Well, it just became ever-so-slightly more likely that the Treasure Valley may someday have a decent public transit system. The tax-averse House Revenue & Taxation Committee approved the printing of a bill that would allow Ada and Canyon counties to seek a small sales tax increase to fund a much-expanded bus system and rail corridor preservation.
Interestingly, three GOP legislators from the Treasure Valley joined the panel's five Democrats in agreeing to print the bill. Robert Schaefer, Gary Collins, and Mike Moyle all voted to print (though Moyle also voted earlier for a failed motion to return the proposed bill to its sponsor). The bill still faces a full hearing and vote from the committee, probably next week. And even if it gets the legislature's OK, any local option tax for transit would face the daunting two-thirds supermajority threshold.
I'll be following the legislation's progress at the Boise Bus Blog, where you can read a longer account of today's hearing.
Update: The bill will be heard at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, in the Gold Room.
Moyle, really? Cool!
Posted by: sharon fisher | February 27, 2007 at 10:17 PM
We all ought to write emails to thank Moyle, Schaefer, and Collins. And Leon Smith, who made the motion to print.
Posted by: Julie in Boise | February 28, 2007 at 07:48 AM