The House had a little fun with HB 547, the measure to eliminate the state Prune Commission, which hasn't met for at least two decades.

"A once thriving Idaho industry ... has now shriveled up," intoned Rep. Allen Andersen, D-Pocatello. "Please join me in a moment of silence, as we press the green button to de-commission the Idaho Prune Commission."

When another representative asked, "Does that mean that this is going plumb out of existence?" the lawmakers cracked up. Just before the unanimous, 65-0 vote on the bill, Andersen told his House colleagues he'd drawn a "plum assignment."

Incidentally, Webster's defines "plum" as "something superior or very desirable; especially something desirable given in return for a (political) favor."

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