Take the money and run

Get ready for a piece of stimulus pie as a preliminary analysis reported the proposed package could create or save 75,000 jobs in Washington state.

Initial details are sketchy but Sen. Patty Murray said the state would receive roughly $500 million for roads, highways and bridges, and $175 million for mass transit projects. She also believes Hanford will get about a third of the $6 billion already allocated for major environmental cleanups.

Oregon isn’t even hesitating with an announcement of green projects . Gov. Ted Kulongoski said he will seek hundreds of millions of federal stimulus dollars to rebuild the flooded community of Vernonia as an environmental utopia, build a sustainable prison and install solar panels to light freeways.

Hopefully, Gov. Chris Gregoire takes advantage of the environmental benefits, and the 75, 000 jobs can make room for a ready green work force.