Jay Inslee
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee introduces his 2015-17 budget proposal in the Governor's Conference Room at the Capitol in Olympia on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014.
(AP Photo/The Olympian, Tony Overman)
The Columbia River Gorge Commission won't grow after all.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee didn't match Oregon's proposed budget boost for the interstate agency responsible for protecting the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area and planning growth within it. Inslee kept the commission's funding flat.
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber's budget proposed nearly doubling Oregon's spending on the commission, adding $768,000 to allow the five-employee agency to hire four more people to plan the gorge's future -- including how to address risks like the rise in oil and coal shipments.
The gorge has become the Pacific Northwest's main route for mile-long oil trains carrying volatile North Dakota crude to West Coast refineries. As many as 19 trains a week each move more than 1 million gallons of oil along Washington's side of the Columbia River.
But Inslee's budget faces a major challenge addressing a voter-approved initiative requiring smaller class sizes. And because of the way the commission is funded, Washington needs to match any budget increase for it to take hold.
"The governor is supportive of the Commission's mission but hard choices needed to be made for this budget with many agencies receiving reductions," said Jaime Smith, an Inslee spokeswoman. "He is asking his staff and agencies to continue working with the Commission on its priorities."
Inslee's budget addresses oil train risks elsewhere, expanding Washington railroad inspections and oil spill planning.
Darren Nichols, the gorge commission's executive director, said he continues to hope the two states will increase their investment in the gorge.
"I sincerely hope that our Northwest democracy is mature enough to have the difficult but needed public planning conversation about the future of the gorge," Nichols said, "and I hope that today's short-sighted news is not a decision we will regret for generations to come.
"Unfortunately, the Columbia River Gorge was the loser today."
-- Rob Davis