Grant Proposals Would Need Ok

Any state agency applying for a federal grant that requires state matching funds would have to have prior approval from the Legislature, under a bill that passed the House on Monday.

Rep. Sylvia McKeeth, R-Boise, the sponsor, said it would keep Idaho from contributing unnecessarily to the federal debt, and prevent state employees from running amok applying for grants.

Opponents of the bill said it would prevent Idaho’s universities from getting crucial grant funds for research, which often have tight time frames for applications.

“We can’t fool around with funding our research,” said Rep. James “Doc” Lucas, R-Moscow. “This could absolutely involve us in losing millions of dollars because we have this thing in place.”

Opponents said the state Division of Financial Management already reviews all grant applications.

The bill passed the House on a 44-26 vote. It now goes to the Senate.

The bill would require anyone thinking of applying for a grant that requires matching funds to first submit a summary of the proposal to the Legislative Council, a group of legislative leaders that meets when the Legislature isn’t in session.

, DataTimes