The House has voted 39-29 on SB 1186, the Senate-passed bill to issue $82 million in highway bonds next year, passing the bill and sending it to the governor. The vote came after a long debate dominated by the bill's opponents. House Transportation Chairwoman JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, was among those who spoke out against the bonding bill. "If we're not willing to pay ourselves, why are we willing to indebt our children so that they can pay?" she asked the House. She said, "Debt is what has gotten this country into the serious trouble that we're into today, and GARVEE is the debt that is hurting Idaho ... and where are the jobs in Lemhi County, where are the jobs in Idaho County, where are the jobs in Power County, where are the jobs in Madison County?" Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, said, "There's nothing wrong with responsible borrowing. ... This state has taken on the GARVEE bonding in a responsible manner, and we set a cap." The state's GARVEE bonding still is far under the cap, he noted. He added, "What greater debt could we leave our grandchildren than roads that aren't appropriate and aren't safe for our grandkids to be driving on?"

---

---