OLYMPIA -- The House passed a $5.1 billion transportation budget today on a bipartisan vote. The compromise spending plan now goes to the Senate, which could pass it before the first special session ends tomorrow.

Known as the "current law" transportation budget using existing taxes and fees -- to distinguish it from proposals that would raise the gasoline tax to pay for new projects -- the compromise spending plan passed on a 74-20 bipartisan vote, but not without some criticism from Republicans.

Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, said he voted for an earlier version of that budget but was voting no today because the compromise was a deal struck behind closed doors by the transportation committee leaders from the two chambers. The first budget went through the regular process of committee hearings, amendments and time for legislators to study the plan.

"Wouldn't it be great if a little democracy broke out here?" Manweller said.

The budget calls for spending about $100 million on Spokane County projects over the next 10 years, with about $46 million in the upcoming 2015-17 biennium.

Among the local projects getting money would be the North Spokane Corridor, aka the North-South Freeway, which is slated for about $36 million for the next phase of that ongoing project. The Spokane Transit Authority would get nearly $2 million for the Central City Line and  $1.7 million for a West Plains Transit Center and  The I-90 corridor between Spokane and the Idaho state line would get about $1.5 million and State Route 290 between Sullivan Road and the Idaho line would get about $1.8 million for repaving.

For more information on projects in the transportation budget for Spokane or other counties, click here. 

Among the Spokane-area delegation, voting yes were Democrats Marcus Riccelli and Timm Ormsby and Republican Kevin Parker. Voting no were Republicans Mary Dye, Jeff Holy, Bob McCaslin, Joe Schmick, Shelly Short, Matt Shea

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