JFAC this morning came very close to passing a new restriction on the state Department of Agriculture to stop it from issuing unlimited deficiency warrants to fund the invasive species program, which is seeking to avoid the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels into Idaho lakes and waterways. The program is supposed to be funded by fees from stickers on boats, but so far, hundreds of thousands of dollars in deficiency warrants have been tapped as well. After several JFAC members, including Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, urged strongly against the move, it was halted for now, and will be taken up again tomorrow.

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