Rep. Dick Harwood wanted the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee to print a bill Wednesday that would have essentially nullified the powers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Idaho.
He said he had no intention of pushing for passage of the bill or even getting a hearing. But he wanted to get the bill, which deleted 10 different references to the EPA in state code, on the internet so other states might consider it.
“By doing nothing we are allowing the federal government to put a chokehold on our state,” he said.
Even though 60 percent of the funding for Idaho's Department of Environmental Quality comes from the federal government, Harwood said his bill wouldn't cost anything. That's because Idaho won't have to have all of the same laws for protecting air, water and public health, he said.
The committee voted against printing the bill, 9-5.

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MERCY KILLING
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It's still clunky and the writing is horrible as usual
Don't be so hard on yourself .............
......... we all have off days .
And it was offed today.
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It's still clunky and the writing is horrible as usual
Harwood = Dum Bass
This is pandering to the ag industry. Look up e-coli in the Ted Trueblood wildlife preserve and other wonderful pollution stories from Idaho, and how the EPA has helped put a stop to them.
federal
That's great.
Pretty sure the Idaho DEQ can test water too.
EPA should be a policy maker at most and let states handle the work, enforcement and penalties as the local yokals see fit.
Canyon County can handle that.
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Believe in yourself. At least you won't troll yourself in blogs.
No Cost?
The bill would have cost us clean air and water.
Imagine That
An Idaho Legislator who is trying to stick his thumb in the fed's eye. Where have I seen this before?
Actually, you Otter look elsewhere!
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It's still clunky and the writing is horrible as usual