After dealing with topics such as restricting Idaho's primaries and making English Idaho's official language, the House State Affairs Committee tackled a less controversial topic this morning, reports Parker Howell: who showed up to meetings earliest. Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, distributed prizes to the earliest and latest arrivers. Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, won a Cabela's gift certificate for being the most-prompt member of the 18-lawmaker committee. "Did you pay sales tax?" Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, asked Loertscher. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, received a John Deere alarm clock for being the one to frequently arrive latest. Earlier in the meeting, committee members played with colorful balloons, kazoos and Disney coloring books – "something that could come in helpful as we sit around on the floor the last couple of days," Loertscher said. Another lawmaker quipped that it would give them another pastime besides playing solitaire on their laptops. "This has been quite a study in human behavior," Loerstcher said. Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest River, took second for earliest arriver.

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