Minnick receives builders’ support

Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick, left, shakes hands with Burke Hansen, right, president of Idaho Associated General Contractors, after the group endorsed his re-election bid on Wednesday

BOISE – A building industry group has endorsed U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick in his bid for a second term, saying Idaho’s lone Democrat in Congress has proven himself to be “fair and proactive.”

The Idaho Associated General Contractors, which represents more than 800 companies, has traditionally supported Republicans, including Minnick’s 2008 Republican rival, U.S. Rep. Bill Sali.

In backing Minnick, the group shunned Raul Labrador, the Republican challenger to the 1st Congressional District seat. Labrador, a two-term state lawmaker from Eagle, opposed the governor’s proposal to boost gas taxes and vehicle registration fees to pay for road construction during the 2009 Legislature. AP More.