How they voted
In today's 28-42 defeat of SB 1148, Gov. Butch Otter's liquor license bill, there was plenty of opposition from eastern Idaho, but perhaps more surprising was the level of opposition from North Idaho. Of the 12 representatives from the six northernmost districts, just four voted in favor, including the bill's House sponsor, Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake. The other three yes votes came from Reps. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake; Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow; and George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene.
Clark said he thought opposition from North Idaho newspaper and resort magnate Duane Hagadone helped turn some northern lawmakers against the bill. Hagadone, owner of the Coeur d'Alene Resort, holds several liquor licenses and is among the largest buyers of liquor in the state for his hospitality businesses. "I think that would have huge pressure on the local guys," Clark said. "I think that could've been a major factor." However, he said, "It didn't stop me - I still sponsored the bill. I believed in the bill. I thought it was the right step." Clark said Hagadone called him at home on Saturday afternoon. "He said, 'We've been good friends for a long time,' " Clark recalled. "I said, 'Yes sir.' " Clark said Hagadone told him he opposed the bill, saying, "It'll hurt me, Jim," and recounting how the last liquor license he bought cost him $125,000. "I said, 'Well, sometimes I'm with you, sometimes I'm not,' " Clark said.
Here's how the House voted on the bill:
Voting in favor: Reps. Anderson, Bell, Black, Bolz, Boyle, Chavez, Clark, Cronin, Durst, Gibbs, Hagedorn, Higgins, Jaquet, Killen, King, Kren, Lake, Pasley-Stuart, Pence, Ringo, Roberts, Rusche, Sayler, Smith(24), Stevenson, Takasugi, Wills and Denney.
Voting against: Reps. Andrus, Barrett, Bayer, Bedke, Bilbao, Block, Boe, Burgoyne, Chadderdon, Chew, Collins, Crane, Eskridge, Hart, Hartgen, Harwood, Henderson, Jarvis, Labrador, Loertscher, Luker, Marriott, Mathews, McGeachin, Moyle, Nielsen, Nonini, Palmer, Patrick, Raybould, Ruchti, Schaefer, Shepherd(02), Shepherd(08), Shirley, Simpson, Smith(30), Thayn, Thompson, Trail, Wood(27), Wood(35).
