A state senator and co-chairman of the panel that crafts Idaho's yearly budget will take over as director of the Department of Insurance next month. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter announced the appointment of Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, on Friday. The position starts June 15. That means Cameron, who leads the Senate Finance Committee and is co-chairman of the Joint Finance Approriations Committee alongside Rep. Maxine Bell, will step down as a lawmaker before starting the job. The Republican legislative committee for his district will nominate possible replacements, and Otter will choose one of those candidates to finish out the senator's two-year term/KTVB. More here.

DFO: If Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, isn't tabbed as the next JFAC co-chair, then there's something broken among GOP legislators. Ah, mebbe I should use another example ...