Senate unanimous to create new ‘Higher Education Stabilization Fund’

The Senate has voted unanimously, 33-0, in favor of creating a “higher education stabilization fund,” to hold money deposited in good years to help see the state’s colleges and universities through down times. There’s not much to put in the fund now. Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, the Senate sponsor of HB 544, said, “This is an idea that many of us wish we had come up with a while ago.” The bill already has passed the House, and now goes to Gov. Butch Otter, who is co-sponsoring the bill.