many ways that it might be a good time to remind 

 ourselves of the importance of our region, the ways in 

 which the problems of our region are important to the 

 nation as a whole, and the role of the Western Gover- 

 nors' Conference in examining these matters. 



The Western Governors' Conference is one of the 

 oldest, most active regional governmental organiza- 

 tions in the nation We have operated actively and 

 consistently for 35 years. Through information, 

 research, interstate trouble-shooting, education, and 

 federal-state liaison, we have developed a strong 

 regional forum not only for issues among ourselves, 

 but for issues arising from the presence and opera- 

 tions of federal government in our region 



The impact of the federal government on the West- 

 ern states is enormous More than any other region, 

 we feel the hand of federal policy, federal practices, 

 and federal mistakes. The rights held by and the 

 decisions made by any region's largest landowner 

 would be matters of grave concern to anyone. For 

 us, the concern is doubled because it seems that 

 everything we try to do as governors in this economy 

 is dependent upon federal cooperation — yet the root 

 of so much of our present difficulty is in federal prac- 

 tices over which we have little control 



In Oregon, we used to have a restraint we put on 

 our pnsoners to prevent their escape. It was a large, 

 heavy metal boot we slipped over one leg. It became 

 known, famously, as "the Oregon boot." and it was 

 famous for impeding movement, slowing down the 

 prisoner and encumbering him to the point that every 

 motion he tried to make was rendered awkward, slow, 

 and tedious 



Governors, the current federal budget battle, hun- 

 dred-plus-billion-dollar federal deficit, and the high 

 interest rates supported by that deficit are the "Ore- 

 gon boot" that all of us are wearing as we try to turn 

 our economies around. At this 35th Western Gover- 

 nors' Conference, I want you to join me in trying to do 

 something about it. 



We have taken and supported regional action 

 before. We have initiated the Western Interstate 

 Energy Board, the Western States Water Council, the 

 Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, 

 and many others. 



And, I might mention to you, as recently as two 

 days ago, the Western Interstate Commission on 

 Higher Education had a committee looking at high 

 tech, graduate work in science, and how we — col- 

 lectively as governors in the Western region — can 

 meet those needs through our institutions of higher 

 education. It was a very successful meeting. 



Through our efforts, we have supported many spe- 

 cialized regional organizations created through com- 

 pacts, and we have individually and jointly participated 

 in the efforts of many affiliated organizations attempt- 

 ing to solve problems on a regional basis. 



We must continue to be even more strongly prob- 

 lem-oriented, and we must redouble our efforts at 

 problem-solving 



I do not need to remind any of you that the era of 

 revenue sharing — of increasing infusions of federal 

 dollars — is over. We will be taking on more responsi- 

 bilities of the federal sector, but we will have to do it 

 with drastically reduced financial resources 



As we have in the past on water rights and alloca- 

 tion, we must make our voice and policy choices 

 heard ever more strongly as critical decisions are 

 made in Washington. 



We Western governors have a natural forum, right 

 here, to affect federal policy The nation is actively 

 seeking economic expansion as a way out of this 

 recession, and the West has been vital to the eco- 

 nomic expansion of our nation since its earliest days. 



We are the region that contains the natural 

 resource base of America that supports the economic 

 base of America. That is why we are in a special 

 position to make certain that our voice is heard. 



At this conference, we are particularly enriched by 

 the presence of a territorial governor from the Pacific. 

 That is because we are, as a region, increasingly 

 looking to the Pacific Rim countries as the most 

 dynamic growth area in the world economy Oregon 

 alone has sent numerous trade missions to the Pacific 

 Rim during my administration, and the trade we have 

 won has helped keep many Oregon businesses 

 alive — while preserving countless jobs, and I know 

 each of you has made trips as well. As a matter of 

 fact, Governor Spellman got back last night. 



We regret not being able to accommodate the 

 schedules of the Western provincial governors of Can- 

 ada, but we are fortunate to be able to hear from Ivlr. 

 Robinson, our distinguished US Ambassador to Can- 

 ada, at luncheon today 



Under Governor Herschler's guidance as program 

 chair, we have assembled a schedule for you filled 

 with both variety and challenge We will be able, in 

 these sessions, to step aside momentarily from daily 

 state administration to share our perspective on issues 

 and alternatives that cross state lines and affect us on 

 a regional and Western basis I believe that we can 

 gam an invaluable view of common challenges in 

 tough economic times. 



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