The House has voted 51-17 in favor of HB 1, the bill from a Boise 8^th-grader to designate the Idaho giant salamander as the state amphibian, sending the measure to the Senate – where last year, it passed overwhelmingly. Rep. Patrick McDonald, R-Boise, said, “This is a really unique critter. … I certainly have grown to appreciate this critter. I think the giant salamander actually is the best choice for this designation. It has the perfect name for the state amphibian. Furthermore, out of 14 amphibians that reside in Idaho, it is the only one that resides almost exclusively in this state. … It’s not in any way endangered. Its skin looks like a topographical map of the Bitterroot Mountains”/Eye on Boise. More here.

DFO: I'm waiting to see how the six Kootenai County delegates voted on this one.