>> PRESENTATION OF “IDAHO REPORTS” ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION.

COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> WE'RE NOW MORE THAN 100 DAYS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH MAJOR BUDGET BILLS STILL HANGING IN THE BALANCE.

AFTER WEEKS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN IDAHO CLASSROOMS, ARE LAWMAKERS ANY CLOSER TO A COMPROMISE?

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK HAYAT NORIMINE OF THE "IDAHO STATESMAN," CLARK CORBIN OF THE "IDAHO CAPITAL SUN" AND JAMES DAWSON OF BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO JOIN THE PUNDITS TO TALK ABOUT WHY THE LEGISLATURE STILL HASN'T ADJOURNED AND THE WILD RIDE CONTINUED THIS WEEK WITH THE SENATE ATTEMPTING TO OVERRIDE BRAD LITTLE'S VETO ON SENATE BILL 1136 TO TRIM THE GOVERNOR'S VETO POWERS AND PUT THEM UNDER OVERSIGHT.

BRAD LITTLE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD VETO THE LEGISLATION.

IT FAILED BY ONE VOTE, BUT THERE LIMIT THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY TO EXTEND AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION BEYOND 60 DAYS.

UNDER THAT BILL THE LEGISLATURE WOULD DECIDE IF THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION MAY BE EXTENDED.

THE HOUSE TOOK UP THAT OVERRIDE ATTEMPT ON WEDNESDAY.

>> HOUSE BILL 135 PROTECTS THE SEPARATION OF POWERS.

IT DOES NOT GRANT THE LEGISLATIVE BODY ANY ADDITIONAL POWERS.

IN FACT, IT PROTECTS THOSE POWERS.

IT INDICATES THAT ALL JOBS ARE ESSENTIAL.

NOTHING WAS MORE OFFENSIVE TO ME THAN BEING TOLD THAT YOUR JOB WAS NOT ESSENTIAL BUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB WAS ESSENTIAL.

PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE AT MY HOUSE, THAT'S PRETTY ESSENTIAL AND I THINK THAT'S FOR EVERYBODY, THEIR JOBS ARE ESSENTIAL, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD PROBABLY NOT BEING DOING THEM.

IT'S WHY IT'S CALLED WORK.

>> OUR FOUNDING FATHERS HAD THE WISDOM TO RECOGNIZE THAT GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO TAKE AWAY LIBERTIES A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT -- THESE RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, CAN NEVER BE ABRIDGED.

OR CAN NEVER BE INFRINGED UPON.

AND YET THAT HAPPENED IN OUR STATE.

I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT HAPPENED IN OUR STATE AND OUR CITIZENS EXPECT OUR ACTION TO PROTECT THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND TO ENSURE THAT THIS NEVER, EVER HAPPENS AGAIN AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE MOTION TO OVERRIDE.

>> A GROUP OF PEOPLE CANNOT MAKE IMMEDIATE DECISIONS.

AND IN EMERGENCIES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE IMMEDIATE DECISIONS.

YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE COOK IN THE KITCHEN.

THAT DOESN'T WORK.

>> THE HOUSE APPROVED THE VETO OVERRIDE IN A 48-19 VOTE.

THE VETO OVERRIDE MUST NOW GO BEFORE THE SENATE AND GET 2/3 SUPPORT FROM THAT BODY.

EARLIER IN THE WEEK, THE SENATE INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD EXPAND THE HUNTING AND TRAPPING OF WOLVES IN IDAHO.

THE FAST-TRACK LEGISLATION WOULD OPEN UP WOLF-TRAPPING TO A YEAR-ROUND SEASON ON PRIVATE GROUNDS.

IDAHOANS WOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE AS MANY WOLF HUNTING TAGS AS THEY WANT.

IT WAS ARGUED THAT IT'S A DANGER TO RANCHERS WHO LOSE THEIR LIVESTOCK TO WOLVES.

>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO CONTROL THE POPULATION.

