Idaho state Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, was sponsoring her first bill in the House today when the measure, HB 26, failed on a 31-35 vote after an intense debate. "I thought it was a great debate," Perry said afterward, as other lawmakers - many of whom voted against her bill - consoled Perry with handshakes, hugs or compliments. "It certainly was an interesting bill for a first bill," she said.

Perry said she had been hearing through the "rumor mill" that the bill was in trouble, and she thought the debate actually won it more votes. "I think it's going to set a tone, because if you can't pass a bill to help public safety, that's concerning," she said. As for the argument that was offered that cities and counties, rather than offenders, should pay more to help fund law enforcement training, Perry said, "I think that taxpayers are offended by that. I think that people have a general consensus that if you do the crime, you can pay for it."