Rumors that prominent Republican Greg Casey will become the establishment candidate for 1st District Congress have been bubbling for weeks. Some Republicans seek an alternative to the two announced candidates against freshman Democrat Walt Minnick, House GOP Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts of McCall and first-time candidate Vaughn Ward of Eagle.

But on Tuesday, Casey channeled Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and said he will not run.

Here's an excerpt of Casey's e-mail to me, written from his office in Washington, D.C.:

The news that Walter Cronkite died tonight at 92 comes just three days before the 40th anniversary of the first moonwalk, so compellingly narrated by the CBS anchor.

In my memory, the moon was full that July 20, 1969, night when Cronkite described Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's steps, saying, "Look at those pictures, wow!"

A renovated track at Lewiston High School has been named for Bruce Sweeney, one of the genuine good guys in Idaho politics. The track also will carry his wife Marilyn's name.

I covered Sweeney for a dozen of the 20 years he served in the Legislature. He was Senate Democratic Leader when the minority party had larger numbers and more influence. Sweeney was the best of the breed: kind, careful, curious, fair, thoughtful and honest.

During the Democrats’ open caucus Tuesday morning, Sen. Diane Bilyeu of Pocatello tried to sum up the cost of the legislative session.

“A schoolteacher a day,” she said, equating the $30,000-per-day cost of running the Legislature to a salary of a teacher.

Today is the 114th day of the Legislative session, which has cost the state $3.43 million so far. It is the second longest session in state history.

Brian Murphy
bmurphy@idahostatesman.com

Five days after adjourning “sine die,” the Idaho House was back to work Monday afternoon.

The House, which was called back because the Senate failed to concur with its “sine die” motion within three days, is working through several Senate budget bills.

This is the third time the House is considering eight of the budget bills. Gov. Butch Otter vetoed the bills the fist time.

Boise Democratic Rep. Grant Burgoyne is complaining that House GOP leaders are disrespecting President Obama and playing partisan politics with non-binding measures passed to send a message on a wide variety of topics.

Burgoyne and the three House Democratic leaders asked the Republican majority to print a resolution commending all involved in the rescue of the Maersk-Alabama, including Capt. Richard Phillips and his crew, the Navy SEALs who killed three pirates, and Obama, who authorized the use of lethal force.

Idaho Treasurer Ron Crane was in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, where he signed a pledge to "oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

Crane's "No Climate Tax Pledge" was applauded in a press release by Americans for Prosperity, which calls itself a "free-market grassroots group." AFP described Crane a candidate for the GOP nomination in Idaho's 1st District for the seat held by Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick.

Crane confirmed signing the pledge, but amended AFP's characterization of him as a candidate.

2:03 p.m. — The Idaho House continued what is expected to be a marathon session around 1:45 p.m., taking up education appropriation bills.

House Republican leaders said they could meet until 10 p.m. or later tonight as they attempt to complete their work today and adjourn.

The first education bill — House Bill 323, an appropriation for the administrative division — passed the House 44-24.

Reps. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, and Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, spoke against the measure.

Senate Democrats, during their open caucus meeting Tuesday, blasted the current stalemate between Gov. Butch Otter and House Republican leaders over transportation funding.

“Does anyone remember a paralysis of Idaho government like this?” Sen. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello, asked.

Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, compared it to the 2003 session, which is the longest in state history at 118 days. This session, the second longest, is now 107 days long.

Choking back tears, Sen. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello, announced the death of Allyn Dingel, a Boise lawyer, lobbyist and volunteer who was honored this year in a concurrent resolution by the Legislature.

Dingel died Thursday night at home. He had lung cancer. Sen. Bilyeu's daughter is married to Dingel's son.

"On behalf of the Dingel family, I thank you all very much," Bilyeu told her colleagues.