House gets marriage measure

A proposed constitutional amendment to recognize marriage between a man and woman as the only legal domestic union in Idaho was sent to the House of Representatives on Thursday after more than two hours of public testimony and a 13-4 committee vote.

“It’s been the same for the last two years,” said state Rep. Bob Ring, R-Caldwell, referring to similar proposals in the past two legislative sessions. “Everyone pretty much stakes out their territory and sticks with it.”

Ring was among the two Republicans and two Democrats who voted against the measure but said he was not surprised it passed.

Lobbying inquiry: While maintaining “I do not lobby,” Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s former chief of staff has registered as a lobbyist to head off a formal inquiry into whether he violated state disclosure laws.

Phil Reberger served as Kempthorne’s top aide for 11 years until resigning in 2002 to form Boise-based Sullivan & Reberger, which is billed as a consulting firm for “issues management, campaign, political and legislative strategies.”

Secretary of State Ben Ysursa last month notified Reberger that his office had begun an investigation into whether a Jan. 17 meeting between Reberger, his client Unisys Corp. and Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, qualified as lobbying under Idaho law.

Capitol renovations: State building officials estimate it will cost up to $3.5 million to relocate elected officials, lawmakers and their staffs to temporary digs during the 21/2-year renovation of the Idaho Capitol.

Exactly what the renovation will do – whether new wings or underground tunnels will be built – is still under debate. But lawmakers on the joint committee that allocates state money were told Thursday that crews plan to have the Capitol emptied of people by Sept. 1 so work can begin.