Some state republicans upset over gas deal with two tribes

The Olympian

OLYMPIA, Wash. Some House Republicans are criticizing gas tax agreements Governor Chris Gregoire has reached with two tribes. The agreements allow the tribes to collect and keep 75 percent of the fuel tax from reservation sales.

The state has quietly quit collecting its share of the tax at gas stations owned by the Squaxin (SKWOKS'-in) Island tribe west of Olympia and the Swinomish (SWIN'-oh-MISH') tribe near LaConner. The changes comes in the wake of a ruling by a federal judge, who barred state collection of fuel taxes on reservation gas stations.

In the governor's aggreement with the tribes, they will return 25 percent of tax proceeds to the state.

Two Republican legislators say the agreement means the state will be giving away 100 to 500 (m) million dollars in gas-tax money if other tribes get into the act.

The governor's staff disagrees. They say the agreement will cost about half a (m) million dollars a year and save more than 150 thousand dollars. And Gregoire's office says no other tribes will sign agreements until lawmakers approve a process for doing so.