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Boise in March? It's better than Arco in

Posted on: March 19, 2008

My Uncle Ray served in the state Senate from Power County in the 1950s. He told me a story about a poker game that almost kept the Legislature in session for an extra week.

Four lawmakers — including chairmen of two important committees — got together and played poker every Monday evening. One of the chairmen was a more skilled cardplayer than the other, and over the course of the legislative session took the other man’s pocket money home every single time they played.

So the persistent loser demanded they keep playing so he could get even. “Charlie,” he said, “I’ve got that road bill that benefits your county in my committee. It’ll stay there until you quit drawing inside straights.”

Danged if he didn’t win the next time.

The state Constitution decrees that legislators spend the winter in Boise, but in Uncle Ray’s day most of his colleagues were farmers and sessions were shorter. Boise wasn’t so special back then, and a lawmaker could sneak in a quick trip to Harold’s Club in Reno before he had to get back home and rebuild the combine.

But since the Treasure Valley’s retail boom began 20 years ago, more spouses have accompanied lawmakers to Boise. Basically, legislative sessions got longer as the shopping got better.

Plus the fact that Boise is a lot more fun these days than Athol, Arco or Soda Springs. At home, there’s still a foot of snow in the driveway and a livestock lagoon waiting to be drained. In Boise, there’s poker with the guys, beer with the lobbyists and all-you-can-eat-shrimp at the Red Lobster on Saturday nights.

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Boise in March? It’s better than Arco in

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