Senate has adjourned sine die

The Idaho Senate has adjourned sine die, Latin for “without a day,” meaning they’ve ended their work for the legislative session. Lt. Gov. Brad Little banged a rubber mallet on a foot-long wooden handle that serves as his Senate gavel, to close the session. “Very, very hard decisions had to be made,” Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, told the Senate shortly before the gavel fell. “This body has demonstrated year in and year out a desire to do what is in the long-term interest of this state, and for that I am grateful.” His comments were followed by various thank-you’s, including to legislative staffers and budget analysts. “Of the years that I have been here, they’ve never been put through the wringer … quite like they were this year,” Davis said. Senate President Pro-tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, noted, “In just 244 days, give or take a day or two, we’ll be back in session.” He said, “Senators, it’s time for us to go home.”