House Speaker Scott Bedke has referred Majority Leader Mike Moyle’s bill to undermine regional transportation authorities around the state back to the Ways & Means Committee, rather than assigning it to a germane committee for a possible hearing. Asked about it, Bedke said, “That means that it’s out in the public domain for recreational reading purposes.”

But, he said, it won’t proceed any further. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

The measure, introduced in Ways & Means this morning on a straight party-line vote, would have forbade “highway districts and other government entities” other than cities or counties from participating in or contributing to regional public transportation authorities.  Moyle said he proposed the bill because he believes highway districts shouldn’t be involved with any form of mass transit because it’s “not their job,” and should focus solely on roads.

Regional transportation authorities in Idaho, some of which include highway districts, Native American tribes, and other governmental agencies, include Valley Regional Transit, which operates the ValleyRide bus system in Ada and Canyon counties; the Targhee Regional Public Transportation Authority, which serves Idaho Falls, Rexburg and Driggs; Pocatello Regional Transit, which serves the Pocatello-Chubbuck area; Mountain Rides in Hailey; CityLink in Benewah and Kootenai counties; and more.