Of Arm Twisting & Radiator Capping

Because Idaho’s Constitution says all tax bills must begin in the House, the Senate has been sitting on its collective togas for three months, waiting for the House to pass a highway bill. The one that finally emerged — a proposed boost in registration fees — just got “radiator-capped.” In legislative parlance, that means the Senate exercises its prerogative to rewrite everything about a bill except its top. Hence House Transportation Committee Chairman Joe Palmer’s perfunctory presentation to the Senate Transportation Committee Thursday: “It’s all yours.” Tuesday, the Senate followed up with its amendments, raising fuel taxes a dime a gallon phased in over four years, plus increasing registration fees $25. Gone was any House attempt to progressively raid the general fund - which supplies education, health, public safety and general government programs — to pay for roads and bridges/ Marty Trillhaase , Lewiston Tribune. More here.

Question: Which body of the Idaho Legislature performs best?