Three more longtime senior employees of the Idaho State Tax Commission have come forward with sworn statements charging that secret tax deals were offered to those with political influence, and now Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, is offering to put her pending lawsuit over the deals on hold in favor of an in-depth investigation of the charges. "I think it should make people realize that we have something very serious we're dealing with," Ringo said today.     She and her attorney, former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Robert Huntley, sent the three new sworn statements to Attorney General Lawrence Wasden yesterday, along with a letter offering to suspend the lawsuit if the state launches an investigation meeting certain requirements, and grants job protection to current Tax Commission employees who testify.

"We have found several people who work within the Tax Commission who would like to speak up, but they're in fear of jeopardizing their employment," Ringo said. Bob Cooper, spokesman for the Attorney General's office, said, "We did receive Mr. Huntley's letter yesterday, and we're reviewing it." You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.