Sen. Les Bock, D-Boise, is a member of the five-person Governor's Housing Committee. On Wednesday he voiced his displeasure that the most recent bill for state spending to cover maintenance of the unoccupied dwelling, more than $177,000, mandates that more oversight is needed, says a story in the Idaho Statesman.

The former home of J.R. Simplot was donated to the state for a governor's mansion, but it sits unused.