Sen. Dean Cameron showed up 25 minutes late today for the beginning of "Education Week," when the budget committee hears pitches for funding university, junior college and K-12 education.

When Cameron took his seat on the dais at 8:25 a.m., Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, had the gavel and gave her co-chair an opportunity to explain himself. Cameron is typically in the Capitol by 7 a.m., and rarely late for the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that writes Idaho's budget.

The Rupert Republican explained that his daughter had a baby boy late Sunday, a day after the senator's 52nd birthday.

"We're running on fumes, but we're doing OK," said the proud grandpa.