House Democrats extended an olive branch to the governor late last week, the Associated Press reports: "They would consider rounding up enough minority votes for a ''moderate' gas-tax increase of between 2 and 7 cents — if Otter agrees to limit state agency personnel cuts to just 3 percent and helps scuttle $12 million in education budget cuts in two House-passed bills now before the Senate. Otter listened but was noncommittal, said House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, of his offer." Click below to read reporter John Miller's full story on where things stand, which starts off with this: "House Speaker Lawerence Denney and Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis agreed on at least one thing Monday afternoon: The 2009 Legislature could wrap up Friday but won't, because Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter hasn't given up on boosting roads funding."

ID House, Senate: Session won't end Friday
JOHN MILLER
Associated Press Writer

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House Speaker Lawerence Denney and Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis agreed on at least one thing Monday afternoon: The 2009 Legislature could wrap up Friday but won't, because Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter hasn't given up on boosting roads funding.

"We have only three or four days worth of work left," said Davis, R-Idaho Falls, after the Senate GOP majority spent Monday afternoon behind closed doors, working on end-of-session strategy. "I don't know how much politics we have left."

Denney, R-Midvale, told The Associated Press he wants Otter to "declare victory," pointing out lawmakers are already set to approve some $800 million for the Idaho Transportation Department and local road districts this year, including federal stimulus cash.

Otter, however, insists more is needed, for an estimated $240 million annual maintenance shortfall.

As a result, lawmakers should be prepared to hunker down, Denney said.

"I suspect there are probably more scenarios to play out," he said.

All this means the 2009 session will likely go beyond Friday's 96-day mark, becoming at least the second-longest in Idaho history. Only the 118-day marathon of 2003 was longer.

Otter's coveted road and bridge plan, favored by many in the Senate, is in tatters in the House.

It's there that conservative Republicans and Democrats combined to kill bills that the Republican governor had hoped would raise $174 million annually. The economy, they said, is too dour to boost taxes.

How could Otter now put the pressure on them to change their minds? Fiscal year 2010 budget bills, which both chambers begin approving Tuesday, could become veto fodder as Otter tries to get the House to play along before letting lawmakers go home.

He did it in 2008, vetoing drug-treatment money before winning a compromise.

"We're waiting for them to say they're done," said Jon Hanian, Otter's spokesman, of the budget bills that normally mark the session's end. "Then we'll see if the governor concurs."

In 2008, Otter rejected the House's $68.5 million offer for new roads funding, calling it too small to fight over. He and his aides then spent last summer promoting new gas and registration taxes at meetings across Idaho.

The gas tax is now 25 cents per gallon; so far, proposed hikes of between 2 and 7 cents a gallon have died. What's more, proposals to boost registration and personalized license plate fees, as well as levy a 6 percent tax on rental cars, all have stalled in the House Transportation Committee.

Losing out two years in a row on roads would be a major defeat for Otter, who has staked the legacy of his first term on boosting transportation funding to create jobs, boost safety and speed commerce.

"He's still committed to fixing this problem," Hanian said.

In the midst of this transportation debate, lawmakers have other issues to resolve before leaving Boise, including just how much to slash state agency personnel costs.

The Senate favors a 3 percent, $20 million plan and House leaders insist a 5 percent, $32 million proposal is appropriate, given the economy. Denney told the AP on Monday the House would likely amend the Senate's plan, which could be up for a vote by Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 18 House Democrats, most of whom this year joined GOP conservatives to kill Otter's road-tax hike proposals, extended an olive branch to the governor late last week: They would consider rounding up enough minority votes for a "moderate" gas-tax increase of between 2 and 7 cents — if Otter agrees to limit state agency personnel cuts to just 3 percent and helps scuttle $12 million in education budget cuts in two House-passed bills now before the Senate.

Otter listened but was noncommittal, said House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, of his offer.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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