Yesterday, there were two super-close, 18-17 votes in the Senate, the first on SB 1108, to encourage the testing of driverless cars on Idaho highways, and the second on HB 75, to remove the sales tax from prescription glasses and contact lenses. Both bills passed. The Senate’s newest member, Sen. Maryanne Jordan, D-Boise, voted against the first and in favor of the second.

After the first 18-17 vote, Lt. Gov. Brad Little, with a grin, said, “Welcome to the Senate, Sen. Jordan.” The reason? Before she arrived on Monday, her seat – formerly held by Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, now a state tax commissioner – had been vacant for nearly three weeks, leaving the Senate with 34 members instead of 35. That means without Jordan’s vote, both those bills could have resulted in 17-17 ties in the Senate. And the person who breaks the ties? Little.