Panel Gives Salamander Big OK
The House State Affairs Committee today abruptly reversed itself and overwhelmingly passed HB 1, the bill proposed by an Idaho 8th grader to make the Idaho Giant Salamander the official state amphibian. There were just two “no” votes on the committee; HB 1 now moves to the full House with a recommendation that it “do pass.” Rep. Gayle Batt, R-Wilder, and committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, both said they decided on the change yesterday when the House debated and passed a resolution marking “National Diaper Need Awareness Week.” “I turned to my seatmate and said, “If we have time for a diaper bill, we have time to hear the salamander,’” Batt said. She said earlier she’d wondered “if we should clutter up the system” will bills like that, but the diaper resolution put that concern to rest/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.
Huzzah!