House backs $200K for outside counsel

BOISE (AP) — House lawmakers voted 53-16 to create the Legislative Legal Defense Fund, a $200,000 account to hire outside legal counsel.

For most Republicans, this money would simply give legislators a new resource, should Idaho's attorney general have a conflict of interest on a matter before the Legislature.

For Democrats, the account would be a slush fund for majority leaders to shop for a favorable legal opinion on politically charged issues.

After Monday's largely party-line vote, the measure goes to the Senate.

House Minority Leader John Rusche fears majority lawmakers are eager to use the money to hire outside help when they get an opinion from the attorney general contrary to their own.

But Rep. Maxine Bell of Jerome said there was no hidden agenda to use the money for political purposes.