By Not Playing Ball Now, We Lose Regional Asset Our Senators Got It Right.

Fourth quarter and the Seahawks are behind. But players from Eastern Washington, McCaslin, Prince, Morton and West, may pull it out for the team.

The game, of course, is being played in the Washington state Legislature. The linemen opening the pathway for the Seahawks are Eastern Washington’s senators.

Wednesday, the state Senate approved a plan to allow Washington citizens to vote on a funding package for a new stadium that absolutely must be built if professional football is to remain in the Pacific Northest.

If Sens. Bob McCaslin, Gene Prince, Bob Morton and Jim West had not voted in favor of the stadium plan, there would be no more Seahawks in Washington state.

If the stadium proposal is approved by the House next week and if voters say yes to the plan in June, the Seahawks will get a new stadium and remain the Northwest’s team.

Eastern Washington senators rightly decided the Seahawks truly are a regional asset. They rightly decided a public vote on the stadium funding proposal is better than having just the Legislature hash out the issue. Finally, the senators recognized that the funding package, while not perfect, does put the burden on sports fans and takes advantage of a $100 million commitment from Paul Allen to help build the stadium. The sports lottery games and the tax on sports memorabilia are funding mechanisms that target sports fans.

Like big tackles and guards, however, the Eastern Washington senators who supported the Seahawks could be forgotten heroes if the plan goes ahead.

They shouldn’t be forgotten.

In 1999, Eastern Washington will ask for construction funding for some projects that are key to Eastern Washington’s economy and quality of life.

Eastern Washington will be asking for money to build a new Cheney Cowles Museum, money to build a Health Sciences Center for graduate studies at the Riverpoint campus, money for a community center complex at Mirabeau Point in the Spokane Valley.

These projects will cost about $65 million, or approximately 15 percent of the cost of the new Seahawks stadium.

When the time comes for a vote on our projects, our senators need to invite west side legislators to come off the bench and play for us.

, DataTimes MEMO: See opposing view under the headline: Considering needs, plan is a nonstarter

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = EDITORIAL, COLUMN - From both sides CREDIT = Chris Peck/For the editorial board