Flood of Bipartisanship

Governor Chris Gregoire is expected to sign two bills providing $50 million for long-term flood mitigation projects in the areas hardest hit by last year's winter storms - Lewis, Thurston and Gray's Harbor counties. While the bills and Gregoire's efforts have been hailed by Republican legislators and praised by people who live in those areas, they have also sparked criticism by two-time gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, who claims that the legislation doesn't do enough. The Chehalis Chronicle has taken it upon itself to be the arbiter of the argument, starting a snipefest with the Democratic Party and pandering to, well, if not the local legislators nor the local folks affected by the floods, then they must be pandering only to Dino Rossi. He lives in the upscale part of King County, on higher ground.

Congressman Brian Baird will also be present for the bill signings, scheduled for March 27 at W.F. West High School in Chehalis, and has promised to ask for more federal funds for flood control.