BOISE, Idaho(AP) — The co-chair of the state’s budget committee says a bill asking for $2 million to kill Idaho wolves likely won’t get half that much money.
Republican Rep. Maxine Bell of Jerome says the money is instead needed to pay for the Idaho Education Network broadband program.
Bell co-chairs the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee.
Legal wrangling over a contract the state awarded for an education broadband project has cut off federal funds for the program.
Bell says lawmakers have flexibility when it comes to killing wolves but they don’t with the Idaho Education Network.
She says the fund to kill wolves will probably get about $400,000.
Even if the proposed wolf control bill becomes law, the committee Bell co-chairs would determine the final funding amount.