$2 million wolf-control bill has now shrunk to $400,000

The governor’s $2 million wolf-control bill has now officially shrunk to a $400,000 wolf-control bill. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted 17-3 this morning to appropriate $400,000 in one-time funds for HB 470a , the bill to set up a new wolf-control board that would oversee the killing of problem wolves that prey on domestic livestock or the state’s wild game herds. The three “no” votes came from Reps. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, and Phylis King, D-Boise, and Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston.

Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, said, “I’d like some clarification on what we’re trying to accomplish with this. … If we were looking for $2 million and that was what we needed, but if we’re cutting it back to $400,000, are we going to be coming back every year?” Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, said yes. “I think indeed the plan is to come back every year for an appropriation of $400,000,” he said. “Obviously, $400,000 for five years is $2 million.” Gibbs said the annual appropriation will allow lawmakers to check up on how the program’s doing.

HB 470 passed the House on a 49-16 vote on Feb. 21; it was amended yesterday in the Senate, to address a constitutional problem in the bill – it had originally set up a new wolf control board as a separate state agency, but that would have bumped the state above its constitutional limit of 20 agencies. The amendment placed the new board under the governor’s office. HB 470 as amended is now awaiting a final vote in the Senate; the JFAC action adds a “trailer” bill to supply the funding, which will “trail” after HB 470.