Senate OKs Extra Heavy Trucks

After first passing SB 1064 unanimously, to remove the expiration date on a decade-old pilot project allowing extra-heavy trucks – up to 129,000 pounds, up from the current 105,500-pound limit – on 35 designated southern Idaho routes, the Senate spent nearly two hours debating SB 1117, to open up local and state roads anywhere in the state to the extra-heavy trucks, before finally passing it on a 22-13 vote. The move is opposed by a huge array of elected officials from North Idaho, including mayors, sheriffs, county commissioners, fire officials, highway districts and more/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.

• Voting yes : Sens. Bair, Bayer, Brackett, Cameron, Fulcher, Goedde, Hagedorn, Heider, Johnson, Lakey, Lodge, McKenzie, Mortimer, Nonini, Nuxoll, Patrick, Pearce, Rice, Siddoway, Thayn, Tippets, and Vick.
• Voting no: Sens. Bock, Buckner-Webb, Davis, Durst, Guthrie, Hill, Keough, Lacey, Martin, Schmidt, Stennett, Werk and Winder.

Question: Am I the only one who finds it appalling that Kootenai County’s three state senators — Vick, Nonini & Goedde — ignored overwhelming North Idaho opposition to this bill, in voting for it?