BOISE - State Sen. Tom Gannon, R-Buhl, who has been sick the entire 2008 Idaho Legislature, on Monday appointed his wife, Jeanne, to finish the remainder of the session.

Gannon, a prostate cancer survivor, has been battling stomach-related problems. He has said they are unrelated to the cancer and that he is improving daily, but the past weekend was difficult.

Gannon, 62, the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee Chairman and now serving his third term, has filed for re-election in the upcoming primary. He said his plans have not changed, but will have surgery in mid-April to fix a blocked bile duct.

The Gannons, who have been married for almost 40 years, own a condominium in the Boise area. Jeanne Gannon gave group tours of the Capitol before it closed a year for remodeling, and said she is familiar with the topics debated.

"She stays up on all the issues," said Tom Gannon when reached at home. "She's kind of like my sounding board."

GOP leadership teams hope to end the session Friday.

Gannon is among a handful of lawmakers with ongoing health concerns. Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, had brain surgery and is undergoing chemotherapy. Stennett temporarily stepped down from his position, but has since served.

Jeanne Gannon said she was a little nervous about the position, but was beginning to get a hang of the process.

"I talked with Tom. I know where he stands on a lot of things," she said.

During Monday's morning floor session, Jeanne Gannon talked via telephone with her husband, who watched debates from home on television. She also spoke, both on and off the floor, with other legislators, including Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls.

"I'm willing to be supportive and helpful in any way possible," Coiner said.

Among her votes Monday, Gannon opposed - one of seven lawmakers to do so - a measure to give county commissioners authority to approve property tax exemptions for five years to companies that spend up to $3 million in manufacturing plants.