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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hey Man, It Was Just Airline Food

Lynda V. Mapes Staff writer

Jim West can dish it out, but he sure didn’t take it very well when asked about a dinner he organized for Senate Ways and Means Committee members and staff on The Boeing Company’s tab.

The Republican senator from Spokane is known for well-targeted barbs, usually thrown at Democratic hides. But West got defensive when asked about the dinner this week. “Why is this news?” he snapped. “Real reporters roll their eyes at this.”

West, who’s served four years in the state House and eight in the Senate, should have known he’d be grilled over the dinner. Freebies from lobbyists always have a distinctly fishy scent.

West said he organized the dinner to help new members and staff on the Ways and Means Committee get to know each other. West is the ranking Republican on the committee.

Boeing’s top lobbyist shelled out about $300 for lasagna, Caesar salad, French bread, beer, wine and pop, and hosted the dinner at his Olympia home.

Some lawmakers are ever-vigilant about the so-called perception problem. Sen. Kevin Quigley, R-Lake Stevens, has introduced legislation to outlaw all freebies from lobbyists.

West said that’s overkill. And if he had the dinner to do over again, he would - and still bill it to the aerospace giant.

“Number one, I am not a rich person. Number two, I’m not for sale,” he said.

Nonetheless, the perception problem has grown so sensitive, even reporters offered beer, sodas and pretzels at weekly briefings held by legislative leaders usually hold their noses daintily, refusing all.

“It’s gotten a little ridiculous when every human courtesy is seen as influence buying,” West said.

Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley, is already looking over his shoulder to see if county Commissioner Steve Hasson is eyeing his seat. McCaslin’s term is up in January 1997.

Hasson said Friday he’s definitely interested in McCaslin’s job and might even run against McCaslin if the senator seeks another term.

Hasson was in Olympia with other commissioners to talk about the county’s agenda for the 1995 session.

“He’s in there measuring the drapes and checking the seat,” cracked Sen. Jim West, R-Spokane, when Hasson went into McCaslin’s office.

McCaslin said this week he will run again, “Good Lord willing.”

Hasson, who recently switched parties to the GOP, said he’s “keeping all his options open.”

Except one: He doesn’t want Rep. Mike Padden’s seat. Padden, R-Spokane Valley, is vying with more than a dozen other candidates for a county District Court judgeship.

Even if Padden gets the job, Hasson said he won’t push for an appointment to serve out Padden’s term. “I don’t want to be a representative,” Hasson said. “It’s just too much trouble running every other year.”

It looks like state liquor stores will be safe from the private sector for the foreseeable future.

Gov. Mike Lowry asked the Legislature to sell the stores, but has met with a buzz saw of opposition.

His only sponsor for the bill in the Senate, Dwight Pelz, D-Seattle, has given up the cause. There is no sponsor at all in the House, and House Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-Wenatchee, opposes the bill.

Lawmakers say they are concerned privatizing the stores will lead to increased drinking.

Lowry is still pushing the bill. But one month into the session, the proposal looks flatter than a 3-day-old gin fizz.

xxxx EDITOR’S NOTE Beginning today, West Side Stories appears Saturdays instead of Mondays. It runs every other week.