NorthwestJanuary 25, 1996

Michael R. Wickline

BOISE Idaho Sen. Judi Danielson, a Council Republican, Wednesday proposed a bill creating a seventh Idaho Fish and Game Commission seat to represent Custer and Lemhi counties.

Rep. Golden Linford, a Rexburg Republican, said similar legislation has cleared the House only to die in the Senate Resources and Environment Committee and on the Senate floor.

Idaho Gov. Phil Batt said he has been told there are substantial arguments to be made for creating a seventh commission post.

"It would have to be demonstrated that it is not in the state's interests before I would veto such a bill," he said.

The creation of a seventh commission seat would enable Batt to have a majority of appointees on the commission. He already has filled two commission posts and the term of Commissioner Wesley Rose of Jerome expires in July.

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Danielson told the Senate Resources and Environment Committee she contacted Linford about proposing the bill because she has received a large number of phone calls about wildlife issues from a big geographic area in eastern Idaho.

"I personally believe it's still their mission to deal with fish and game and wildlife in Idaho," she said of the commission.

Linford said there are seven fish and game department regions in the state based on where the resources are and there should be seven commission seats, too.

There is only one commissioner for the upper Snake River Valley and Custer and Lemhi counties, he said, and a high percentage of the hunting units are in this large region. It's difficult for commissioner Jeffrey Siddoway of Terreton to serve Custer and Lemhi counties, he said before the Senate panel voted to print Danielson's bill.

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