House leaders scrambled Wednesday for a response to the governor's plan to raise highway moneys by jacking fees and taxes, calling the Ways and Means committee to order almost twice. A rapid hearing on early childhood education brought no opposition, though opponents were purportedly watching from the stands and may be waiting for House hearings jump into the fray.

Abortion spin is swirling with a hearing today on coerced abortions and the release of gotcha tapes from a California student anti-abortion group. Not clear if a counter bill on coercion in opposition to abortions will be heard. Paleo-wife wants a bill making it a felony to coerce a pregnant woman to do anything at all.

And a bill banning local jurisdictions from making their own gun laws gained initial approval and is headed to the full Senate. In today's Newsrack...

Gov. Otter's people proposed several large tax hikes Tuesday to pay for road work in Idaho. The bills still have to be introduced in one the the privileged committees before they are debated. Meanwhile, Canyon County mayors are riding the bus.

A school voucher plan was introduced to some intense discussion begging editorial cartoonage, SPTD. Luna's teacher merit pay lite passes Senate committee, sage grouse ESA review begins again... in today's Newsrack.

And on the docket this morning: gun and lobby reform, repeal of Idaho's in-state labor first law for the Capitol could be up for debate in the Senate and later, Pre-K gets a once over [see Unda' for details].

Palpable pickup of the pace Monday at the Annex. Maybe it's Otter's reappearance on the scene or the realization that March is almost here, but some of the big bills are now moving.

The budget committee made drug treatment a priority Monday, against the wishes of the governor. Also, in a newsy press conference, Otter signed a dog fighting bill, changed his mind on private prison construction and said to expect changes on the State Board of Education.

Coming today: Senate Transportation committee considers new fees and midwife licensing in House H&W. All the news that's fit to surf in today's Newsrack.

Gov. Otter is back in the office meeting with Legislative leaders in person and holding a bill signing today at noon. To make dog fights a felony.

Hearings coming this week on pre-schooling, maybe a vote on midwife licensing in the House and a raft of special interest liquor bills are coming down the pike.

The national and international reactions to wolf delisting are coming in and one thing is clear: lots of people are keenly watching Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to see how the states handle their wolf business... in today's Newsrack...

Most papers lead this morning with stories of wolf delisting, a 13-year saga that has brought back one of the most emblematic species of the West. The road ahead is not clear with battles looming in court and in the field.

A bill that opens up testimony at CAFO hearings at the county level is headed to the full Senate, but could get tied up in the House again. Tamarack troubles continue. Schools Chief pitches his modified teacher merit pay plan. And it was, in fact, an earthquake felt across southern Idaho yesterday.

And in case you have not picked up Unda' yet, the John Birch Society is still kickin'...

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Wolves delisted. Management could be handed over to the state next month. Animal rightists worried about numbers while haters clamber for tags. Steve Nadeau, Idaho Fish and Game: "Adaptive management is how we will approach the whole wolf management issue." Barker and Philips in the Statesman. Three states plan for fall hunts. AP in the Press Tribune. About 300 Idaho tags could be offered... in Friday's Newsrack...

A powerful (as in compelling, not corrupt) effort to force Idaho's retirement fund to drop a few companies that do business with the Sudanese government failed Wednesday in the Senate State Affairs Committee. Chairman Curt McKenzie, once a sponsor of the bill, sided with the money folks, arguing that it was a slippery slope to pick and choose causes for divestment.

Midwives, OBs packed the house to debate the merits of licensing midwifery in the state. Vote delayed due to the hour. A real estate price disclosure bill passed committee after 17 years, Dairymen are taking up the immigration debate and Head Start funding is on the line... in today's NewsRack.

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McKenzie kills Sudan divestment bill. Nampa Sen. Curt McKenzie, former co-sponsor can't decide where the line is, votes down targeted divestment of PERSI funds. John Sullivan, Divestment Taskforce: "This is a matter of PERSI not wanting any legislative input at all, irrespective of their funds enabling genocide." Ferguson in the LMT [subscrip]. Druzin in the Statesman.

Long labor, no vote on midwife bill. More than five hours of testimony leaves no time for a vote. Midwives want voluntary licensing but some doctors and nurses oppose it. Idaho County Doc Andrew Jones: "There's a huge 600-pound gorilla in the room. That 600-pound gorilla is the rogue element of lay midwifery that will not come forward and get licensed." Rep. McGeachin demands apology. Shifrin, AP in the Press Tribune. McGeachin says mandatory licenses would outlaw lay midwifery in the state. Davidson in the Post-Register [subscrip].

$1.79 million in Head Start funding may be eliminated. Governor, H&W reccommend cutting Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds that go to Head Start. Half-million dollar shortfall...

ew teacher merit pay plan is out, eliminating the tradeoff in teacher contracts. Companion bills would eliminate some steps in firing teachers. But merit pay would still be largely dependent on test scores, something the teachers' union opposes. Sen. Crapo told an Idaho Falls crowd that Sen. Craig is getting along fine with his colleagues and that the Senate Ethics Committee jumped the gun. In other news, Craig moved to file an enlarged brief Tuesday. A quiet Treasure Valley program is putting away gang members in federal prison, Jerome County is all cow all the time and Tamarack filed for bankruptcy... in today's juicy Newsrack.