The House will not hear today HB 135 -- a 2-cent per gallon fuel tax hike which would generate about $18 million per year for state and local road repair and maintenance. The bill was just moved to Thursday's agenda.

Gov. Butch Otter's 7-cent proposal failed in the House 43-27 on March 19.

On March 31 the House voted down 5-cent and 4-cent amendments to HB 135.

The bill's sponsor, Transportation Committee Chairwoman JoAnn Wood, R-Rigby, said last week she was not optimistic the House would pass her bill.

Senate President Pro Tem Bob Geddes attempted a joke about the molasses-pace of the Legislature that got as many chuckles as groans.

"In a few days, or maybe in a few weeks, or perhaps in a couple of months, we'll adjourn this session," Geddes said during floor debate Thursday morning. Interrupted by the mixed reaction, Geddes said, "Well, I don't know!"

Democrats say it wasn’t a policy change, but they held their first closed-door party caucus in several years Tuesday amid the debate on raising fuel taxes.

With majority Republicans under fire for closed caucus meetings several years ago, Democrats decided to open their meetings. Typically, party caucuses are announced on the floor and Democrats in both the House and Senate welcome the public and reporters to attend. GOP meetings in both houses remain closed.

12:08 p.m. Killen’s proposed amendment fails. Of the eight amendments only one passed.

12:01 p.m. Final amendment. Rep. Bill Killen, D-Boise, calls for an economic trigger clause. The fuel tax increase would be deferred until the economy improves.

12:00 p.m. Hagedorn’s proposed amendment to raise the fuel tax 4 cents a gallon over two years fails.

Wood’s bill remains as proposed at 2 cents.

11:48 a.m.: Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, calls for a 4-cent increase spread out over two years.

That was one of the scenarios that were raised during the House debate on House Bill 216, a pharmacists’ conscience bill.

The bill, which passed 48-21, would allow pharmacists to refuse to provide any care or drug that violates his or her conscience.

Democrats who spoke in opposition talked about a variety of instances where pharmacists could, in theory, refuse to dispense drugs.

Rep. Anne Pasley-Stuart, D-Boise, mentioned end-of-life drugs to ease suffering, fertility drugs, depression drugs, insulin and, yes, Viagra.

One of great storytellers of Idaho politics is honored in a new measure introduced in the Senate on Monday.

M. Allyn Dingel, a Boise lawyer whose career in Idaho public life dates to the early 1960s when he was a deputy attorney general, is saluted for his contribution to the legislative process, his charitable work and his distinguished legal career.

The question around the Capitol Annex is when will the 2009 Legislative session end?

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner encapsulated the feeling among Senate leadership Friday afternoon.

"Transportation is the going-home bill this session," Stegner told reporters. "That's become the perpetual issue that's tough to resolve until the end of the session."

Transportation was one of the last issue to be debated last session, which ended without a transportation funding bill.

Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, was the object of ire and adoration the last few days as he brought forward successful bills to cut spending on school transportation and teacher retirement.

Friday he rose to introduce another bill on schools.

"This is the last time you'll hear from me this week," Nonini quipped, getting a few laughs from lawmakers.

"I actually thought there would be more applause," Nonini said. "Maybe I should bring a few more bills forward."

That prompted Minority Leader John Rusche to stand and say "Mr. Speaker, I object."

Rep. Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, dusted off a silly crow figurine and presented it to Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston.

“The crow has finally flown,” Roberts said just before the House adjourned from the Thursday afternoon session. “It’s been in my office for two years.”

House legislators get the crow for getting badly beaten on a floor vote with less than 20 votes.

Rusche took the crow and proceeded with a tongue-in-cheek speech accepting his trophy.

The Democrats are trying — again — to derail a House education bill.

Wednesday, the Democrats tried several legislative tactics including making the clerk read the entire bill to stop House Bill 256, which changed the transportation funding reimbursement for schools and eliminate reimbursement for field trips.

Thursday, the Democrats were trying their best to delay House Bill 262, which would eliminate early retirement bonuses for teachers and halt teachers’ movement on the payment schedule for one year.