Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House leaders say it will be a week — or longer — before the Transportation Committee votes on Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's proposal to raise Idaho's 25-cents-per-gallon gas tax by 10 cents over five years. At a hearing Thursday in Boise, industry, cities, counties and highway districts championed the proposal to raise $88 million annually by 2014. It's all part of the Republican governor's plan to boost revenue by $174 million annually to fix roads and bridges. But Rep. Ken Roberts, House majority caucus leader, says the vote will be delayed because a compromise is in the works. Many lawmakers are reluctant to approve multiple years of tax increases like Otter wants in a time of economic turmoil. Catholic Charities lobbyist Annie Henna panned proposed hikes, contending boosting struggling residents' burden this year is ill-timed.

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