December 16, 2004 (---last Walker transcript---)

"Get as much education as you can. Reach out. Dream your dream. Get involved. Do the hard work. Lay the groundwork. There's been no greater experience for any individual, male or female, than to be involved in public service."

Reporters (in order of appearance):

KEN VERDOIA, KUED
RICH PIATT, KSL-TV
DAN BAMMES, KUER
LISA RILEY ROCHE, DESERET MORNING NEWS
TOM JORDAN, METRO NETWORKS
LEE AUSTIN, UTAH PUBLIC RADIO
REBECCA WALSH, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

Transcript:

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: Governor Walker, thank you for joining us today. We do note at the outset that this will be your final exchange on KUED TV as the governor of the State of Utah, and in this final month of your administration, you have been making a special outreach effort among state agencies. Can you outline this final call, if you will, around state workers.

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, it's mainly been the last two days. And what an experience it's been to me to go to all the agencies and thank them for their work. We've got great state employees. You know, when I go to the national governors meetings and hear the issues in other states, I always come back and think, thank goodness I'm governor of Utah. But we've had a lot of hark-working, innovative individuals in state government, and we've had a lot of citizens in state government, citizens in Utah that have stepped up and volunteered to make the many initiatives that I've thrown out work.

And you know, as I've gone to, from agency to agency, department to department, there's always some fond memory that I was involved in in the legislature, or as governor, and lieutenant governor. And even in the insurance department, where, you know, I almost couldn't think of anything that I had been involved in, and they brought up that I was a house sponsor of the 700-plus insurance code bill that went through when I was in the legislature. I probably crammed for 40 hours to answer any of the questions in that huge bill. I got up and made a short presentation and asked for questions--not one question. You know, so there's a lot of great memories there.

RICH PIATT, KSL-TV: Well, Governor, turning to a little bit more serious news, the state is experiencing a surplus at this time. You've presented a budget. How do you feel the state should proceed from here?

GOVERNOR WALKER: It was a great opportunity to do this year's budget because it was certainly more pleasant than a year ago. Actually, the economy turned around when I took over as governor, and I would like to take full credit for it. It's a little hard to do, but I'd like to. But we've had remarkable results in the economy. We're one of the leading states in how the economy has turned around.

My plea is, use the one-time money very wisely. Make certain that we don't return to the practice of putting one-time money on ongoing programs. Restore the rainy day fund, because without tax reform, we will continue to have huge fluctuations in highs and lows in our revenues. So restore the rainy day fund. Put the one-time money in infrastructure, buildings that we need built, that won't be, encumber ongoing money. And certainly we've been very restrictive in the last few years because we've had to watch our bonding rating because of prior bonding for I-15, et cetera, and so we need to be very careful on the bonding, how we use one-time money, and making certain that we have basically sound principles in our budgeting policy. I call it structure balance, that you can't fund, have more programs than you can afford to fund year after year.

DAN BAMMES, KUER: Governor, perhaps this is related to the issue of one-time money, but with the surplus projected as high as $235 million, there is no funding in this budget that you proposed to restore optical care and dental care for Medicaid recipients. The estimate of what it would take to restore that is in the range of $7 million. Is this not in your budget because of that one-time funding issue, or what does it take to restore that?

GOVERNOR WALKER: Primarily the one time, but we did restore the emergency dental care, so we did restore part of that with ongoing money. Again, you have to use the one-time money very wisely. And we have a unique year because of that one-time money. Certainly there's issues there that the legislature needs to look at. We did restore that one benefit in Medicaid.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: One thing you have not mentioned is giving it back. There are people out there saying rebate, refund, cut tax structures to return this surplus to the taxpayer. Would you resist that?

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, it always sounds good to go for a tax cut. But again, unless they do tax reform, those fluctuations will only be greater in the future. And if you happen to feel like you have a surplus and give it back, then you have problems down the road. There may be a time when we have sufficient moneys, but there have been many buildings that we haven't been able to build because of the revenues. Certainly one example is the Marriott Library here on campus that has some real structural problems. As you notice in the budget, I've fully funded that project. The library down at Utah Valley State College has- - Well they basically don't really have a library. They use BYU's, but they do need greater capacity at that institution, and we partially, we funded part of it out of the one-time money, part out of bonding. When you have one-time money and you had a famine, as well as a drought, the famine in revenues, it's a good time to look at the infrastructure and put the one-time money in infrastructure, and rather than giving tax refunds on one-time money.

