As the week that was supposed to be the last begins, it's obvious lawmakers will be around a bit longer. It's chaos on the transportation front, controversial (electioneering?) bills on immigration and abortion are still being introduced. The Senate is sitting on some so-called "going home" bills.

Dueling election reform bills that fail to satisfy the wing of the Idaho GOP clamoring for change were also just unveiled Friday and will take some serious scrutiny. Secretary of State Ysursa does not want any change, but brought a bill anyway. Also, a hot judge's race taking shape early, drug treatment in the jails and Spitzer v. Craig... in today's Newsrack.

A watershed hearing is being held this morning on local option taxes for transit and transportation. The bill being debated is brought by an opponent of local option taxes and will be opposed by most local option supporters. Media reports this morning call that coalition fractured. Testimony at the hearing will tell, but it appears the counties were thrown a bone and peeled off to support amending the Constitution.

Luna's final efforts to change teacher policy and pay failed Thursday when the Senate Education Committee decided against expediting teacher firings with opposition from school boards, who apparently asked for it in the first place. Also, Tamarack getting worried, grocery tax debate in Senate but not vote and honkers taking over the place... in today's Newsrack.

As the Senate takes up the House passed emission testing bill, the Environmental Protection Agency releases new standards for ozone that put the Boise Valley into excessive levels. The new standards are not as stringent as some scientists would have liked.

A bill to end a weird tax - on stuff businesses own - passed the House tax committee Weds. But the favors to businesses come at a weird time too and schools and counties are very worried about the loss of revenue that is inevitable.

Election consolidation, transportation funding and a Tamarack lawsuit... in today's Newsrack.

A deal on local option tax for transit appears stalled now that major transit groups have withdrawn support for the compromise. Valley Regional Transit and COMPASS met Friday and opposed or took no position respectively on running a Constitutional amendment to authorize local taxing. Republican House leaders are moving forward with their plan anyway and it could be up to Democrats to lend support or squash the compromise measure.

While only about six people showed up, a rally for transit and against changing the Constitution in Nampa did get some coverage.

Unda' the Rotunda deplores legislative prayer, Mary Ann busted and hot supreme court race in today's Newsrack (which had 200 readers yesterday and is now accepting advertising and donations)) :-)

Senate committee rejects pee for scholarships bill. Sen. Gary Schroeder: “I don’t want to reward somebody for (not) doing something...

More transportation silt broke loose Friday when the budget committee approved another round of highway bonding for several Boise Valley projects, and Otter reportedly reached a deal on local option taxing for transportation needs. Otter got credit for his first major scores with the Legislature. Also, emission testing powers for DEQ finally passed the House after four years of effort.

Otter has two wildly popular NIMBY bills on his desk dealing with transitional housing in neighborhoods... he has indicated he may not sign one or both. The Senate Education Committee is holding a bill that would help more undocumented students in Idaho go to college, and more election announcements, galore, in today's Newsrack.