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Idaho Governor Brad Little Stumps For Transportation Funding

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Congress is taking up the Biden Administration’s $2 trillion American Jobs Plan. Within it are $621 billion in funds to fix transportation infrastructure across the country. But Idaho Governor Brad Little isn’t waiting around for federal funding to fix local roads.

Following a week-long tour around the state to drum up support, Governor Little Friday released a video asked Idahoans to push their legislators to create ongoing transportation funding to support the country’s fastest-growing state.

“Idaho simply will not keep up with that growth if we, as elected leaders, do not invest strategically and sustainably in our roads,” the Governor said in the video.

The Idaho House passed a bill last month tripling the amount of sales tax revenue allocated to the transportation department, which includes funds leveraged through bonds for larger projects. House bill 342 is awaiting a Senate committee hearing.

That legislation would create about half the $80 million annually the governor wants to set aside for transportation infrastructure. Last month, Little signed house bill 308 into law, which allocates $126 million in immediate transportation spending for high priority state and local highway projects.

Follow Troy Oppie on Twitter @GoodBadOppie for more local news.

Copyright 2021 Boise State Public Radio

Troy Oppie is a reporter and local host of 'All Things Considered' for Boise State Public Radio News.

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