LISA RILEY ROCHE, DESERET MORNING NEWS: Governor, is the fact that the state has such a healthy surplus right now going to make it tougher to get people to focus on tax reform?

GOVERNOR WALKER: Do you know, this is the perfect time to look at tax reform. Because if you're in a crisis situation, you're not only looking at the basic policies, you're looking at tax increases if you're in a crisis on funding. And that makes it far more difficult. Right now is the time that we can look at it, because of the revenues that we have some flexibility and options in tax reform, so I can't think of a better time to look at it.

TOM JORDAN, METRO NETWORKS: What kind of sense have you been getting about your tax reform package? Is this standing a pretty good chance of getting serious discussion?

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, I've been very pleased at the reception that many organizations, CPAs, chambers of commerce, they're not saying they support it, but I think they all have agreed that it needs to be looked at. Because if you don't act, as you get down the road maybe eight, ten years from now, the consequences are not the bright future for the state of Utah. So we've had pretty positive support. Now, you know, there's always the questions, and there's always the issues that, of what it does in this area or what it does to this group. But I think the fact that people are looking at it, and they're somewhat positive in the fact that they need to look at it. I take that as a degree of support.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: Governor, we're going to turn our attention to Logan, we have a question from Utah State University from our friend, Lee Austin with Utah Public Radio. Lee.

LEE AUSTIN, UTAH PUBLIC RADIO: Thank you very much. Governor, let's continue talking about your tax reform package.

GOVERNOR WALKER: Yes.

LEE AUSTIN, UTAH PUBLIC RADIO: I think most problematic for a lot of people is extending the sales tax to services such as health, medical, some legal work, but not all legal work. Was that perhaps over-extending into, beyond the realm of what is politically possible?

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, we looked at it, and I, for one, in the group, really wanted to exclude health care costs. But when you start excluding such a large portion of the sales tax, then you increase the volatility a great deal. And when you really look at it, that those that are really in the low income, their health care is funded by Medicaid. And so while it seems to be an important issue, and no one wants a health care cost increase, this year in the benefit package for state employees it increased 11.8 percent. We've got to address the issue of containing those costs. But any time you start excluding areas from either the income tax or the sales tax, that increases the volatility, and you don't have the broad, stable base that we need for sound tax policy.

RICH PIATT, KSL-TV: Governor, in Salt Lake County there's been, I think you could safely say, a scandal, and a partial response has been a series of ethics reforms. Specifically in the state, however, I'm wondering if you feel the time is right for the legislature to meaningfully address campaign contributions and gifts at that level.

GOVERNOR WALKER: I think it's probably - -the public feels that there are probably greater abuses than I think there really are. But for that reason alone, I would encourage them to look at it. Because I don't know of any huge gifts they get, other than lunch, dinner, and of course Jazz tickets always become the focus. But you take a survey, and the majority of the legislators don't even go to the Jazz games. But I think, in the public's perception, it's an issue. And so I think they would be wise to say no gifts. It would solve the problem.

RICH PIATT, KSL-TV: At the same time, do you feel like that there is an issue there if someone is brought out for a fancy meal and they're dealing with a serious topic, isn't there, in fact, some kind of influence that could cause concern for some people?

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, I have to revert back to when I was in the legislature, and I did go to some dinners, and lunches. I don't think- - You know, I kind of feel like, hey, there are not many people that can be bribed for even a $10 lunch. And I think the issue is that it gives them time to understand the issues and the facts of the situation. In retrospect, I wouldn't have minded paying the $10 for the lunch myself to get the information and the input. And so for that reason I would suggest they might move in that direction. But again, it's been several years since I've been in the legislature, and that's a decision they'll have to make.

RICH PIATT, KSL-TV: But if it's not that big of a deal to most of the legislature, then what is the big deal about instituting some kind of reform? If a $10 meal, give or take, take it or leave it, isn't that big of a deal, why not include reform, do you think?

