Dan Popkey reports House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, says the challenge to the Legislature’s budget committee is more about process than a disagreement that could stall budget writing and delay adjournment.

On Tuesday, with House GOP leadership’s backing, Rep. Steve Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, introduced House Concurrent Resolution 41, which calls for no raises for state employees. Gov. Butch Otter recommended a one-time 3 percent bonus. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee agreed on a 2 percent raise, an assumption it adopted as it began passing agency budget bills this week.

Denney said he wants a hearing in the committee with jurisdiction over state employee compensation, Commerce and Human Resources.

“We thought it was appropriate to have the discussion in the germane committee, rather than have it go strictly through the joint committee,” Denney said. “I suspect we come to the same conclusion, but it should be a policy-driven decision rather than a budget decision.”