So far, the debate in the House on GARVEE bonds is coming mostly from opponents. Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, said, "Borrowing money and passing the debt on to our kids - I sure don't want to be a part of something like that." Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, said, "The money that we get from the federal government to fund our highways is not at all secure. ... For us to take on more debt right now I think is really unwise. We ought to skip a year. ... We're in some really tough economic times right now, and I think we ought to get through that before we take on more debt." Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, the bill's House sponsor, argued that the bonding program will employ Idahoans, and save money by building projects up-front rather than letting inflation erode the state's ability to afford them. "This will make a positive difference in Idaho's economy and our vitality," Eskridge told the House. "Our state might never be able to fund all of these projects under our traditional methods." Rep. Russ Mathews, R-Idaho Falls, an opponent, told the House, "The GARVEE bond is a bondage, and debt is a bondage."

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