Both the House and Senate today are holding their annual memorial services for former lawmakers who have died in the past year. Those being honored in the House are former Reps. Jeff Alltus, David Baumann, Claude J. Burtenshaw, James Chadband, Maurice Clements, Myron Jones, Ken Robison, Eugene B. Stucki, and W.O. “Bill” Taylor.

In the Senate, those being honored are the late former Sens. Grant Ipsen, Claude Burtenshaw, Mark Ricks, Ken Robison, Robert Saxvik and John D. Hansen. Burtenshaw and Robison served in both the House and the Senate.

This morning’s ceremonies include music and reflections on the lives and service of each of the former lawmakers; many of their family members are present. Boise Mayor Dave Bieter spoke in the House about Robison, recalling him as his seat-mate in the House and a lawmaker responsible for killing countless bad bills.

Bieter also shared this tidbit: When he served in the Legislature, it was the custom for the mayor of Boise to come to the Statehouse each session and speak, to welcome lawmakers to his city. “I did that my first year in office, but I must have overstayed my welcome,” Bieter said, “because I haven’t been asked back since.”

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, recalling Alltus, said, “Jeff always said that today was a good day to go to heaven, and he went Saturday, June 4, 2016, after battling cancer.” Barbieri said he still has “a full-page list of things he wanted me to get done” in the Legislature. As he closed his presentation, Barbieri misspoke, accidentally saying "Jesus" instead of "Jeff," but quickly corrected himself; he quoted from John Chapter 15, saying, “Jesus said this is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Jesus, I’m sorry, Jeff, was certainly the embodiment of this spirit.” 

Among guest speakers in the Senate are former longtime Sens. Hal Bunderson and Denton Darrington.