First motion passes on party-line vote

The first motion has passed JFAC on a party-line vote, 15-4, to cut $188.75 million out of the current year’s budget. The committee’s four Democrats voted no. “The bottom line is so much lower than the governor’s proposal,” said Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum. “It does give me some heartburn about what’s going to happen in (fiscal) 2011.”

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, is absent today due to the death of her aunt last night, to whom she was very close; that’s why the committee votes don’t total the full 20. “I wish she were here,” said Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert; Keough is his vice-chair. “She’s a good right-hand woman.”