A group of Republicans and Democrats in the House is finalizing a sweeping immigration bill that offers work permits and the eventual prospect of citizenship to millions of people living illegally in the United States, aides say.

Idaho's two U.S. senators and two representatives are responding to Tuesday's State of the Union address from President Obama.

Labrador spokesman Phil Hardy was apparently responsible. The same tweet appeared on his personal account.

Congressman Raul Labrador talked with a room full of people at a town hall meeting held in Meridian. He fielded questions on several topics, but gun control seemed to be on a lot of people's mind.

A Mormon, the Idaho Republican told The Associated Press at the time that he abstains from alcohol, and he pledged to have a root beer to celebrate if the bill passed.

President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner pushed ahead on negotiating a broad deal to avert the "fiscal cliff," even as the GOP leader readied a backup plan Tuesday to pressure the White House with little time left to avoid a double hit on the economy.

With election just days away, Jimmy Farris is focused on sharpening the choice for voters in Idaho's 1st Congressional District. In a debate last week, Farris tried to paint Republican incumbent Raul Labrador as a favorite of the extreme right wing of the GOP.

Though a farm bill cleared the U.S. Senate, it's languished in the House.

The July 30 meeting of a Senate-House health care task force was added to the Legislature's calendar this week after the 5-4 decision that Obama's reforms were legal.

Members of Congress from timber country came through Friday with a promised one-year extension of federal payments to rural counties dominated by federal lands.