Sen. Davis stalls Attorney General’s budget bill

The budget bill for the Idaho Attorney General’s office, HB 577, was unexpectedly held up in the Senate late this afternoon, when Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, asked to have it held until next Wednesday – which is supposed to be the day before the end of this year’s session.

Asked about the move, Davis said, “I’m not happy with the Attorney General’s office on a few things. We may have to revise aspects of his budget.” He added, “It may require some additional modifications.”

JFAC Co-Chair Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, said, “I think between now and next Wednesday, we’ll figure out what the issues are and aren’t.”

HB 577 passed the House on March 10 on a 44-24 vote. The proposed budget represents a 6.5 percent increase in state general funds for Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s office, but leaves out Wasden’s request for two additional attorneys, plus one paralegal, to represent the state in risk management cases, following recommendations from a legislative performance audit report that said Idaho could save money by handling those cases through the Attorney General’s office rather than hiring pricey private attorneys. Gov. Butch Otter didn’t recommend funding the $347,800 request.