State budget benefits West Plains – for now

By JOHN McCALLUM

Editor

Even with concerns about spending outpacing revenues, all three Ninth District legislators admit the 2007 Legislative session concluded last month was a good one for Eastern Washington overall, and the West Plains area in particular.

“In the short term, it's positive,” state Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) said. “Long term, there's cause for concern.”

The $33.4 billion 2007-2009 budget – about $4 billion more in state spending than the last biennial budget in 2005 – includes over $75 million in projects directly affecting, or having ties to Cheney, Medical Lake and th...