OLYMPIA -- When the 1-year anniversary of the federal stimulus package rolled around last week, the state Republican Party was vocal in its condemnation.

"A complete boondoggle," was the phrase State GOP Chairman Luke Esser used in denouncing a media event featuring Sen. Patty Murray and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to "prop up their failed stimulus package."

Today when discussing Washington state's transportation budget, which is being helped by more than $600 million in various grants from the feds generated by the stimulus package, Senate Transportation Committee Republicans were no where  near as critical.

In fact, they kind of like stimulus money, as long as it's spent on transportation projects.

"I'm definitely in favor of the stimuls funding," Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester and the ranking Republican on the committee said. "They go directly into  jobs. My quibble is about stimulus in other areas."

Added Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima: "We have to look at this as our tax m oney coming back to us."

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