JFAC has voted 14-6 to adopt the revenue figure for the coming year recommended by both Gov. Butch Otter and the joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee. It’s not a target budget, just an acceptance of the revenue forecast. Prior to the vote, two other motions failed, both to set the revenues at lower amounts. Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, proposed adopting the median figure from individual EORAC members’ estimates, $2.9377 billion; his motion failed on a 7-13 vote. Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, proposed an even lower figure of $2.89803 billion; his motion failed on a 5-15 vote.

Those voting in favor of Johnson’s motion were Reps. Thyra Stevenson and Sens. Cliff Bayer, Steve Vick and Sheryl Nuxoll. Those voting in favor of Mortimer’s motion were Vick, Nuxoll, Johnson, Bayer, Stevenson, and Sen. Steven Thayn.

In the 14-6 vote to adopt the successful motion, made by JFAC Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, the “no” votes came from Mortimer, Vick, Nuxoll, Bayer, Thayn and Stevenson.