Sen. Schiffer Likes Sound of Freudenthal Plan

Kaycee, WY – At least one key Republican state legislator agrees with Governor Freudenthal's plan for setting aside a big chunk of the state's budget surplus. On Tuesday, Freudenthal, a Democrat, proposed using $490 million of the $1 billion dollar surplus to pay for prison projects and school construction over the next few years. State Senator John Schiffer, the chair of the Appropriations Committee says they may adjust the amount they set aside but it is a good place to start. He says it's similar to the "coffee cans" created by the legislature during the last energy boom of the 1980's. Schiffer says schools and prisons are needs that have to be taken care of, so he thinks the Governor's plan is good policy.