House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley, stripped Rep. Bill Sali, R-Kuna, of his committee seats today, an apparent attempt at revenge for Sali’s challenging Newcomb’s ruling on Wednesday that the combination property tax bill, HB 876, can’t be divided into separate votes.

Sali, a candidate for the 1st District congressional seat, sat on the Health and Welfare Committee and Judiciary and Rules Committee, neither of which is expected to meet again this session.

“In the end it is a senseless display of vindictiveness against me that is unbecoming of his position....For the Speaker’s own sake I hope he will reconsider his actions,” Sali said in a written statement. He said he did not mean Wednesday’s challenge to be an attack on Newcomb.

Sali previously chaired the Health and Welfare Committee but was stripped of his chairmanship by Newcomb two years ago.

Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, the only one to join Sali in voting for the appeal, was also removed from his committee seats.

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