Senate OKs out-of-state workers on Capitol

By Nathaniel Hoffman ⋅ February 27, 2008 ⋅  Send ⋅  Print ⋅ Post

The Idaho Senate Wednesday morning gave the nod to private contractors working on the state’s largest building project ever to use as much out-of-state labor as they like. The bill, House bill 445, exempts the restoration of the Statehouse from Title 44, Chapter 10 of Idaho code, a section that requires state building projects to use 95% bona fide Idaho workers.

You can listen to the minimal debate on the Senate floor set to a fitting Billie Holiday tune on PaleoMedia.org.

The bill now goes to the governor’s office for a signature. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter did oppose the Capitol renovation for a bit, but it’s expected he’ll sign the bill so the project can be expedited. An Otter spokesman declined comment on the bill Wednesday.