Idaho Senate accepts staff attache list, refers governor's appointments to committees

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho State Senate on Jan. 9 voted to accept a list of senate attaches and received multiple gubernatorial appointment notices that were referred to standing committees for confirmation.

Senator Lori Den Hartog moved to accept the list of attaches; a second was recorded but the seconder was not identified on the record. The Senate secretary called the roll on the motion; the chamber recorded 33 senators voting in favor with two senators absent, and the motion passed. The transcript shows the presiding officer ordered the attaches to be brought into the chamber so they could be administered the oath of office and then thanked them for their service.

Following the reading of written communications from state offices, the Senate filed a letter from Secretary of State Phil McGrane listing registered lobbyists under Idaho Code section 67-66-22 in the office of the secretary of the Senate.

The Senate also received multiple notices of gubernatorial appointments from Governor Brad Little. The notices read into the record included appointments to state boards and authorities; the appointments were announced as "subject to confirmation by the Senate," and each was referred to the committee indicated in the reading. The referrals recorded in the transcript were:

- An appointment of a member from Blackfoot to the state offender management board (referred to the Judiciary and Rules Committee). - Courtney Liddiard of Rexburg to the Idaho Parks and Recreation Board (referred to the Resources and Environment Committee). - Scott Madison of Boise and George Lynch of Boise to the Idaho Energy Resources Authority (both referred to the State Affairs Committee). - Kenneth Noon (referred to the Local Government and Taxation Committee). - Lonnie Allen of Ashton to the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board (referred to the Resources and Environment Committee). - Thomas Mello to the State Building Authority (referred to the State Affairs Committee).

The Senate did not take final confirmation votes on those appointments during the Jan. 9 session; the items were entered into the chamber record and routed to the committees named for consideration.

The accepted list of attaches included a roster of staff roles read into the record by the secretary; among the names read were Gay Bennett (assistant majority leader), Peggy Moyer (assistant to the majority caucus chairman), Claudia Simplot (secretary to the secretary of the Senate), Sawyer Crenshaw (journal clerk), Nikki Root (assistant clerk), Sarah Jane McDonald (sergeant at arms), Jerry Schuderas (assistant sergeant at arms) and Doug Armstrong (chaplain), along with committee secretaries and pages. After the roll call vote, Sergeant at Arms Sarah Jane McDonald escorted the attaches into the well of the Senate, where they were administered an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the Idaho Constitution and to faithfully discharge their duties.

Procedural business on Jan. 9 also included the reading and filing of the previous day's journal, a message from the House transmitting an enrolled concurrent resolution for the president's signature, and routine announcements about caucus meetings. The Senate adjourned to reconvene Jan. 10 at 10:15 a.m.

Members and officials who spoke on the record during the personnel and appointment items include Senator Lori Den Hartog (motion to accept attaches); Secretary of State Phil McGrane (letter listing lobbyists); Governor Brad Little (letters notifying the Senate of appointments); Sergeant at Arms Sarah Jane McDonald (escorting attaches); Doug Armstrong (chaplain); and Anna Callahan (page duties noted in the record).