Conservative North Idaho Sen. Steve Vick has only been on the Legislature’s joint committee for a week, but on Monday, he said he saw a budget request that he views as more justified than others: Slightly raising Idaho’s low-ranking foster care reimbursements. “It seems to be one of those that’s more justified in my mind,” said Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, who once looked into becoming a foster parent himself.

He’s one of 10 first-time members on the Idaho Legislature’s 20-member budget-setting committee this year, a group that includes several who, like Vick, are suspicious of most increases in government spending. The panel on Monday began a week of budget hearings on state Health and Welfare programs, starting with child welfare. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.