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, you're going to have to ask them. Because I've seen it. You know, even in my case, when, especially dignitaries from Asia and some European countries bring gifts, I've thought of this. And when I think they're over $50, my tendency is to make a contribution back to the state. But on the other hand, you know, I've looked at it in terms of governor, and there are times when I think it would be offensive not to accept the gifts. And I try to handle it in that manner. If it's over $50, then you put money back into either a charitable group or back into the state. And I don't know whether that's the right answer. But I can assure you, most legislators don't get offered gifts over $50, other than the front row Jazz tickets. So that's the way I've handled it. Maybe if you had laws it would be more effective, I think the public would feel better about it, but again, you'd have to have oversight of those laws. But I would urge them to move in that direction. And as governor, I've tried to handle it in the most appropriate way that I can.

REBECCA WALSH, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE : Governor, do you have any leftover campaign funds?

GOVERNOR WALKER: No.

REBECCA WALSH, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: No.

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, the amazing thing is that all of the campaign bills have been paid. It - -there may be a little left over in special projects.

REBECCA WALSH, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: What will you do with that money?

GOVERNOR WALKER: We're trying to budget it very carefully. There won't be much left over, but I'll use it for charitable purposes. But it'll be a very small amount.

DAN BAMMES, KUER: Governor, both you and your successor have repeatedly stated your opposition to allowing higher levels of radioactive waste to be disposed of in the state, the so-called B and C waste. Governor-elect Huntsman, on the other hand, has indicated he's not planning any time soon to send a letter to the Division of Radiation Control that could stop the permitting process for B and C waste. If he won't do that, will you before you leave office?

GOVERNOR WALKER: You know, we've looked into that, and I will look into it again. As we have interpreted it, they have to bring an application to us before we issue that opinion. It's very clear where I've stood on B and C waste. I think in one of my first press conferences here I announced very clearly that we would not accept the Fernaldi nuclear waste because, while it wasn't identified as C, the characteristics could be identified more closely with C waste, and I did not want B and C waste in Utah. I still stand firmly on that. But in reviewing the law, the process is not that the governor sends that out. It's when they bring the application in, then there's a reaction. And I would react that we do not want it here.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: What about your reaction to yesterday's announcement of the sale of the, what was Utah-owned Envirocare, now to a New York-based corporation? In the past state leaders have said, "Well, this entity deals with radioactive waste, but they're locally owned. We can deal with them locally," as if to say if they were out of state that would be a different set of circumstances. Are you troubled that ownership is passing out of state?

GOVERNOR WALKER: Do you know, I don't know of the details of it, and I understand there's going to be a major press conference in January. I hope you'll all be there to accurately report it, so when I read it in the newspapers, or hear it on TV, that you'll have the exact details. I urge you all to attend.

RICH PIATT, KSL-TV: Governor, when you first took office, when the transition happened, there, there were some people who were, quite frankly, a little bit skeptical, the first female governor, you're a senior member of the state employees. Do you feel like, at any time during your time in office, that you were not taken as seriously as you thought you should have been?

GOVERNOR WALKER: No. We've worked very hard. I felt a great weight on my shoulders because I was the first female governor, and I felt that we had to accomplish things, but they had to be meaningful things. And so we have been very busy. Ironically, I've been urged to get my portrait painted before I leave. We have not had time to even do that. We've worked very hard, we've had great initiatives completed, and to all the citizens across the state, whether it's reading, whether it's watershed, on and on, who have stepped up and helped implement them far beyond my expectations, I just want to say thank you.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: Governor, one final time let's go back to Logan, another question from Lee Austin. Lee?

LEE AUSTIN, UTAH PUBLIC RADIO: So what are you going to miss most about, of this job, and perhaps one or two things that you won't miss about being governor?

GOVERNOR WALKER: Obviously, I'll miss the people. I'll miss even the press. I've enjoyed this. I'll miss people in communities all across the state. I'll miss the challenge of trying to solve issues that are important to the citizens of the state. You know, I kept- - I've said many times I think I've been to every community in the state except Yost, and guest what--on Sunday, the 26th of December, I'm planning on going to Yost. I think the only thing to do is to either hunt or go to church in Yost, and even that's across the border in Idaho but I'll choose the latter, and I am going to Yost before the end of the term. And I'll miss the people throughout the state.

RICH PIATT, KSL-TV: At the same time, you mentioned before we actually started taping here, that you felt it was important to pass the baton to a new administration.

GOVERNOR WALKER: Oh, absolutely. I've compared it to a relay race, that a governor has it a certain period of time. Once that hand-off occurs, then the obligation is to get off the track. And I will get off the track.

