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November 22, 2002

MacDonald sorry for Mississippi quip

OLYMPIA (AP) -- Washington state doesn't have Mississippi to kick around any more.

State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald discovered that the hard way after he declared, "We are the Mississippi of roads." He was breaking the news last week to state transportation commissioners that Washington will soon rank 49th in the country for capital spending on highways.

But MacDonald made a quick U-turn when he learned from KIRO-AM radio host Dave Ross in Seattle that Mississippi's Legislature recently approved a multibillion-dollar transportation plan.

According to Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall, the $8.7 billion, 20-year program will use state and federal money to widen highways.

Washington voters recently rejected a $7.7 billion transportation plan after legislators, unwilling to pass it in Olympia, put the plan on the ballot for an ill-fated vote.

On Thursday, MacDonald sent a letter of apology to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, along with a basket of Washington goodies including smoked salmon and candy.




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