Idaho Senate receives four gubernatorial nominations, refers them to committees

The Idaho Senate on Jan. 13, 2025, received formal notification from Gov. Brad Little of four gubernatorial appointments and referred each nomination to a committee for consideration.

Letters from Gov. Brad Little listed the appointees and their terms: Robert Blum of Hayden to the Idaho Aeronautics Advisory Board for a term commencing May 9, 2024, and expiring Jan. 31, 2029; Matthew Whittington of Middleton, reappointment to the Idaho State Racing Commission for a term commencing Jan. 15, 2024, and expiring Jan. 15, 2030; Tara Malek of Boise, reappointment to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board for a term commencing April 10, 2024, and expiring April 10, 2028; and Lori Wolfe of Meridian as director of the Division of Financial Management with a term commencing June 5, 2024. Each notice said the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Senate President Scott Bedke directed that the notice for Robert Blum be assigned to the Transportation Committee; Matthew Whittington’s notice was assigned to the State Affairs Committee; Tara Malek’s notice was sent to the Commerce and Human Resources Committee; and Lori Wolfe’s notice was assigned to the State Affairs Committee. The clerk filed the correspondence in the office of the Senate secretary, as recorded in the journal.

There was no debate recorded on the nominations during the reading. The actions taken at the Jan. 13 session were procedural: the Senate accepted the governor’s notices and referred them to the named committees. Formal confirmation votes, if scheduled, would take place in those committees or on the Senate floor at later dates.

The Senate also took routine procedural steps during the session, including advancing the calendar by unanimous consent to the eighth and fifteenth orders of business and adjourning until 11 a.m. Jan. 14, 2025, on a motion made and seconded by Senator Hartog that carried by voice vote.