03/11/10

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ The state won't set the budget for the
Department of Administration, opting to wait until mediation begins
over a lawsuit targeting the $60 million Idaho Education Network.

Sen. Dean Cameron, the Republican budget committee head, said
Thursday House and Senate leadership instructed him to hold off
setting the budget until the out-of-court talks begin next week.

Telecommunication company Syringa Networks has sued the state,
saying it had been illegally excluded from a deal to help build the
network.

Rancor over the next $3 million installment for the broadband
education network has spilled over into the public, with Gov. C.L.
``Butch'' Otter's budget director firing off a terse e-mail
Wednesday directed at Cameron warning against any delays to handing
out the money.

House and Senate GOP leadership met with Otter early Thursday to
discuss the delay.


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