It takes a lot of integrity to vote against the pork flowing to your biggest constituent. Via the LMT:
For the second time in the past week, Moscow Sen. Dan Foreman opposed funding for the largest employer in his legislative district.
Last Thursday, Foreman was the only senator to vote against the 2018 college and university budget, which provides upward of $175 million in state, dedicated and federal funding for the University of Idaho.
On Tuesday, he opposed the 2018 Permanent Building Fund budget, which includes another $10 million for UI, as well as a separate $10 million set-aside for Lewis-Clark State College.
The UI money would go for the proposed Center for Agriculture, Food and Environment facility in the Magic Valley. The LCSC money provides half the funding needed for the proposed Career-Technical Education facility in the Lewiston Orchards.
Both institutions will have to contribute $10 million in matching funds before any state funding is released.
Foreman previously suggested there was “too much pork” in the higher education budget. He reiterated those concerns Tuesday, saying he’d like to vote for some of the appropriations bills but can’t because they’re so fat.
“What am I supposed to do, just say ‘Oh, well?’ Those ‘oh wells’ add up,” he said.
Foreman noted that lawmakers have little opportunity to modify an appropriations bill unless they sit on the joint budget committee. Budget bills historically can’t be amended after they reach the House or Senate floor; lawmakers can choose to approve or reject them, but traditionally only the budget committee can add or remove line items or make other changes.