BOISE (AP) - An eastern Idaho lawmaker who spent more than $15,000 on travel at taxpayer expense last year has been asked to rein in future requests.

The Post Register reported in a story on Thursday that Idaho Speaker of the House Scott Bedke asked Republican Rep. Jeff Thompson of Idaho Falls to limit his travel reimbursement requests.

"I sat down with Rep. Thompson, and I've asked him to prioritize his travel," said Bedke, a Republican. "I am certainly supportive of him ... representing Idaho in these national organizations, but I think that he and I agree that he should concentrate his travel with these organizations where he has a leadership role."

Thompson said he's aware of the costs to taxpayers but he's trying to improve as a lawmaker by attending conferences to make sure eastern Idaho is well represented.

"I've expressed that I'm interested in growing myself in this legislative seat," he said. "What I mean by that, and how I look at that, is the more educated on the issues and the more I can go out and meet other legislators throughout the Northwest and other parts of the country, the more value I can bring to my constituents."

Thompson last year attended two national conferences for the American Legislative Exchange Council. That's a nonprofit think tank focused on free-market, limited government and division of powers between the federal and state governments.

Thompson also requested reimbursement for trips for council meetings of the Council of State Governments-West, where he's a vice chairman.

The Post Register obtained the information through a public records request for salary and travel reimbursement in the last year for eastern Idaho lawmakers in the House and Senate. The newspaper also asked for that information concerning Bedke, from Oakley, as a way to compare his expenses in his leadership role.

Thompson made 11 travel reimbursement requests from January to October 2013 that added up to $15,285.31. Besides four trips to conferences outside the state, that amount also included his travel expenses to and from Boise.

Bedke requested travel reimbursement for 25 trips totaling $6,492.48.