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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Revised FG fee bill clears House committee

The House Resources Committee hears from Sharon Kiefer of Idaho Fish and Game as the panel considers a fee hike for the Fish and Game Department. The committee voted 13-5 in favor of the bill, and sent it to the full House. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)
The House Resources Committee hears from Sharon Kiefer of Idaho Fish and Game as the panel considers a fee hike for the Fish and Game Department. The committee voted 13-5 in favor of the bill, and sent it to the full House. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

The House Resources Committee has voted 13-5 in favor of SB 1141a, the amended bill to raise Fish & Game fees. As amended in the Senate, the bill only raises fees on out-of-state hunter and anglers, while leaving in-state fees alone. While several representatives bemoaned the amendment, House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, said, "I think the department has done a great job," singling out Director Cal Groen for particular praise. "While this may not be the whole loaf of bread, if we send it to the amending order and send it back, he's not going to get any of the bread," Moyle said. "Help the department. While it may not be everything that they need, it's a start."

Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, said, "This would've been a no-brainer had the economy not tanked, the original bill would've been fine. It is an exceptionally well-run department at this point in time, probably better than I've ever seen it." In the final vote, the only opponents were Reps. Paul Shepherd, JoAn Wood, Lenore Barrett, Ken Andrus and Dick Harwood. The bill now moves to the full House for a final vote.



Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.