Idaho Democrat Questions Governor’s Mansion Funding Process

A public meeting has been scheduled for the Governor’s Housing Committee after a Democratic lawmaker on the panel said the chairman violated Idaho’s open meetings law by conducting a vote via email.

In the email vote, the committee approved the annual $177,400 budget for maintenance of the governor’s mansion.  In a 3–2 vote, Both Democrats on the panel voted no.

The committee oversees management of a fund used to maintain the governor’s hilltop mansion in Boise.  The home was donated to the state by J.R. Simplot in 2005, but it’s never been lived in by a governor. 

Sen. Les Bock (D-Garden City) thinks it’s time to get rid of the mansion all together.  “It’s not like this money couldn’t be used for something else – we have plenty of needs,” Bock says.  Click here to continue reading...