SANDPOINT — Local legislators will be balancing statewide concerns with constituent issues as they move into the beginning of the legislative session.

Sen. Shawn Keough and Rep. George Eskridge rejoined their colleagues Monday to hear Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s vision for the state. It was also an opportunity to take measure of the coming legislative work.

For Keough, she was pleased to hear Otter promote the scaling of educational funding over the next several years.

Encouraging Idaho youth to think of education as a path from schooling to a career and investing them with the skills to accomplish that are excellent goals to set for the state government, she said. She was also pleased with the reports of job growth in the past few months.

“The efforts of the governor and lieutenant governor to grow the economy appear to be paying off,” Keough said.

Likewise, Eskridge was happy with the overall tone Otter set. Increased education will be a big expense, he said, so taking it in stages as proposed will ensure a gradual scaling in state spending.

“I think this was a pretty positive but conservative message that we heard today,” Eskridge said.

He added that Otter’s support for Common Core State Standards was particularly refreshing and a much-needed affirmation. Contrary to some Republicans who have voiced opposition to the standards, Eskridge believes it’s exactly what Idaho students need to prepare them for the challenges of the professional world.

“I remain disappointed that some of us don’t see a need to raise expectations for our kids,” he said.

Both Keough and Eskridge will be digging more deeply into Otter’s budget request in their work with the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. A process that usually takes between three and four hours a day, they will parse each department carefully and consider each budget request in turn.

Eskridge said that Medicaid expansion will also be a hot topic this year. However, he added that they have more time to consider what Idaho needs from the service and will likely take their time on the matter.

In light of the recent, tragic deaths of Kayle Porter and Kaitlin Brosh at railroad crossings, local legislators plan to work with railroad companies and Idaho Transportation Department to explore safety improvements. Keough also aims to examine a boating law deemed “unconstitutionally” vague by a court, which led to charges of criminal negligence being dropped against a boater in February. Finally, Keough hopes to find a way to maximize value from state-owned lands in the Priest Lake area, which serve as an endowment for education and are being leased out.