GOP Gov. Butch Otter's "Hire One Act," providing a tax credit for new hires, has cleared the House on a 60-9 vote. Oddly, opposition to the bill came mainly from House Republicans, while minority Democrats argued in favor of the bill, HB 297. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, responding to opponents who suggested the bill smelled, told the House, "It's the fertilizer to grow jobs in the state of Idaho." The bill now moves to the Senate.

House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said the bill is similar to one he co-sponsored with Moyle last year, which passed the House but died in a Senate committee. "It's nice to be ranting and be political - every now and then you have to do something that actually helps," he said.