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Eye On Boise archive for April 20, 2009

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009



Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, presides over the Senate's amending order on Monday, in which a divided Senate agreed to tack a gas tax increase onto HB 96, the bill to eliminate the gas tax exemption for ethanol. The Senate, by a wider margin, also agreed to incorporate into the bill increases in DMV fees that previously were in a separate Senate bill. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Senate approves transportation amendments

The first amendment, adding DMV fees into HB 96, has passed, with just the Senate's Democrats and Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, objecting. The second amendment, the gas tax hike, also passed, this time with the six Democrats present joined in their opposition by eight…

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Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee pitches a gas tax increase to the Senate on Monday. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Next amendment: Gas tax hike

"Senators, let's be very clear about this - this is a gas tax increase," Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, told the Senate while introducing the next amendment to HB 96. "... This raises the state gas tax on a gallon of gas from 25 cents to…

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Decades since DMV fees raised...

Many of Idaho's motor vehicle department fees, such as those for titles and licenses, haven't been raised in more than 20 years, Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, told the Senate, arguing for his amendment to add about $13 million in such fee increases to HB 96,…

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Possible amendments... 

The proposed amendments to HB 96, the ethanol bill, appear to add in the increased Department of Motor Vehicle fees previously proposed in a Senate bill; add in a gas tax increase of 3 cents per gallon next year and 3 cents the year after;…

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Senate back in session

The Senate has reconvened, and unanimously agreed to refer the eight vetoed budget bills back to committee, rather than try to override the governor's veto. Now, they're moving to their 14th Order for amendments. Two amendments, both from Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, are pending on…

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'Now at least we know' 

Here's some reaction from legislators to the governor's veto of eight appropriation bills today:"There's certainly been some question as to how determined the governor truly was - now at least we know." - Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls"I think it's silly - I think it…

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'No sentiment to override'

More than two hours later, GOP senators have emerged from their closed-door caucus. "I don't think we have the sentiment to override the governor's veto, so those (vetoed budget bills) will be referred back to the committee, and I think we'll try to amend HB…

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Which budget bills got vetoed

Here are the eight budget bills that Gov. Butch Otter vetoed today:SB 1176, Office of Species ConservationSB 1177, Department of Fish & GameSB 1178, Department of Parks & RecreationSB 1179, Office of Energy ResourcesSB 1181, Office of the State Board of EducationSB 1188, Public Utilities…

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Sens. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello, and Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, participate in an open Senate Minority Caucus on Monday afternoon, while the Senate's majority caucus met behind closed doors. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Dems caucus, wait for GOP

Senate Democrats met in an open caucus, and while they discussed and debated what's going on, they're essentially waiting to see what the majority Republicans will do. The Senate GOP caucus still is meeting behind closed doors; meanwhile, the House has adjourned for the day.

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Gov. Butch Otter vetoed legislation last month to get lawmakers to act on his transportation funding initiative, which was stalled for months. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Otter: 'Initial response was unsatisfactory' 

Gov. Butch Otter says he decided to veto eight appropriations bills today when "the initial response from legislators was unsatisfactory" to his move this morning to veto two unrelated bills, and threaten to veto the appropriations if the Legislature doesn't pass transportation funding increases by…

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'He wanted to make it perfectly clear'

Here are the eight appropriation bills that Otter has vetoed today: Senate Bills 1176, 1177, 1178, 1179, 1181, 1188, 1189, and 1190. Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "I think there was a feeling that what he said this morning wasn't being perceived as…

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Otter vetoes all eight bills 

Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed all eight appropriation bills that he threatened to veto this morning. "I have no problem with these bills," Otter wrote in his veto message. "At some point they will merit positive consideration. However, consistent with my desire to provide you…

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Sen. Joe Stegner helps Sen. John Andreason, right, to a celebratory piece of birthday cake. At left is Senate doorkeeper Bob McDonald. Both McDonald and Andreason celebrated their 80th birthdays this week. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Celebrating a double 80

Both Senate Doorkeeper Bob McDonald and Sen. John Andreason, R-Boise, are celebrating 80th birthdays - McDonald tomorrow and Andreason today - so senators paused before convening their afternoon session to join the two and their families for celebratory cake and ice cream. McDonald has been…

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Dems respond to vetoes

House and Senate Democrats have put out a news release critical of Gov. Butch Otter's two vetoes today; in it, Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, said, "The governor and other Republican leaders are more interested in power plays than solving problems." Also in the…

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Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, consults with Senate State Affairs Committee Chairman Curtis McKenzie, R-Nampa, on Monday. Davis said Senate Republicans plan to caucus on Monday afternoon before taking up transportation funding. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Senate may amend this afternoon...

The Senate has started its session, but hasn't yet moved to its amending order, where it's expected to take up transportation funding. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, told the Senate, "I do not know fully what's going to happen between now and day's…

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Otter wants action... 

Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the governor's action this morning, vetoing two unrelated bills to send a message to lawmakers that he wants action by both houses on transportation funding by this Wednesday night - or else.

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Gov: 'I'm willing to accept a certain figure'

Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, will propose the transportation amendments that Gov. Butch Otter favors, the governor said this morning as he vetoed two unrelated bills. "I'm asking the Legislature to please move forward on the Senate bill," Otter declared. "I've gone over what's…

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Gov. Butch Otter says he would've vetoed two bills on Monday anyway, regardless of his dispute with lawmakers over transportation. The two he vetoed were unrelated to the dispute. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Guv: 'Would've vetoed those two anyway'

Gov. Butch Otter says there's no relationship between the two bills he vetoed this morning - HB 161a on security breaches that release personal information, and HB 245, which established a Parents as Teachers program under the Children's Trust Fund - and his dispute with…

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'Anything that helps the schools'

After Gov. Butch Otter's veto press conference this morning, House Minority Caucus Chairman Bill Killen, D-Boise, who attended, said House Democrats continue talks with the governor on the transportation issue. "We have been carrying on discussions with the governor about transportation," he said. "I didn't…

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Otter: The 'going home bill' 

Gov. Butch Otter says he would have vetoed those two bills anyway. "By Thursday, I have all these appropriation bills to sign," he said - but he's going to hold them, to see what happens with Senate amendments to transportation bills. "I'm simply using the…

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Gov. Butch Otter vetoes two bills on Monday (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Otter vetoes two bills 

Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed two bills, HB 245 and HB 161. HB 245 was a measure regarding the Parents as Teachers program. HB 161, regarding security breaches, was "really unnecessary," the governor said. "I think it's a solution in search of a problem." Otter…

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Eye On Boise

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