One of the money-saving consolidation proposals that state Administration chief Mike Gwartney outlined drew several questions from JFAC members. Gwartney said there's no need to send a building inspector from the state Division of Building Safety to inspect a building, when his department has people on staff with the same skill sets. "For example, we're building a building in Idaho Falls, there's no use for Kelly to send an inspector out there when we have a competent person on site," he said. Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, asked how anyone can be allowed to inspect their own construction work, regardless of their "skill set." Gwartney said he wouldn't make the move for state-constructed buildings, just those built by the private sector. Keough then asked what statutory authority the department has for conducting building inspections in place of the Building Safety inspectors; Gwartney said he'll get back to her on that.

There also have been lots of questions from lawmakers about the bidding process for the Idaho Education Network, on which the state currently is facing a lawsuit; JFAC still is due for a full presentation this morning on the IEN. Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "I guess I have to give the agency kudos for imagination and for ideas, but candidly, have a lack of confidence in the ability to deliver services that have been promised based on past experience." He said he's particularly concerned about the effect of the IT consolidation move on functions at the state Department of Insurance and Department of Finance, which are regulating struggling financial institutions.