NOT TO WIPE 'EM OUT.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY DISCUSSION IN THE WORKING GROUP OF COMPLETE ANNIHILATION OF THE WOLF POPULATION.

>> THERE WAS THE DISCUSSION THAT EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY WOLVES THE FISH AND GAME AND/OR THIS GROUP, THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE CONTRACTORS.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHO THE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WERE AND WHAT KIND OF THRESHOLD OR CRITERIA THEY WOULD BE HELD TO, I WAS TOLD IT WAS TOO BROAD OF A CONTRACT AND IT WAS LIKELY EXPENSIVE AND WE SHOULD JUST LEAVE IT TO THE FREE MARKET.

>> THE BILL MADE IT OFF THE SENATE FLOOR IN A PARTY LINE 26-7 VOTE AND MOVED THROUGH THE HOUSE CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

IT NOW GOES WHERE THE FULL HOUSE.

>>> ON THURSDAY, THE HOUSE APPROVED HOUSE BILL 377 AFTER EXTENSIVE DEBATE ABOUT POTENTIAL DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL CLAIM STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE BEING TAUGHT ABOUT SO-CALLED CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

IN OTHER WORDS, CURRICULUM THAT CRITICALLY EXAMINES THE OVERT AND SUBTLE WAYS RACISM AFFECTS SOCIETY IN A WAY THAT MAKES SOME STUDENTS FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

THE BILL WOULD MANDATE STUDENTS NOT BE REQUIRED TO PERSONALLY ADOPT TENETS THAT SIGNIFY RACE, SEX, RELIGION THAT IS MORE SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER.

THE BILL WOULD APPLY TO ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN IDAHO'S PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS RANGING FROM KINDERGARTEN TO UNIVERSITIES.

OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IT COULD STIFLE OPEN DISCUSSION IN EDUCATION.

>> ONE WAY WE UNITE IS BY ENSURING A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION AND WHERE THE DIGNITY AND BELIEFS OF EACH AND EVERY STUDENT ARE RESPECTED.

YOU WILL NOTICE THIS BILL DOES NOT PROHIBIT TEACHING ANY PARTICULAR CONTENT FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE HOLOCAUST TO THE FRENCH REVOLUTION TO SEXISM, RACISM, COMMUNISM OR ANY OTHER ISM.

IT MAY NOT MAKE US ALL LOOK THE SAME BECAUSE WE TRULY ARE DIFFERENT AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM UNIQUE.

UNIVERSITIES GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO EXPLORE.

WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME AND WE NEED TO LOOK DIFFERENT.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN OUR SOCIETY IS TO PREPARE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENTER THE REAL WORLD, PREPARE TO THINK CRITICALLY AND TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS AS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> FIRST OF ALL, YES.

THIS IS OCCURRING.

WE SEE IT.

I'VE HEARD FROM MANY PARENTS, PROFESSORS, TEACHERS, BEING STUDENTS, FROM ALL OVER, INCLUDING OUR STATE, OF CERTAIN THINGS BEING TAUGHT IN THEIR CLASSES THAT ARE MAKING THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT OR MAKING THEM FEEL LESSER THAN THOSE THAT ARE AROUND THEM.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IN A 57-12 VOTE.

LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER THAT VOTE, THE GOVERNOR AND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADDRESSED CRITICAL RACE THEORY CONTROVERSIES IN A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> IDAHO'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS LOCALLY DRIVEN.

IF PARENTS OR TEACHERS SPOT SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS THEM, THEY SHOULD BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, SUPERINTENDENT OR SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES.

AND ROOT OUT THE PROBLEM AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE CLOSEST AND MOST RESPONSIVE TO OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS >> THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE pDEBATING BILLS THAT WOULD IMPAT EVERY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADUATE EDUCATION.

EVERY STUDENT IS ENTITLED TO A POSITION-NEUTRAL EDUCATION.

I WANT TO REPEAT THAT.

EVERY STUDENT IS ENTITLED TO A POSITION-NEUTRAL EDUCATION.

