OLYMPIA – The Naselle Youth Camp, targeted for closure months ago as one of many proposed state budget cuts, is alive and well in the final budget passed late Saturday by the Legislature.

Though the camp is subject to the same cost-trimming directives as other state agencies and institutions across the state, its preservation in the budget was a major victory for Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, and Democratic Reps. Dean Takko, D-Longviewand Brian Blake, D-Cosmopolis, who argued the camp’s cause throughout the legislative session. Hatfield, in fact, made the camp his number-one priority throughout session.

“It wasn’t easy, but we knew the camp’s importance and we managed to make that case to our colleagues,” Hatfield said. “Not only that, we did it in the face of a budget shortfall even worse than when the governor first proposed closing the camp. But we showed that the camp was important and that we could balance the budget without losing the camp.”

The budget now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who had first proposed closing it, but Hatfield is hopeful it will survive the governor’s veto pen.

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For more information: Chase Gallagher, Senate Democratic Communications, 360-786-7326

For interviews: Sen. Brian Hatfield, 360-786-7636