For those constituents who think government isn’t listening to the people, Rep. Rich Jarvis, R-Meridian, might prove otherwise.  Jarvis is sponsoring House Bill 389, which would make the Idaho Giant Salamander(dicmaptodon aterrimus) the official state amphibian.  The reason behind the move?  Some fourth and fifth grade classes from Boise asked him to do it. Classes from the Christian Calvary School in Boise appealed to several legislators asking for the designation.  Jarvis  agreed to sponsor the bill.  The bill has been introduced into the House and will be heard before the House Ways and Means Committee, which makes Jarvis believe the death of the legislation is imminent. “They look at it as a frivolous bill,” said Jarvis “Unless there’s some up swell of activity…there has to be that kind of activity for the House to take time and do that”/Dustin Hurst, Idaho Reporter. More here.

Question: Do you consider frivolous a bill to name as state amphibian the Idaho Giant Salamander? Did you know there was such a thing as the Idaho Giant Salamander?