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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Loertscher, Amphibian Girl Meet

Late (Wednesday) afternoon, after waiting for more than two hours, seventh-grader Ilah Hickman got her meeting with House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona. Idaho Education News reports that Loertscher met with the 13-year-old for 25 minutes, as her mom and other lawmakers looked on. He quizzed her on Idaho’s state symbols – she aced them all – and the two discussed the youngster’s bill, which passed the Senate with just two “no” votes, to designate the Idaho giant salamander as Idaho’s official state amphibian. Loertscher told Ilah it’s too late in the session for a hearing on her bill, but she left undeterred, saying if it doesn’t pass this year, she’ll try again next year/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here. (Photos: Rep. Tom Loertscher and Idaho Giant Salamander, from IdahoHerp.com; the chairman of the House State Affairs Committee is on the left.)

Question: Isn't it nice to see the 7th-grader stand up to the haunting chairman of the House State Affairs Committee?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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