THIS MEANS THAT STUDENTS ARE FREE TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND IDEAS WITHOUT BIAS OR PREJUDICE FROM AN INSTRUCTOR, COURSE MATERIAL, OR EVEN SYSTEM.

THESE ARE NOT SMALL MATTERS TO US.

SYSTEM THAT ENCOURAGES FORUMS OF INTELLECTUAL DISCUSSION WHERE SPEECH IS NOT RESTRICTED AND ALL VIEWPOINTS ARE RESPECTED.

>> THEN I THINK WE NEED TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO COLLECTING OBJECTIVE DATA.

TOO MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION IN THE LEGISLATURE IS BASED ON ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE.

THERE ISN'T A LOT OF FACT OR DATA AROUND THIS DEBATE.

AS A STATE BOARD, WE NEED TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THAT AREA AND WE NEED TO ASK OUR UNIVERSITIES TO COLLECT DATA ABOUT THE CLIMATE, TO COLLECT DATA FROM THEIR STUDENTS AROUND.

DO THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN SPEAK FREELY?

I GET REALLY CONCERNED WHEN THE WORD INDOCTRINATION IS THROWN AROUND.

I'VE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF THAT.

WHEN YOU THROW THAT AROUND LOOSELY IN A WAY THAT UNDERMINES THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IT CAUSES ME GREAT CONCERN.

IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE THAT COMES OUT THAT THERE IS THAT TYPE OF INDOCTRINATION HAPPENING IN OUR K-12 SYSTEM, THE STATE BOARD IS GOING TO ACT.

I JUST HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING BASED ON MY CONFIDENCE IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT, BUT LET THE WORK PROCEED AND WE'LL STAY ENGAGED.

IF ACTION IS REQUIRED, OUR BOARD IS PREPARED TO LEAD IN THAT WAY.

>> JOINING US TODAY FOR THE PUNDITS, WE HAVE HAYAT NORIMINE OF THE "IDAHO STATESMAN," CLARK CORBIN, "IDAHO CAPITAL SUN," AND JAMES DAWSON, BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO.

CLARK, I WANTED TO START WITH YOU.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY HAS HIJACKED A LOT OF THE SESSION, BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT ISSUES OF RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COMING UP ON CAMPUSES AND IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, MELISSA.

AND IT'S REALLY GROUND THE SESSION TO A HALT THIS YEAR, BUT IT KIND OF REMINDS ME ABOUT SOME OF WHAT WE HEARD WITH THE HIGHER EDUCATION RIGHTS IN THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR THAT IT TOOK THREE BUDGETS OVERALL TO PASS A HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET IN IDAHO.

AND LEGISLATORS WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY REPUBLICANS IN THE IDAHO HOUSE, ABOUT BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY AND SOME OF THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY PROGRAMS AT BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY, SPECIFICALLY EVENTS THAT WERE OPEN TO ANYBODY, BUT LIKE A PRIDE GRADUATION, BLACK GRADUATION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND, AGAIN, THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET FOR TEACHERS' SALARIES IS PART OF THE LOGJAM PREVENTING ADJOURNMENT RIGHT NOW.

>> HAYAT, YOU COVERED THE EDUCATION HEARING ON THE HOUSE SIDE AS WELL AS THE FLOOR DEBATE ON THIS BILL.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE AMONG THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND THE REST OF THE PUBLIC WHO TESTIFIED, THERE WAS MUCH SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION.

>> NO, THERE WERE PERHAPS ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE IDAHO -- WELL, THE IDAHO FREEDOM FOUNDATION WAS NEUTRAL, BUT THERE WAS MAYBE ONE OTHER PERSON IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

OVERWHELMINGLY, THE HEARING CAME FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPOSED TO HOUSE BILL 377 AND, YOU KNOW, ABSENT FROM THE CONVERSATION NOTICEABLY IS PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

AND SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY NOTABLE TO ME ABOUT THE BILL IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING -- CLAIMING THAT SOMETHING'S PROBLEMATIC OR INDOCTRINATING STUDENTS, YOU NEED TO BE REALLY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE NOT STIFLING SPEECH ABOUT RACE OR BROADER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACISM OTHERWISE IT CAN STIFLE SPEECH AND BE HARMFUL TO STUDENTS OF COLOR.

