Gov. Locke (Wa.) lashes Bush on environment, energy, education

[Nambe]

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)

Locke accused the Bush administration and the Republican Congress of footdragging on adopting mandatory national standards for electricity transmission. He said this state and the Northwest, however, are apparently in good shape and shouldn't fear a blackout like the one that hit parts of Canada and the eastern United States last week.

He made his comments in a telephone interview during a break at the National Governors' Conference in Indianapolis. The president on Friday is scheduled to make his first visit to Washington state since his inauguration. -

Locke asserted that Bush has "abandoned his commitment to fully funding his own 'Leave No Child Behind' education program.

"It's a huge topic among governors. He imposes a huge responsibility on states, on individual districts and schools and leaves them billions of dollars short." -

"The governors are talking about what they are having to do individually in the absence of any strong leadership from Washington, D.C.," Locke said.

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[pfitz59]

1. What the Federalists want!

State's rights! Let 'em hang alone!