Idaho Lawmakers Back to Day Jobs

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's part-time lawmakers are headed back to their day jobs after wrapping up a rare one-day special legislative session on Monday.

The 105 members of the Legislature typically meet in Boise for a few months starting in January to set the state's budget and pass laws, but their regular careers range from bacterial medical research to directing opera productions.

Rep. Heather Scott works as an aquatic biologist. Rep. Paul Romrell is a retired coroner. Rep. Richard Wills manages his own opera house. Almost one in four Idaho lawmakers are retired — double the national average of 12 percent, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Gem State boasts almost one-fifth of its lawmakers in agricultural jobs, compared to only 5 percent of state lawmakers nationally.