The Senate has welcomed it's newest member, Sen. Jim Rice, R-Caldwell, this morning with applause. Rice was appointed by Gov. Butch Otter late yesterday to complete the term of former Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, who resigned last week amid allegations of sexual harassment of a female Senate staffer; Rice has also announced he plans to run for the seat in the upcoming election.

Rice has been assigned to the Transportation and Local Government & Taxation committees. McGee's other former committee assignment, State Affairs, went today to longtime Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo. That panel includes the Senate's top leaders from both parties; McGee was majority caucus chairman, but the new majority caucus chair, Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, already serves on State Affairs as its vice chairman.