Bond Issue For U.S. 95 In Trouble Deadline May Keep Bill From Getting Hearing

Legislation calling for a statewide vote on a grand plan to fix U.S. Highway 95 may be in trouble.

The measure has passed the House, and awaits a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee. But committee Chairman Sen. Evan Frasure said Monday that legislative leaders’ push to bring the session to a close may prevent his committee from giving the bill a hearing.

Plus, Senate President Pro tem Jerry Twiggs said Monday he’s concerned about legal questions surrounding the bill, and plans to ask the attorney general’s office for guidance.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls, calls for a statewide vote on a giant bond issue that would upgrade Idaho’s only north-south route from end to end.

Frasure said, “I told ‘em this morning in caucus, that thing is scheduled right now for (next) Tuesday, but I was told there may not be a Tuesday.”

The Senate Republican caucus voted to try to conclude all committee work this week, with adjournment of the legislative session to follow next Tuesday or Wednesday.

House leadership has been pushing for an adjournment by Saturday.

“I don’t want to just run legislation willy-nilly to get done,” Twiggs said. “My best guess is Tuesday or Wednesday.”

But Frasure said he has 13 bills left to consider, and only one 1-1/2-hour committee meeting Thursday to do it. “I don’t think the people elected us to rush through business the last week,” he said.

In protest Monday, Frasure forced the Senate to read two bills in full - bringing Senate action to a standstill for nearly half an hour.

“I disagree with the philosophy of just ramming things through,” Frasure said.

Twiggs said the attorney general has raised concerns about the legality of a bill that calls for a vote of the people on a new version of term limits. If that referendum bill raises legal questions, the Highway 95 bill might, too, he said.

John Goedde of the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce, who helped craft the bill, said it deserves a hearing. “The whole idea of a democracy is allowing the people their say,” Goedde said.

“This would put it to a vote of the people, and if a majority of Idaho citizens don’t think that Highway 95 is important, then it won’t get funded.”

, DataTimes