Rep. Barbieri’s attempt to revive property-rights bill falls short

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, brought back his bill to require a vote of the people on changes to a local comprehensive plan, and require the formation of property rights councils, to the House Local Government Committee this afternoon. “This bill before us obviously needs some work,” Barbieri told the panel. He said he wants to craft amendments to HB 136, “see if we can’t get this through general orders. … If not, then it will die in general orders.”

However, committee members noted that they had previously voted to hold Barbieri’s bill in committee. “I believe it would take a motion to reconsider the bill before we can actually have another motion,” Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, said. “He’s correct, and I forgot,” said the committee’s chair, Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis. Barbieri said, “And I was not aware of that. I’m at the mercy of the committee.”

Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene, then moved to reconsider the bill; the motion failed. “It dies in committee,” Barbieri said. Barrett said, “Well, that’ll shorten the afternoon, I guess.”