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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Idaho voters OK four constitutional amendments

Rebelann Barfield, left, and her sister November, sit as their mother Khara casts her vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 in Star, Idaho. (AP Photo/Charlie Litchfield) (AP Photo / Charlie Litchfield)
Rebelann Barfield, left, and her sister November, sit as their mother Khara casts her vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 in Star, Idaho. (AP Photo/Charlie Litchfield) (AP Photo / Charlie Litchfield)

All four constitutional amendments that were on the Idaho ballot passed, and passed fairly easily. SJR 101, allowing "tuition" at the University of Idaho (rather than just "fees"), passed with 64.1 percent of the vote. HJR 4, on hospital debt, got 63.5 percent; HJR 5 on airport debt, passed with 53.3 percent support, and HJR 7, for municipal electric system debts and power contracts, passed with 57 percent. All had received overwhelming support in the Idaho Legislature - that's how they got on the ballot - though the Idaho Republican Party at its convention this year voted to oppose the three debt amendments.

All 11 constitutional amendments that have appeared on Idaho's ballot since 1998 have won approval from Idaho voters, including complex measures dealing with endowment investment reform. Idaho voters tend to support them. This AP photo by Charlie Litchfield shows a scene from Idaho's polls yesterday.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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