The Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee late last week sought to clarify by letter its intent regarding funding for the adult cystic fibrosis program.

To Idaho Department of Health and Welfare director Dick Armstrong, the letter said the committee supports continuation of that program for fiscal year 2011, if possible within the base budget.

The adult cystic fibrosis line item was not included in the budget motion that passed for the public health services division of Armstrong's agency.

"In building a target statewide budget that met the fiscal year 2011 revenue forecast adopted by the legislative Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee, we tried to preserve state government while understanding the system would operate at a reduced level due to across-the-board reductions," the letter said. "Line items were not funded because it would require making additional cuts in the same agency's budget."

The letter said the fiscal approach the committee adopted was to support leaving discretion to agency directors to prioritize funded items within their base program budgets.

State Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, who is on the committee, said legislators want Armstrong to use his discretion with funding for his agency, taking care of the most urgent needs.

"We didn't feel qualified to make the evaluations," he said.