After much debate, the House has voted 53-17 in favor of transferring another $2 million from the state general fund to the Constitutional Defense Fund, plus spending $971,700 in state general funds for attorney fees for the winning side in the Syringa Networks lawsuit, which the state lost; the funding bill, SB 1421, now heads to Gov. Butch Otter.

Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, spoke out against the move, saying, “It’s been since 1996 since we last won one of these cases.” She said she feared that putting more money into the fund would just embolden lawmakers to support legislation that’s unconstitutional, knowing the fund is there to defend it in court. House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, cautioned her. “I would prefer that our dedication to the Constitution was not brought into question during the debate,” he said.

SB 1421 passed the House with opposition from all 14 House Democrats, plus three Republicans, Reps. Heather Scott, Kathy Sims and Sage Dixon.