Members of the Idaho House were subjected to a final few minutes of the most intensive lobbying of the session this morning, as they prepared to debate Gov. Butch Otter's two-year effort to boost road funding.

The governor's staff joined lobbyists from the Associated General Contractors, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, Association of Idaho Highway Districts, Idaho Power and many more. In the Legislature's temporary quarters at the old Ada County Courthouse, the stairways and landings were crowded, as lobbyists made their last-gasp pitches to wavering lawmakers, including House Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Phil Hart, R-Athol.

"Do you think the back stairway is getting more use today?" quipped Deputy Attorney General Bill von Tagen.

Idaho Power lobbyist Jeff Malmen, a former chief of staff to Otter, led one of the Legislature's most respected members, Rep. Dell Raybould, R-Rexburg, into the private office of Majority Leader Mike Moyle.

Raybould reached his seat in the House just moments before the House convened at 10:30 a.m., sitting down and puffing out his cheeks. He then conferred with two other senior GOP lawmakers, Reps. Darrell Bolz of Caldwell and Bert Stevenson of Rupert.

Before the debate could begin, Moyle asked that an error-ridden House Bill 247 be returned to committee. That was Otter's registration fee hike, which was replaced by a new bill introduced Thursday morning in the Ways and Means Committee.

Then, at 10:50 a.m., House Assistant GOP Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, began the debate on HB 246, which hikes the fuel tax by 7 cents over three years to raise more than $60 million.

Bedke started by saying he went to an Asian restaurant Wednesday night for guidance. His fortune: "Give time and thought to all you do."