House Speaker Lawerence Denney said, "We will get through the next session, we will balance our budget, we're required by our Constitution to do so. We hear rumors of surplus, but I can tell you, the good news is that we are growing. Our growth line is pretty flat; we're growing at about 3 percent. ... That's going to take us probably several years to climb out of where we have been."

Denney said the question of funding a health insurance exchange and whether to accept part or all of the federal funding for it that Idaho's just been awarded "is going to be a very serious discussion this year." He said, "Boy, I have mixed feelings. ... It's going to be one of those debates that just tears you up."

Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill told the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho that the upcoming legislative session likely will include discussion of guns on campus, state nullification of federal laws, possible tax cuts, and more. He said he doesn't expect lawmakers to eliminate any sales tax exemptions, discuss collecting taxes on Internet sales, or consider increases in tobacco or beer and wine taxes. He added, however, "My predictions are about as good as Boise State's game against TCU - you just can't rely on 'em."