects."

Bill details

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2304 includes a more accurate calculation of prevailing wages in rural areas, which could reduce costs for rural projects, as well as contracting out new engineering and design work for new highway projects.

It also has measuring tools that are supposed to ensure that dollars spent on highway maintenance and improvements get good value.

Passage of the bill, which eventually won bipartisan support in the Senate and House, does not ensure that the other transportation issues will pass.

Regional plans

A regional transportation plan drawn up by some House Democrats will come up for a floor vote in the House at 5:30 p.m. today.

Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, the House minority floor leader, said he hopes to take away the right of local governments to impose a 2.3-cents-per-gallon gas tax, which a Senate version of the regional bill lacks but the House Democratic plan includes.

DeBolt said he also wants to be sure that the regional transportation taxes stop once the voter- approved projects are completed to avoid "feeding the anaconda of government.''

The House Republicans also are discussing among themselves what kind of revenue package they can support because they want a place at the negotiating table, DeBolt said.

"You can't do that if you just say no," DeBolt said.

DeBolt did not know how soon they might offer a proposal to match what House Democrats may propose next week.

But Rep. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, said he doubts Republicans, who mustered 17 votes for the efficiencies bill, will find many votes for a tax plan -- even if the House and Senate put the proposal out for a public vote.

"The referendum debate is over," Hatfield said, despite the continued insistence by Locke and Senate Democrats that lawmakers adopt a revenue package in Olympia without a public vote.

"It's got to be a referendum. ... Unfortunately, the interpretation of the majority of voters is arrogance on our part if we do it here."

On the Web:

- Washington State Legislature

- Gov. Gary Locke

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