BOISE -- The Idaho Senate, known for its adherence to decorum, killed a bill -- and then cordially wished its sponsor `Happy Birthday.'
Republican Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll of Grangeville was pushing a plan to recognize volunteer emergency medical service providers with their own specialty Idaho license plate.
Nuxoll thought the bill would increase first-responders' presence in the community, give them better access to emergency scenes -- and potentially help recruit new volunteers, whose numbers are falling.
But senators have grown stingy about creating more of these specialty plates.
Sen. John Goedde of Coeur d'Alene was frank: "There are too many."
So the chamber voted 20-15 to reject Nuxoll's plan.
Minutes later, leaders pointed out Nuxoll was born on this date in 1951 -- and encouraged senators to wish her a "Happy Birthday."
