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 happening in the Senate. .... Leadership is not easy." He added, "As far as I'm concerned, that is the going-home bill." He said, "I think the Senate amendments do reflect what I'm prepared to accept."

Those amendments haven't been made, yet, of course. Asked whether there are just certain amendments he wants, Otter said, "I'm willing to accept a certain figure," though he wouldn't reveal it, and said McGee would be carrying the amendments that are acceptable to him. Otter said he has to take action on the eight appropriation bills sitting on his desk by Thursday at 2:33 p.m. - and he'll veto them if he hasn't had action from both houses by Wednesday night on transportation funding. "The Legislature can't leave town without passing a budget," Otter said.

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