Harwood’s Emissions Repeal Fails

Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, failed to persuade the House Environment Committee this afternoon to introduce his bill to repeal last year’s much-negotiated, long-sought air quality vehicle emissions testing bill. The panel voted 6-5 to return the bill to its sponsor rather than introduce it. Harwood told the panel, “What this emission does is got the DEQ chasing the tail. … Our emissions have been going down since the mid-‘70s, down, down, down.” He said he feared the vehicle testing program would spread to North Idaho, because last year’s bill applies statewide to areas where vehicle emissions hit certain levels/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here .

• Lincoln now gazes downtown
• Lincoln measure passes just in time

Question: Who’s the poorer North Idaho legislator — Dick Harwood of St. Maries or Bob Nonini of Post Falls?