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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

State loses again in IEN contract case, Idaho Supreme Court upholds lower court ruling

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's ruling voiding a statewide contract for broadband in public schools. Under state law, the Department of Administration is now supposed to seek repayment from the broadband companies for the money already paid out under the $60 million contract with Idaho Education Networks. But in the ruling handed down Tuesday, the high court stopped short of ordering state officials to immediately seek repayment. Rather, the justices said that if the appropriate state officer fails to seek repayment, the state's chief legal officer could step forward to do the job. Idaho Speaker of the House Scott Bedke declined to comment on the ruling. Senate Pro Tem Brent Hill said the state will have to go back to the drawing board on how to deal with the matter.

You can read the court's full opinion here; it's 27 pages long.



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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