MURRAY WINS SENATE PANEL APPOINTMENT

WASHINGTON Sen. Patty Murray, one of four new women senators, won a plum assignment to the Senate's premier committee, Appropriations.

The Seattle Democrat said Wednesday she is the state's first incoming senator to be assigned to the main budget-writing panel. Her appointment gives the state a one-two punch on the committee, since the senior senator, Republican Slade Gorton, also is on the committee.

The late Sen. Warren G. Magnuson, also D-Wash., headed the committee for years. He once joked that he believed in fairness half for Washington state and half for the rest of the nation. Heavy federal grant funding for the University of Washington was one of his legacies.

Murray's predecessor, Brock Adams, also served on the panel.

''We have a traditional of great leaders in our state who have served on this key committee,'' Murray said. ''I'm proud to continue that tradition and serve the people of Washington in this important position.

''Keeping Washington state competitive and creating jobs are my top priorities. The Appropriations assignment gives me the best possible opportunity to serve our citizens from Spokane to Seattle to Sequim.''

Murray also was named to the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. The panel deals with the Export-Import Bank, housing, high-tech exports and other issues of importance to the state, she said.