Lawmakers’ questions: From job-growth issues to own business

The first question for Idaho Department of Labor official Bob Fick after he presented data about jobs to the Legislature’s economic outlook committee came from Rep. Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, who didn’t ask about the economy - she related the case of an employee her business had fired in which she was dissatisfied with the department’s ruling on unemployment eligibility. Fick responded that if she’ll get him some specifics, “We’ll have somebody, the benefits bureau chief will look into the case and explain exactly why what happened happened.”

Other lawmakers, including Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, and Rep. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, asked about various issues impacting job growth in the state.