A former Idaho House chairman believes state lawmakers have the authority to end a perk that allows them to boost their taxpayer-backed pensions by as much as 800 percent. Former Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, told IdahoReporter.com Wednesday the Legislature can -- and should -- address the pension perk. “They were the ones that gave themselves that perk,” Lake said. “The Legislature has to do it.” Lake pushed a bill to end the pension perk in 2012, but a key committee chairman held the measure after one hearing on the matter. After Lake’s retirement, the issue died until Reps. Stephen Harris, R-Meridian, and Kelley Packer, R-McCammon, pushed a similar bill this year. That measure cleared the House, but Senate State Affairs Committee Chair Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, refused to hear it/Dustin Hurst, Idaho Reporter. More here.

Question: Anyone out there who thinks the Legislature should continue its pension perk?