Souza joins Keough on JFAC

It’s still being finalized, but it appears that big changes are in store in Senate committee assignments for the 2017 session. Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, has been replaced as chairman of the Local Government & Taxation Committee by Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, and Siddoway looks likely to take over the chairmanship of the State Affairs Committee, formerly chaired by Curt McKenzie, who left the Senate for an unsuccessful run for the Idaho Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, only three Senate members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will be returning next year; seven are new. The returning members are Chair Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; and Sens. Steve Bair, R-Blackfoot; and Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls. The new members: Sens. Fred Martin, R-Boise; Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene; Abby Lee, R-Fruitland; Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise; Jeff Agenbroad, R-Nampa; Carl Crabtree, R-Grangeville; and Mark Nye, D-Pocatello. More here from Betsy Russell/Eye on Boise.