Area legislators secure committee assignments

SANDPOINT — With a new legislative session looming, local legislators have secured committee assignments to build Idaho law from the ground up.

As a senior senator, Sen. Shawn Keough retained her position on the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee and vice chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee. She also returns to the Senate Transportation Committee and Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee while joining the Senate Education Committee.

Meanwhile, newly-elected representatives Sage Dixon and Heather Scott will begin the legislative session digging into their committee assignments. Scott is appointed to the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee and the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. Dixon joins the House Business Committee, the House Education Committee and the House Transportation and Defense Committee.

According to Keough, she sees her committee assignments as an excellent chance to represent Bonner and Boundary counties’ interests in some key areas.

“I’m very pleased about my assignments,” she said. “They reflect the issues and priorities I’ve been hearing from the people back home.”

The Senate Finance Committee and Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee are both prominent players in shaping the state’s budgetary decisions and priorities.

The assignments should be important for big local issues like the management of Lake Pend Oreille’s lake level. Keough said the Legislature is considering a proposal to increase funding for the Idaho Lakes Commission to better protect local business and recreation interests. Entwined in the proposal is an study that will better determine the economic impact of a shortened summer lake pool season for communities along the lake.

Continuing Idaho’s economic rebound is another major priority, one Keough hopes to advance as co-chair of the Economic Outlook and Assessment Committee. Compared to the rest of the state, Bonner and Boundary counties have lagged in economic growth, and Keough said she’ll be investigating ways to improve local economies and attract businesses into the area.

Keough returns to the Senate Education Committee she served on during her first two terms, and she rejoins at a critical time for Idaho schools. With recommendations from Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s task force on the table, it will be the legislature’s job to investigate the best way to implement an education improvement plan, which may include increased funding for local schools. She also hopes to support the expansion of higher education and trade schools throughout the region, following up on the progress made by North Idaho College in Bonner and Boundary counties.   

“I’m humbled by the support of the voters and our communities in the farthest north of our state for the honor and responsibility,” Keough said.

Dixon and Scott did not return requests for comment by press time.