Item: Republicans: Party has fracture: Members say Hart tax case has divided them/Nick Rotunno, Coeur d'Alene Press

More Info: As Rep. Phil Hart wrestles the IRS over tax discrepancies, the Kootenai County Republican Party has fractured, according to four party members who spoke to The Press on Monday. "What you've got is a group of wackos that have taken over the party," Sen. Mike Jorgenson said. "And they are supporting Phil Hart's agenda."

Question: What will be the ultimate outcome to this local party fracture? A healing like the one that occurred in the early 1990s when then party Chairman Phil Batt coaxed Ron Rankin & Co. back into the Republican tent? Or full scale war that will destroy it?