The Senate State Affairs Committee has voted 5-4 to kill HB 201, the sweeping election consolidation legislation that earlier easily passed the House, despite strong urging from Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes to pass the bill; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, the bill's sponsor, told the committee, "I don't know when I've had a bill of this size and this importance that has no opposition to the content of the bill. ... The only sticking point is the funding." Geddes said elections will be held regardless; it's worth doing them right, and making sure voters know when and where to vote. "Certainly we're not going to propose that elections not be held," he said. "I think it is the cost of democracy. ... Certainly allowing people to be better informed, better able to attend and participate in elections is a worthy cost."

Here's how the vote broke down:

Voting in favor: Sens. Geddes, Fulcher, Pearce and McKenzie.

Voting against: Sens. Darrington, Davis, Stegner, Thorson(Stennett) and Kelly

 

---

---