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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Lawmakers: Concerns about respect, limits, a ‘Woodstock on our front lawn’

Members of the House State Affairs Committee debate legislation Tuesday to evict the Occupy Boise encampment from state property. (Betsy Russell)
Members of the House State Affairs Committee debate legislation Tuesday to evict the Occupy Boise encampment from state property. (Betsy Russell)

Rep. Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, said, “I'm just happy that we had a chance and an opportunity to hear from the public, because that's really what this movement is really all about. We may not agree on everything, but … I'm glad that they had an opportunity to express their concerns.”

Rep. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise, said, “I have heard your voices. … We have work to do, and we thank you for being so powerful to step up and talk about that work. … The goal for me is to ensure that the legislation that goes forward is respectful. … We are neighbors, we're friends, we're colleagues, some of us are family, and so we do want to move forward in a very respectful way.”

Rep. Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello, said her motion was a compromise, offering to amend the bill simply by removing the emergency clause. Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, offered an amended substitute motion to defer the bill and allow a subcommittee to work on changes.

Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, said without the emergency clause, “In essence we would be announcing free camping on the capitol mall until July 1st. … I fear that we're going to end up with a sort of Woodstock on our front lawn,” as other groups join in on other issues. “Waiting 'til July 1st just sets a dangerous precedent.”



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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