coolant hoses going to throttle body?

I just broke a coolant nipple on my 88 2.8 MPFI that goes from one of the heater hoses to the bottom plate of the throttle housing. My question is what is the reason for circulating coolant through the throttle housing. Can I by-pass it or should I plug both ends? Is it for emission purposes or to keep the throttle plates from freezing in cold weather? If it's for freezing weather then I wont need it here on Maui. Thanks for any replies.

If you live in Maui, you don't need it. It does nothing for emission, it is there to prevent icing inside the throttle body during cold & damp days.

Thanks Pete, that's what I thought. So can I just plug both ends or should I connect the two hoses together and by-pass the TB to allow coolant to flow?

Connect the 2 hoses toghether, & bypass the TB, no need to plug the TB.