LISA RILEY ROCHE, DESERET MORNING NEWS: What does that mean, though, Governor? Do you see for your role for yourself in public life once you're out? Will we see you at the legislature frequently twisting a few arms?

GOVERNOR WALKER: No, I've already made the determination, despite the fact that I've had some great offers to lobby, I've turned them down. So you won't see me at the legislature lobbying. I can assure you of that. But you will see me in other areas. I have some great opportunities. In those two weeks in St. George I'm going to make the choice, and I may not be working 14, 16 hours a day, but I will still be involved in some way or another.

TOM JORDAN, METRO NETWORKS: If you were approached by a bright young woman to ask your advice on politics and going into politics, what would you tell her to watch out for?

GOVERNOR WALKER: I'd say dream your dream. Get involved, do the hard work, make, lay the groundwork. But there's been no greater experience for any individual, male or female, than to be involved in public service, whether it's the legislature or governor, or at the congressional level, or even president. And I hope if I've done one thing, it's that either gender, boy or girl, can dream of being governor, or being in the legislature, or other office. Regardless of gender, ethnic background, religion, or whatever, I'm hoping everyone has the opportunity to at least think about it.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: Did you, in your earliest years, when you were in your teens, envision yourself as the type of person that would kick down doors and redefine what politics might be in Utah? Because, and I say this in all sincerity, you have a Ph.D., you've been a corporate executive, you've been elected, now, to many offices in Utah, and you've served as the state's chief executive. These are all ground-breaking achievements for anyone, and you've got- - Did you envision this in yourself at a young age?

GOVERNOR WALKER: Do you know, I wish I could say yes, but I didn't. I don't know- - I don't remember of ever even reading about any female governor, so that vision was not there. I always understood, because of my parents, that I had an obligation to give to my community, to make it a better place, because I lived there. So that was instilled very deeply into my youth. And my mother, she always had an acre and a half, and reduced it to an acre in her 70s, garden. We fed the neighborhood. You know, we had many people, including ourselves, that didn't have a lot of money, and- - But none of us knew we were poor. You know, and I can't say that I was poor, we were probably better off than many of our neighborhoods, but there was always that feeling, that you do something to make your neighborhood a better place. So while I didn't ever envision being governor, or even lieutenant governor, certainly that obligation was instilled in me.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: But the conundrum of a woman in the 21st Century is the burden and pressure of having it all, of having marriage and family, as well as a sense of fullness in achievement. And yet you seem to, so effortlessly, have gotten to these heights. What type of advice would you give to that woman who seems so challenged by that?

GOVERNOR WALKER: I think that you have to take advantage of any opportunity that is out there. You know, I think being prepared. You mentioned my Ph.D. Actually I had visions of, in college, and going on for my masters, of teaching at the university level. And yet I've only taught classes here or there. And you don't have to have a Ph.D. to be governor. But certainly I think the fact that I had that education background opened doors for me.

I think you need to take advantage of your opportunities. Get as much education as you can. Reach out. And again, I think the biggest opportunity is in service, because that will bring greater happiness. You know, you can look at fame or money or power, and they're all nice to have, but what really brings happiness is service to others. And so I would urge girls and boys to not only think of success in terms of power and money, but in the sense that, really, happiness comes from service.

And I think that's quite remarkable that so many people, young people across the state of Utah reach out and volunteer. And I've seen it- - I saw it in the watershed projects. We had high school boys up planting trees up in Summit County, we've had people helping younger people read, teenagers. And those are the kind of opportunities I want to encourage young people to take advantage of.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: We have come to the point in this program where I must conclude it with the recognition that, Governor Olene Walker, on behalf of Utah's press corps, thank you for your months of, not only service, but of candor in this setting. And I don't think I speak solely when I wish you the very, very best to you and your family, and a great appreciation of the people of the state of Utah for stepping in at a difficult time and doing, by any measure, a remarkable job in leadership in the state of Utah.

GOVERNOR WALKER: Thank you so much. Thanks to all of you, and thanks to all the citizens of the state of Utah. It has been a great honor to serve as governor.

KEN VERDOIA, KUED: A transcript of this and every edition of the Governor's Monthly News Conference is available on line at www.uen.org. Until next month, with Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Ken Verdoia, good night.

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