Hoping to avoid a $2.1 million cut in funding for statewide substance abuse treatment, Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, this morning proposed filling the gap by dipping into the $45 million in discretionary federal stimulus funds that Gov. Butch Otter wants to direct into road and water projects. LeFavour said lawmakers are counting on Idaho's prison population and juvenile corrections caseloads not growing next year to make the budgets they're setting work, and she questioned how that could happen "if we cut substance abuse treatment." Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, backed LeFavour's motion, saying, "We know that the investment would be one that would pay off, not only in terms of human needs but from a practical point of view, saving great expense in the long term. I think where we have resources sometimes it's just smart to use them."

The motion got only three votes, however, as committee members were reluctant to take on the governor over the stimulus money. The smaller budget for substance abuse treatment then passed, 18-2.

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