It's an Idaho Statehouse showdown: Despite spending practically the entire morning House session reading one bill, House Speaker Lawerence Denney says he's still not inclined to allow hearings on two bills that minority Democrats want heard, a cigarette tax hike and an advisory vote on school reform. "I don't think I'd say 'under no circumstances,' but I don't see any value right now," Denney said.

House Chief Clerk Bonnie Alexander read the text of HB 301 for an hour this morning. "We told Bonnie when she got tired, let us know," Denney said. "We're going to continue. It's certainly their prerogative to make us read bills, and we'll do that." The House will be back in session at 3:30 this afternoon, and "we will work late, and we will probably work Saturday and Sunday if that's what it takes," Denney said.

Majority Leader Mike Moyle already warned of a possible "call of the House" this afternoon. Any member may request a call of the House, as long as it's supported by a third of those members present. At that point, the chamber's doors are locked, and anyone not present it rounded up and brought in. No one can leave the chamber until the call is lifted, for any reason. "You get people with full bladders and they start calling," Denney said with a chuckle. "They can't leave." He said his hope for today was to take up the half-dozen House bills that still remain on the 3rd and 2nd reading calendars, but that plan hasn't gone so well thus far. "We need to get those House bills over to the Senate," he said. The Legislature likely couldn't have adjourned before the weekend anyway, he noted, with the two biggest budget bills still awaiting action, plus the final education reform bill, which awaits House passage.