The Senate has wrapped up its official business for the day, including suspending its rules and passing HB 281, the IRS conformity bill; and appropriation bills to fund the state Capitol Commission and the Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension Service. Now, Senate Republicans have headed behind closed doors for a caucus.

Before the Senate finished up, at one point, a few senators were missing, so Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo, requested a call of the Senate. That formal move prompts the doors to be locked, and the Sergeant-at-Arms to search out and bring in any missing senators. Pretty soon, everyone was there except Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, a sheep and elk rancher who was presenting his anti-bighorn sheep bill to the House Resources Committee. As word of that filtered around, senators milled around the chamber and braced for a wait. For about 10 minutes, the doors remained locked and no one was allowed to enter or leave - including me (terrible timing on my part). Then the call was lifted. 

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