Wayne Hammon, Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief, is presenting the governor's proposal to JFAC this morning, but JFAC Co-Chair Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, noted that Hammon's wife is expecting a baby at any time, their second; with that warning, lawmakers will know why if he abruptly exits.

Among the details emerging so far from his presentation: The $2 million for new university research initiatives under IGEM would be distributed through the Higher Education Research Council, or HERC. Hammon said the details of IGEM are being laid out in legislation that's being "worked on right now by the research vice presidents at the state universities." He said the administration hopes to have a bill ready for lawmakers "in the very near future."

In addition to IGEM, the governor's budget includes $750,000 to restore existing grant programs that have been cut at the state Department of Commerce; that's not enough to bring them all back, but Hammon said it's a start. Otter's budget identifies three items toward his priority of creating jobs and advancing economic development: IGEM, the Commerce grants restoration, and $45 million in unspecified tax cuts.