House suspending rules, taking up budget bills

The House this afternoon is suspending rules to take up the appropriation bills that are on its 2nd Reading Calendar, a move House Majority Leader Mike Moyle said is needed if the Legislature is going to wrap up its work within the next two weeks. First up was the budget for the Idaho Transportation Department, which passed on a 64-6 vote; next up is the proposal for $162 million in GARVEE bonding next year.