Garwood-to-Sagle project in highway plans this year

BOISE – If the Idaho Transportation Board’s much-scaled-back bonding proposal for the coming year wins legislative support, bonds would pay for $14 million worth of additional work on the Garwood-to-Sagle project on Highway 95 in North Idaho.

The money – the biggest single item in the bonding plan – would go for reconstruction and widening of four miles of U.S. Highway 95 in the Chilco area and construction of frontage roads.

The ITD board had been looking at a $45 million statewide bonding proposal, but trimmed the total back to $26 million because of savings in the program, which has seen bids coming in much lower than expected. The multiyear bonding program is funding several major highway construction projects around the state; $681 million in bonding has been approved by the Legislature to date.

“The competition among contractors combined with the low interest rates makes this an ideal time to continue using GARVEE bonds to improve our roads and bridges and keep Idahoans working,” said Darrell Manning, chairman of the transportation board. The special type of bonds (GARVEE stands for Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles) borrows against the state’s future federal highway allocations.

The $26 million bond request now goes to the Legislature for consideration.

Candidates tout fundraising

The deadline for filing campaign finance reports that cover the period through Dec. 31 hasn’t yet arrived, but two candidates already are releasing numbers. Keith Allred, Democratic candidate for governor, announced that in the three weeks since he filed his declaration of candidacy on Dec. 10, 2009, through the close of the period Dec. 31, he raised $130,807. “I am honored and humbled by the support my campaign has received from across the political spectrum in Idaho,” Allred said. “In spite of, or maybe because of, the tough economic times, people are so excited about a new way of governing that they are eager to contribute.”

Vaughn Ward, a Republican candidate for the 1st District congressional seat, announced that he raised “over $100,000” during the fourth quarter of 2009, with contributors during the quarter including first lady Lori Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little. “I am very grateful that so many Idahoans have supported our campaign,” Ward said. “Idahoans from across the district are standing behind my leadership, experience, and vision to put our country back on track.”

Ward is vying against Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, in the Republican primary for a chance to take on 1st Congressional District Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick. Allred is one of an array of candidates seeking to challenge Republican Gov. Butch Otter; others include Republicans Rex Rammell, Sharon Ullman and Ron “Pete” Peterson; Democrat Lee R. Chaney Sr.; and independents Jana Kemp and “Pro-Life,” who was known as Marvin Richardson before he changed his name to the slogan. Otter hasn’t yet formally announced his candidacy, but has a campaign staff and has indicated he’ll seek re-election.

Bell backs IPTV funding

Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, asked Wayne Hammon, the governor’s budget chief, about Otter’s proposal to eliminate state funding for Idaho Public Television over the next four years, noting that three-quarters of IPTV’s budget already comes from other sources. “We have used general fund money to give them seed money, in order to be inventive and grow their budget,” she said, questioning how quality programming can be maintained if further cuts are made.

Hammon responded that he has “the greatest deal of respect for public television and for its director, Peter Morrill,” who he said has “been able to turn pennies into dollars.” Hammon said he doesn’t think IPTV gets credit for all the things it does, and perhaps it should be paid for some of those. If the network provides teleprompters for the governor’s speech, perhaps the governor should pay, he said. If it provides live broadcasts for the Legislature, perhaps the Legislature should pay.

Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, co-chairwoman of the Legislature’s joint budget committee – who was presiding over the hearing when the exchange occurred – told Hammon, “Your visit with Rep. Ringo about public broadcasting showed that they really have a right to some general funds in what they’re doing – perhaps just a different way of reorganizing will help.”

Light fills reopened Capitol

Idaho’s state Capitol has been renovated and shined up, but it still looks pretty much like it always has – except better. It’s cleaner and brighter, with more of the natural light it originally was designed to let in. It’s bigger, too, with the addition of spacious new underground wings with large hearing rooms to accommodate the public. Behind the scenes, it’s fully updated, and there are now things like handicap-accessible bathrooms on every floor and free Wi-Fi throughout the building.

The Capitol’s been closed to the public for two and a half years, but reopened last week and is now in full use again, with the Legislature in session there after two sessions in cramped temporary quarters in an old courthouse.

Colleges want backup fund

Officials from the University of Idaho and Boise State University say it’s time for Idaho to look into a stabilization fund for higher education, to protect colleges and universities from big budget hits from year to year. “We need to get away from this thing of higher ed essentially being the savings account that we use to balance the budget,” said Marty Peterson, special assistant to UI President Duane Nellis. College officials say when lawmakers are short on money, they just short the colleges and force them to raise students’ tuition and fees.

Any new fund likely couldn’t be set up until at least next year, given this year’s state budget crisis.