District Loses Power in Two Key Committees

Senator Russ Fulcher has won a vote in a secret Republican ballot to become the caucus chair, replacing Senator Brad Little of Emmett, who has been appointed lieutenant governor. 

However, in gaining that position, Fulcher gave up his seat on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee -- where, with Representative Cliff Bayer, he had helped to craft a compromise bill to reduce the tax on food in Idaho -- as well as his vice-chairmanship on the Education committee. 

Now, Fulcher -- a commercial real estate developer -- is just a member of the Education committee, and was also named a member of the State Affairs committee. Issues the State Affairs committee worked on in the 2008 legislative session included closing the Republican primary to independents, the business of the Idaho Lottery and Idaho Racing Commission, and liquor licenses. Bayer is now one of only three Treasure Valley representatives on JFAC.

In addition, because Little was known as a moderate voice in the Senate, there is some concern that Fulcher will take the Senate in a more conservative direction, both financially and socially. Conservative gadfly Bryan Fischer called Fulcher, compared to Little, "a significant trade-up for the conservative movement in Idaho, and gives conservatives another reliable, principled vote." 

Fischer is promoting legislation this year that would make it more difficult for a couple with children to get divorced, even in a situation with physical or substance abuse. He did not say whether he expected Fulcher to support this legislation.