Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said he’d put state economist Derek Santos on the spot, as JFAC often did to newly retired state chief economist Mike Ferguson, while recognizing that there’s always risk in economic forecasting: He asked him what his level of confidence was that Idaho’s state tax revenues would actually grow by 3 to 4 percent in fiscal year 2011. The official state forecast calls for 4.7 percent growth.

Santos looked back to his boss, DFM chief Wayne Hammon, who gave him a nod and said, "It's your neck." Amid laughter, Santos said, “Recognizing this may be a career decision, I’m very comfortable with 3 to 4 percent. I would be very comfortable with 3 to 4 percent, and I’m still comfortable with 4.7 percent.”