Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little cast the tie-breaking vote this evening after the Senate deadlocked 17-17 on SB 1264, legislation that sought to add new licensing requirements for durable medical equipment dealers, under the state Board of Pharmacy. It was stretching toward 6 p.m. when the debate unexpectedly really got going on the measure, which opponents charged would limit free-market competition, by requiring, among other items, that the dealer have a location staffed during reasonable business hours and have sufficient inventory and staff to service or repair products.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, and Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls.

When the vote was announced as a 17-17 tie, Little didn’t hesitate – he immediately voted no, killing the bill. “Nobody talked to me about that bill – I just listened to the debate,” he said afterward. Little said he typically is called on to break one or two ties a year in the Senate; this was the first this year. “I’ve been contacted about bills that they thought would be close, that they thought were going to be a tie, but this darn sure wasn’t one of ‘em,” Little said.

Not long after the tie-breaking, the Senate called it a night. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said, “There’s nothing quite like seeing our good lieutenant governor squirm,” but said, “We’re going to put a bookmark in it right here.” Unexpectedly plentiful debate on an array of bills meant the Senate didn’t get through as many on its calendar as it had anticipated this evening.