Yesterday, House Appropriations Chairwoman Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, carried one of the major chunks of the public school budget in the House that had been scheduled to be presented by Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls; Bell commented to the House, “Someone’s off with Mitt Romney and I’m here with you.” Romney was in Idaho Falls yesterday stumping for Congressman Mike Simpson and Gov. Butch Otter; he’ll do the same in Boise this afternoon.

Thompson, who’s back today, said, “She knew where I was at.” He said, “I had a couple of appointments in Idaho Falls I had to make, so I went home Tuesday night. It just happened to coincide with when the governor was here, so I was able to participate.” Of the school budget bills, he said, “When I left, they weren’t scheduled. … My view was that we would’ve done public schools this morning.” He noted that he’s carrying five budget bills in the House today.

Thompson said he had two personal appointments in Idaho Falls, and while he was there, was able to do radio and TV interviews too, along with attending the Romney event at Frank VanderSloot’s ranch, which he said drew a crowd of more than 300 people. “It went great,” Thompson said. “He endorsed me.”