the unequivocal notion

Check out exchange between Dept. of Admin Director Mike Gwartney, Rep. Bell and Sen. Cameron from an article about funding the “Idaho Education Network”.

This is a great piece from the Times-News:

[...]

Right now, however, Department of Administration Director Mike Gwartney needs $100,000 in the form of a current-year supplemental appropriation to beat a mid-February deadline to make an application for federal matching funds to keep the project on track.

In a tough budget year, that relatively small amount may be impossible to find.

“I frankly don’t know where the money’s going to come from,” said Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, co-chairman of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. “This is not the year to start new programs.”

“It’s a good plan. It should be done,” echoed JFAC Co-chairman Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, but “putting an additional amount of money into a budget is unrealistic.”

Undaunted, Gwartney on Friday said he has found a “legal way around” the Legislature if it refuses the request. He said state law allows him to issue an executive order to enter a contract and accept bids if “it’s in the best interest of the state.”

“If I don’t get the supplemental, I will take that action,” said Gwartney.

Bell and Cameron both expressed surprise at Gwartney’s statement. Cameron said appropriations are subject to the Legislature as expressed by the Idaho Constitution.

“He may think he’s above the Constitution but I assure you he’s not,” Cameron said. “It would behoove him to carefully think things through before taking that action.”

[...]

Man, when that funnel gets cut off tempers start to heat up a little bit.