that would put in place a clear procedure for an interim succession if the President Pro Tem dies, resigns, or becomes incapacitated.
             Governor Dirk Kempthorne kicked off the legislative session with the governor's annual budget request, followed shortly thereafter by the State of the State address. Governor Kempthorne began his budget plans with a provision for an increase of $14.3 million over last year's higher education budget. His budget also included $2.5 million for the Idaho Public Broadcasting System to begin the conversion from analog to digital broadcasting; to meet the new federally mandated technological requirements. Governor Kempthorne's most daring budget move was his recommendation to set aside $54 million of Idaho's share of the tobacco lawsuit settlement into a "rainy day fund"- now called the "millennium fund." In his State of the State address he also called for legislation that would ban weapons on school grounds and for the death penalty for cop killers. The Governor voiced his support for exiting standards, plans to share fiscal responsibility of maintaining schools with school districts, an increase in fish and game license fees, added assistance to PERSI members, and for the parental consent law for teen abortions.
             Many of the legislation introduced this session is fueled by recent current events. "Cassie's Law" passed as an extension of the domestic abuse law to include dating relationships.
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