Guv’s task force approved, 30-1

Next, the Senate took up HCR 34, the resolution to endorse a gubernatorial task force to explore long-term transportation funding issues. “Senators, this is part of the going-home transportation package and I would urge your aye vote,” Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, told the Senate. Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls, said, “We’re just pushing down the road what we should be doing today.” But he compared it to the process that eventually led to agreement on the Comprehensive Aquifer Management Program this year.  “Hopefully out of this we could get some resolution, and I’m just hopeful it could be as successful as the CAMP process was for the ESPA,” the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, Coiner said. Said McGee, “I’m optimistic and I hope, … I’m confident it can be successful, that we can work together as a task force and come up with some long-term solutions to some of the transportation funding issues that we have in the state of Idaho.” The vote was 30-1, with the sole “no” vote coming from Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise.