First anti-urban renewal bill killed in House on a 20-49 vote
The first anti-urban renewal, of the half-dozen to be taken up today, has gone down in a big way; HB 99 was killed on a 20-49 vote. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, would've required a countywide, two-thirds vote for bonds for a city urban renewal project. Among opponents of the bill was Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, who said three big employers in Pocatello wouldn't be there without urban renewal and tax-increment financing. "Taxpayers from one city don't care that much about what happenes in another city, and they're not going to support (it) with their vote," Andrus told the House. Next up is HB 95, a measure sponsored by Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, on which he worked with his local urban renewal agency.