Roberts pushes Boise County bailout bill

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Call it a bailout bill for Boise County. This mountainous, sparsely-populated county north of Boise faces a $5.4 million court judgment, after a jury ruled in 2010 it broke federal laws by blocking a teen treatment center. Ever since, it’s been trying to figure out how to pay the bill, without burdening its 7,000 residents too much. Declaring bankruptcy failed. Now, House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts of Donnelly is carrying Boise County’s water. His measure would allow the county to bond for the money —even if a tax increase necessary to pay off the bonds violates a statutory 3 percent increase limit that normally must win a two-thirds vote. Roberts, ordinarily a Republican anti-tax hawk, says his measure is narrowly crafted, to assist a county in a dire situation.