in boise

BOISE - A persistent grade school student's attempt to make the Idaho giant salamander the official state amphibian is off to a good start.

The Spokesman-Review reported the bill championed by eighth grader Ilah Hickman on Tuesday became the first introduced in the Idaho Legislature this year. It's her fifth attempt in as many years to persuade lawmakers to recognize the predatory amphibian that can grow to more than a foot long.

As part of her pitch Tuesday morning she told members on the State Affairs Committee the salamander makes its home almost exclusively in Idaho. She also said its skin markings resemble a topographical map of Idaho's Bitterroot Mountains.

She said she'll bring a live salamander in an aquarium to show lawmakers if the bill gets a hearing.

Siddoway calls for a bump to teacher pay

The Idaho lawmaker who has the power to kill tax bills said there will be no new tax breaks unless beginning teacher salaries boost to $40,000 a year.

Republican Sen. Jeff Siddoway threatened to hold proposed tax cuts hostage in order to get more funding for Idaho's public schools even before the legislative session kicked off Monday. Siddoway sharpened his demand Tuesday, saying teacher salaries must increase sooner than what Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter has outlined.

Otter asked lawmakers Monday to increase teacher salaries to $40,000 over the next five years, bumping new teacher pay from $31,750 to $32,800 next year.

Siddoway is the chairman of the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee. It's the first stop after tax bills clear the House.

Committee examines state employee pay

A new legislative report shows an unequal distribution of raises occurs when lawmakers fail to budget for competitive public employee salaries.

The Office of Performance Evaluations told a joint panel Tuesday that state agencies create an incentive to not follow their budgets if they rely on saving money from vacancies or filling open positions with employees making less than those they replace.

The report was presented at a time when the panel, made up of members from the Idaho House and Senate, is preparing to submit a recommendation on raising state employee salaries to lawmakers Jan. 16.

Associated Press