House GOP: One more try in the morning, and then we’re done

House GOP leaders told reporters late today that they’ll make one more run at settling the transportation issue with Senate leaders and the governor in the morning, but all they’ll offer is what they’ve already offered - repeal of an ethanol exemption from the gas tax, and an increase in DMV fees, for a total package of less than $30 million for road work. “Right now, what we’ve done in the House is we have prepared our calendar with all of the bills necessary to sine die the session, to go home,” said House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts. Said House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, “We think we’ll have finished all of the business that’s on the House calendar.” Roberts estimated the House has about 45 bills to pass, including the public school budget and the amended day-care licensing bill. Noting that the House has repeatedly rejected gas tax increases to fund road work, Roberts said, “If there’s an insistence that gas tax has to be done, the House will go ahead and run those bills and sine die.”

Sine die is Latin for “without a day,” and when the Legislature adjourns sine die, it means it’s adjourned its session for the year. However, one house can’t do that unilaterally - if the Senate doesn’t follow suit, the state Constitution forces the House to come back into session in three days. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, said, “I think it’s irresponsible.” House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said, “Idahoans want government that works, and right now, with this impasse, government isn’t working.”

Said Roberts, “I think we’re going to continue to address transportation funding in many sessions to come.”