As Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, argued for his early voting time restrictions bill in the House today, he named several counties, referring to their current practices, including “Kooten-EYE County.” House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, asked him, “Good gentleman, did you just add a 45^th county to the state of Idaho?”

Manwaring responded, “I don’t think so; did I say it wrong?” Bedke said, “You don’t say it like they say it in Coeur d’Alene. It’s Kootenai.”

According to the Idaho Press Club’s online Idaho Pronunciation Guide, the correct pronunciation is either KOO-tun-ee or KOO-tun-ay (as in hay). The most common pronunciation: KOO-tun-ee.