Four Senators Get Chairmanships

Republicans from Spokane and Eastern Washington will hold key positions dealing with budgeting, government, farming and roads when the state Senate convenes next year.

All four GOP senators from districts that include parts of Spokane County were named to Senate committee chairmanships Monday.

Sen. Jim West of Spokane’s 6th District will head the Ways and Means Committee, the panel that decides how state government raises money and spends it.

Those who want to propose major changes in the things local governments do will have to get them past Sen. Bob McCaslin. The Spokane Valley legislator representing the 4th District was named chairman of the Government Operations Committee, a post he held when the GOP previously controlled the Senate.

Sen. Bob Morton of Orient, who represents northeastern Washington’s 7th District, the state’s largest district in area, was named chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee.

Sen. Eugene Prince of Thornton, Wash., a 17-year veteran of the Legislature representing the 9th District, was chosen chairman of the Transportation Committee.

, DataTimes