Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's dramatic vote in favor of HB 111, the tribal policing bill, after a six-hour hearing that stretched long into the evening. More than two dozen people testified at the hearing that stretched from 1:30…
The tribal policing bill hearing, which just ended a few minutes ago, lasted for a whopping six hours, running from 1:30 in the afternoon until 7:30 at night. Meanwhile, the school reform hearing today went into the evening as well, running from 3 p.m. until…
The House Judiciary Committee has voted 8-6 to send the tribal policing bill to the full House with a recommendation that it "do pass." Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene, voted with the majority in favor. "It was a safety issue," she said. "Kootenai County has…
The police chief from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes testified that his tribe is neutral on the Coeur d'Alenes' tribal policing bill; it wouldn't apply in their situation, he told the House Judiciary Committee. Phil Lampert, a lifelong Benewah County resident, testified against the bill, saying, "This…
The House Judiciary Committee is taking a 10-minute break; it's been meeting since 1:30 on the tribal policing bill. "The hour is late, and we do still have four people signed up to testify," as well as the concluding statements, said Chairman Rich Wills, R-Glenns…
Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, testified against the tribal policing bill. "There's no accountability," he told the House Judiciary Committee. "You don't have an elected official that's going to be over this. It diminishes the state law, and what it does is it violates your…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — Officials with the Sun Valley Resort in central Idaho say a male skier has died after colliding with a tree. Resort spokesman Jack Sibbach tells the Idaho Mountain Express that the ski patrol…
Today is really seeing an amazing outpouring of citizen input to Idaho's Legislature. This morning, more than 200 people flocked to a public hearing on health care nullification; after nearly four hours of testimony, that hearing was continued to tomorrow morning. This afternoon, hundreds have…
Mike Kane, lobbyist for the Idaho Sheriffs Association, has proposed two amendments to the tribal policing bill. One would place everything under the purview of the local sheriff and prosecutor. The other would revoke POST certification of any tribal officer who cited a non-tribal member…
Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz testified against the tribal policing bill, saying, "We currently enjoy a very good working relationship with the Nez Perce Tribe and the Nez Perce Tribal Police." He said, however, that some in his county have contacted him to oppose the…
Chief Allan, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, told the House Judiciary Committee that respect for the law is what the tribe wants to promote. In reference to earlier comments from Benewah County Prosecutor Doug Payne that crimes like arson and burglary are just civil…
Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson told the House Judiciary Committee, "We have a good working relationship with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. It's been going on for 10 years now." Tribal officers go through the same training his his deputies, Watson said. They also now coordinate…
Doug Payne, Benewah County prosector, told the House Judiciary Committee that in his view, his county didn't renege on the deal with the tribe last spring after the Legislature ended. "That was not what occurred in this case," he said. "I thought the deal was…
Lakeland School District business manager Tom Taggart was first off to testify to the Senate Education Committee at its school reform hearing this afternoon, which is again packed and filling overflow rooms. Taggart, speaking on behalf of the Idaho Association of School Business Officials, said…
Benewah County Sheriff Robert Kirts just told the House Judiciary Committee, "The bottom line of this issue is Idaho citizens' rights. Are you willing to sign away these rights guaranteed by the state Constitution?" He expressed concerns about existing tribal laws, and said county officers…
Bill Roden, lobbyist for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, is detailing the differences between the current tribal policing bill, HB 111, and the earlier version from this session, HB 33. There are a couple of changes suggested by the Idaho Sheriff's Association and a few clarifying…
Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, asked what the down side would be to making federal marshals out of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's law enforcement officers on its reservation. "We already send our officers to the Idaho POST academy," tribal legislative director Helo Hancock responded. He…
"What we are trying to address today is a problem with law enforcement and crime on Indian reservations," Helo Hancock, legislative director for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, told the House Judiciary Committee as the hearing on the tribal policing legislation opens. "The complications that exist…
Click below to read a full article on today's nullification bill hearing from AP reporter John Miller. He reports that more than 200 people crowded into the Idaho Capitol today for a hearing on a bill to void President Obama's health care overhaul, an effort…
A large crowd already is gathering for the 3 p.m. Senate Education Committee hearing that will continue testimony on the Luna school reform plan; it will take place again in the Capitol Auditorium. Meanwhile, there's a packed room for the House Judiciary Committee meeting today,…
The Senate paused today to remember and honor Susan Bennion, a longtime key legislative staffer who was employed by the legislative branch from 1968 to 2005. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said Bennion, a noted redistricting expert, was "one of those people, those…
The House State Affairs Committee has concluded its hearing, after nearly four hours. Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, thanked the committee members "for your hard work today" and the members of the public who came to testify. The committee has now adjourned until tomorrow at…
HB 102, the IRS conformity bill, has passed the Senate on a unanimous, 35-0 vote. The measure, which earlier passed the House on a unanimous 65-0 vote, now heads to the governor's desk. It would cost the state's coffers $20 million over two years, rather…
Testimony is still going in the House State Affairs Committee, even though the House was scheduled to go on the floor half an hour ago; it's now convened without the committee members. "We don't have an awful lot of time left that we can do…
U.S. Sen. Jim Risch addressed the Idaho Senate this morning, and he had a grim message about federal deficit spending. "Everyone in Washington agrees that this can't go on," Risch told the Senate. "I'd like to be able to stand here and tell you that…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
