Idaho House Approves Bill Allowing Uber to Operate

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho House has approved a plan to let the ridesharing company Uber sidestep local city ordinances and operate the way it wants in Idaho.

The bill passed Monday 56-12 over opposition from most of the chamber's Democrats. House Minority Leader Representative John Rusche says that cities should be able to make their own rules, like they do for taxi drivers. He also argued that the law's background check requirement for drivers isn't rigorous enough.

But House Transportation and Defense Committee Chairman Representative Joe Palmer says that Uber's required background checks are comprehensive. The Uber-backed proposal comes after the company suspended operations in Boise in February. Uber couldn't reach a compromise with Boise officials over loosening the city's regulations. The bill now goes to the Senate side for consideration.