The House State Affairs Committee voted 14-5 to hold a bill that would end a practice that allows lawmakers to spike their public pensions by taking high-paying jobs after service in the Idaho Statehouse.

The bill, brought by Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, will come forward again in the committee in the next week or two.

The crux of the debate rested on whether or not legislators are full- or part-time employees. Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, told members of the committee he would be "offended" if he is regarded as a part-time worker while serving in the Legislature. He believes that paring down pensions would mean fewer people would be willing to serve in Boise for three months each year.

"This is going to lead down a road where the retired and wealthy can serve in the Legislature and the rest can't," said Anderson. / Dustin Hurst, IdahoReporter

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