Bayer has first revenue motion: Adopt governor’s forecast

Sen. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, made the first motion at today’s joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment meeting, proposing that the panel adopt Gov. Butch Otter’s forecast. That’s actually lower than the committee members’ own estimates.

“In historical terms, we’ve had some colorful and large deliberations if there were large variances,” Bayer said, “when we were concerned about revenues coming in during a recession and such. That is not the case here, nor was it last year. It seems like there is an opportunity here legitimately to go into the revenue projection and subsequent framework for the budgeting together with the second floor.”

The second floor of the Capitol is where the governor works; in formal terms, during sessions, lawmakers refer to him as the “gentleman on the second floor.”