Wolf disaster bill passes House
The House has voted 64-5 in favor of HB 343, a measure declaring a disaster emergency in the state due to wolves. Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, said the measure was necessary to protect the "safety of our citizens and livestock producers." Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, said, "The wolves eat better than anyone else in Custer County," and threatened to cry if the House didn't pass the bill. "They're killers," she said.
House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, spoke out in favor of the measure. "Folks, there is an emergency," he said. "If we don't take care of this problem soon, we won't have any wildlife left to hunt or to look at - they will be gone. ... I think this is a good idea for us to declare an emergency." The bill now moves to the Senate.