POST FALLS - Frank Henderson is stepping down from the Legislature's budget panel to pursue economic development legislation.

The Republican representative from Post Falls has been part of the powerful 20-member Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee for the past five years.

"I resigned from it so I can be a legislator," Henderson said. "When you're on JFAC you don't have any time to author legislation and I want to work on economic development and create jobs for the private sector.

"I want to help smaller employers become prosperous again so they can hire people to make this economy recover. I couldn't do that if I stayed on JFAC."

Legislative leaders are expected to name a replacement for Henderson on the panel in December.

Henderson, who at 87 is the state's oldest legislator, is known as a lawmaker who sought to be a peacemaker on the often-disputed Idaho Transportation Department budget.

He often found himself in the middle of debate over the "Connecting Idaho" road building plan, whose debt provisions ran afoul of conservatives.

On JFAC, Henderson also made recommendations on appropriations for other budgets, including the Office on Aging, military, Idaho State Police and professional-technical education for community colleges.

"It helped me have a comprehensive understanding of how the state is funded and where the priorities are for various programs," Henderson said. "But, on JFAC, there wasn't anything I could do to help the economy recover. That's why I resigned."

Henderson said he doesn't have any specific economic development bills in mind, but has conceptual ideas.

Henderson has no 2010 general election opponent.

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, who has sat on JFAC for the past four years, said Henderson will be missed on the panel.

"He's a very analytical thinking, and he's a strong businessman," Hammond said.

Hammond said he too is thinking about getting off JFAC to pursue other legislative opportunities.

"The problem with JFAC is that it consumes so much of your time that you have less and less opportunity to advocate for your own constituency," Hammond said. "Serving on JFAC is like serving on three committees. It's a very challenging assignment."

Hammond said Henderson will likely get pressured by his leadership to stay on JFAC.

"I'm getting that as well," Hammond said.

Hammond said Henderson and other legislators can lobby so that North Idaho retains a voice on JFAC after Henderson leaves.

"Certainly Frank and others can work to make that happen and we're hoping that will be so," Hammond said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.