The House has voted 44-24 in favor of SB 1427, the $12 million GARVEE bonding measure for next year, after at least an hour's debate. "We all have to be concerned about debt, but we all have to be concerned about opportunity that's right before us," said Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, the bill's House sponsor. He noted that GARVEE bond debt service is now just 17 percent of the federal highway allocations Idaho is receiving; the bonds are a provision that allow states to borrow against their future federal highway allocations. "While yes we have to be concerned with debt, we need to be concerned with highways," Henderson told the House, "because frankly, highways are one of the key elements of our economic system in the state of Idaho. ... To stutter now, to stop, I believe would not be appropriate." The bill now goes to Gov. Butch Otter.

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