An Idaho House committee was bowled over today by one of the most persuasive pitches for a bill so far this legislative session – and it came from a 12-year-old. “Idaho is home to many amazing amphibians,” sixth-grader Ilah Hickman told the House State Affairs Committee. “One should be selected to represent our great state.” She proposed the Idaho giant salamander as Idaho’s state amphibian. “It bears the name of Idaho, and I think that the skin on it looks like the topographical map of our Bitterroot mountain range,” Ilah told the committee. “A lot of states have reptiles and amphibians, but Idaho doesn’t,” she noted. “Many have frogs and newts and salamanders”/Betsy Russell, SR. More here. (Betsy Russell photo: Ilah Hickman, 12, right, with Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, left, in the state Capitol on Wednesday)

Question: Do you have a favorite amphibian?