A proposed constitutional amendment introduced by House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher yesterday would enshrine the current rules-review process by state lawmakers in the Constitution, allowing the Legislature to review and accept or reject administrative rules written by state agencies. Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey reports that the move is something of a flexing of the muscles by the legislative branch to preserve its rule-reviewing power against the executive branch, but Gov. Butch Otter supports the amendment; Popkey’s full report is online here. “We have zealously guarded our authority,” Loertscher, R-Iona, told Popkey. “And other states are jealous of our process.”

To amend the Idaho Constitution, each house of the Legislature must approve the measure by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of voters must support the change at the next general election.