The instant racing hearing has wrapped up after 14 people testified today, two for, 11 against, and the final person, Racing Commission management assistant Ardie Noyes, just offering information. “We did everything that we’ve been asked to do,” she told the lawmakers. “We’re working with a very limited staff, and now with no executive director.” She said former commission Executive Director Frank Lamb personally inspected and approved the instant racing machines.

Overall, in the two-day hearing, 32 people have testified, four in favor and 27 against. The next-to-last person to speak was Harry Bettis, the rancher, philanthropist, and major stockholder in U.S. Bank, who’s a part owner of the company operating Les Bois Park. “My grandmother was the first white girl born in Silver City, Idaho, and my great-grandfather did start the bank. So I’m as near a native as you’re gonna find, I’ve been here 80 years,” Bettis told the House State Affairs Committee. “And I don’t think I ever saw this state split in two pieces like it seem to be now. We’re getting to where we can’t hardly be civil to each other.”

He said, “I don’t know, I do know that probably if you pass this bill, that’s probably the end of horse racing. And I’ve got horses and had horses and probably will have, and I would subsidize ‘em all the time. But we’ve got to have a little bit of help, and I just hope that you take a long look at this and maybe we can get away without … SB 1011 . I think we could get away without that. Maybe we can have some kind of thing put together to where all of us will be under the same kind of regulation. Thank you.”

At the close of the meeting, Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, said, “Public testimony has concluded, and Mr. Roden will be allowed to close this off. It will either be Tuesday or Wednesday.” Bill Roden is the lobbyist for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which proposed SB 1011.