There was heartfelt debate in JFAC before the vote on statewide personnel cuts. Here's a sampling:

"I'm feeling very, very guilty costing the taxpayers of Idaho $30,000 a day to stay here and be stubborn." - Rep. Maxine Bell
"Our issue all along as a committee was that a 5 percent personnel cost reduction for some agencies would be too difficult for them to handle, particularly corrections, state police, etc. ... that they could not furlough enough days in order to meet that necessary 5 percent." - Sen. Dean Cameron
"I think there's a point where you become too cautious and you add to the problem. If we go with the 5 percent now and we ask the agencies to hold it back, we're going to add to the unemployment problem we have now. ... To me it makes more sense to err on the side of what's best for our state employees as a whole." - Sen. Joyce Broadsword
"We've heard some talk about what our caucuses want. Obviously I have a great loyalty to my caucus, but I'm elected by my district, and my district expects me to hold up my responsibilities." - Sen. Shawn Keough
"My comments are my own, they don't reflect any caucus or anyone who works in a different building. My comments are based on many years of budgeting." - Rep. Frank Henderson
"Are they any worse off if we cut them down the road than if we do it now? I don't think so. But I'm going to keep as many people working as I can." - Sen. Jim Hammond

---

---