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The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho, Ben Botkin column: COLUMN: Legislative humor not defeated by budget woes
Feb 07, 2010 (The Times-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
A small, black lapel microphone has become something of an unofficial symbol for the state's budget challenges, at least in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.
In JFAC presentations, various agency heads come before the committee, outlining their goals and funding levels to legislators. Those making presentations clip the microphone on before talking.
More often that not, they usually get a friendly reminder from one of the co-chairs of JFAC -- Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, or Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome.
Their request to the speakers: Don't walk away with the microphone still clipped on.
After all, they don't have any extras and the state can't really afford to buy another.
"Don't forget about the microphone," Cameron told Idaho State Tax Commission Chairman Royce Chigbrow. "We don't have the money to replace it."
Later in the same day, to Eric Wildman, the 5th District judge overseeing water claims, Bell repeated the reminder.
"We can't afford another one," she said.
Lawmakers aren't the only ones who use bits of humor to illustrate their budget challenges.
Roger Christensen, chairman of the Catastrophic Health Care Fund Board, alluded to Cameron's mane of dark brown hair when talking about his job on the CAT board.
"When I started, I had a gorgeous head of hair like his," said Christensen, whose hair is sparse in comparison.
Since the hearing, Christensen has told me his take: Cameron has the finest head of hair on the Senate.
Lipstick and lawmakers
In the weekly telephone conference that Magic Valley legislators have with constituents on Friday, lawmakers were asked about a bill that would ban cell-phone use while driving.
The bill would bring a $75 fine for the offense, but not apply to hands-free cell phones or law enforcement officers and emergency providers.
Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, jokingly brought up a possible amendment that the bill may face.
"There's a coalition of us men that want to add cosmetics to it," he said.
After the laughter died down, Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, said Smith's joke still points to a broader question: Many tasks other than using a cell phone are dangerous while driving. Should they all be regulated?
Unnecessarytractor runs
Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls, brings a farmer's perspective to the state's budget woes. Farmers, when times get bad, sometimes analyze every run through a field that a tractor makes to determine if the cost matches the necessity.
Farmers who don't do that practice instead do what's called "recreational tractor driving," which is more expensive than taking the day off and golfing.
In state government, that same principle of looking at tractor runs can be followed too, Coiner said.
"We've got to all look at every nickel we're spending," he said.
Ben Botkin may be reached at bbotkin@magicvalley.com.
To see more of The Times-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.magicvalley.com Copyright (c) 2010, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho
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