Here are two Twitter feeds that you can use to follow the Idaho House’s debate on Gov. Otter’s proposed fuel tax increase.
Julie Fanselow @IdahoDems or Thanh Tan @IdahoReports.
Courtesy of Idaho Public Television you can also watch the preceding live using your PC on Idaho Legislature Live.
Updated:
Gov. Otter’s bill goes down in flames: 27-43
This is exactly what Otter and the moderates in the Legislature deserve — you help elect Conservatives to maintain a supermajority and then act all surprised when they bite you in the ass.
This state will never get anywhere with the likes of Stevenson, Wood, Thayn, Roberts, etc… etc… in the legislature. The enemy of my enemy is not my friend, indeed.
For the record: I support the tax increase, I think we do have to fix our roads and that in doing so it’ll benefit all Idahoans. It’ll get some people back to work, it’ll make our roads safer for Idaho families to drive on and it is going to cost a hell of a lot more the longer we put it off.
Bless the hearts of the Democrats — their hearts are in the right place on this one, but I just don’t agree. That being said, I’m glad they sided with the Conservatives to show the power circle that they can, and will be defeated.
Update II:
If the above sounds confusing read my comment below.
Ah my friend, you postulate but fail to acknowledge the connection between your initial comments and your final ones. Democrats have been provided no cause to go with the moderates on this in a down economy. But I believe their votes can be had with the right concessions on other issues important to Dems like local option or education. The stage is set, Otter has already indicated he'll continue to fight and I'm thinking the logical starting place is the Democratic caucus. Its not like the other option can be reasoned with.
Oh no, I do.
I look at it this way; I'd rather have moderate Republicans than the Conservatives — that being said, I fully support the moderates not getting their way because they choose to play with the devil. Until the moderates quit thinking that the Conservatives are their allies I support them being on the losing side of everything; votes and elections.
Idahoans need to learn that electing Conservatives to our legislature will never bring about anything of value. I like having people like McGee in the legislature; but I'd support him losing to a Conservative primary challenger. If they don't have the gumption to tell the members of their own party that they are hurting Idahoans then they don't deserve to represent Idahoans.
Sisyphus, you accuse Chris of postulation and “believe the votes can be had” while the Dems are hopelessly out numbered in the Idaho Legislature? At least Chris said, earlier, that “I suck at teh math”.
I'd love to see a coalition government but it's unlikely to happen in Idaho during my lifetime.
Whaaa? God I hope the arrogant bastard gets accused of much worse than postulating.
But right you are about his avowed math skills. I've yet to see the actual vote tally but they need to switch only nine votes. I'm not even sure there are that many Ds in the House. But its hardly forming a government. Its the art of compromise that happens in every statehouse all the time. Such a coalition on this very issue was prognosticated by people smarter than I early in the session.
The current Dem tally in the Idaho Legislature is seven of 35 in the Senate, 17 of 70 in the House.
Thank you ma'am. Sorry to confess my ignorance. More than enough to get the job done.