THAT WAS POINTED OUT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT THERE WASN'T DEFINITION ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND, IN FACT, THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION DEFINES IT AS SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE DEFINED, SOMETHING THAT'S CONSTANTLY EVOLVING.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY -- THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PROBLEMATIC IN THE BILL, THAT THERE IS NOT A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHAT'S BEING, YOU KNOW, OPPOSED OR, YOU KNOW, POINTED OUT IN THE BILL.

>> JAMES, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

ONE OF THE BILL'S SPONSORS, REPRESENTATIVE WENDY HORMAN, A CHAMPION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CARRIED SO MANY SCHOOL BUDGETS OVER THE YEARS, WAS ADAMANT IT WOULD NOT PREVENT THE TEACHING OF ANYTHING RELATED TO RACISM OR SEXISM OR AS SHE PUT IT, "ANY ISM."

THERE WAS CONCERN THAT BECAUSE THIS BILL IS SO AMBIGUOUS THAT IT MIGHT, IN FACT, HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT OF STIFLING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF, SAY, RED LINING OR INTERNMENT CAMPS IN IDAHO OR THE LEGACY OF THE TRAIL OF TEARS, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT'S THE EXACT KIND OF LINE OF THINKING THAT WE HEARD FROM THE ACLU IN THAT COMMITTEE HEARING, TOO.

IT'S VAGUE ENOUGH THAT IT MIGHT JUST HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT TO THE POINT WHERE TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIALLY VIOLATING THIS LAW.

THAT THEY REALLY DON'T WANT IT TEACH ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE SEEN AS CONTROVERSIAL.

WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY, YOU KNOW, IN AND OF ITSELF.

AND I MEAN, THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS THAT THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS BILL HAVE KIND OF COME UP WITH A LOT OF ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE.

WE'VE SEN SOME ONE-OFFS HERE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WE DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THOSE AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT TEACHER OR WHAT MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY EVEN HAPPENED, IF IT DID.

YOU HAD REPRESENTATIVE HEATHER SCOTTS SAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR DURING THE DEBATE THAT SHE HEARD FROM A BOISE-AREA SUBSTITUTE TEACHER ABOUT HOW TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD WAS BEING USED TO TEACH KIDS THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS INNOCENT AND WHITE PEOPLE ARE EVIL AND THAT THERE'S A CONSTANT THEME OF BLACK VICTIMIZATION AND ANTI-WHITE RHETORIC THAT'S PERVASIVE IN HER MIND THROUGHOUT IDAHO SCHOOLS.

BUT YOU HAD SEVERAL FORMER EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN KIRBY AND JULIE YAMOMOTO SAYING LAST WEEK THAT THESE ARE NOT WIDESPREAD THINGS.

IT MIGHT HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT IT'S NOT PERVASIVE.

IT DID NOT PREVENT THEM VOTING FROM THE BILL.

THAT'S WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW.

>> I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUDGETS THAT ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE AS A RESULT OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON.

SO MANY OF THE BUDGETS THAT HAVE DIED IN THE HOUSE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF ONE VOTE.

ALL OF THAT TO SAY, YOU DON'T NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE CONVINCED THAT HOUSE BILL 377 IS THE SOLUTION, THAT THIS IS GOING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO GET ON BOARD WITH THE BUDGETS, BUT, CLARK, DO YOU GET THE IMPRESSION THAT WHAT THE HOUSE PASSED THIS WEEK WILL BE ENOUGH TO APPEASE THE FAR-RIGHT CONSERVATIVES WHO HAVE BEEN BRINGING THIS UP IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION BUDGETS, MELISSA?

>> YEAH.

THE EDUCATION BUDGETS.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THIS IS THE END OF IT.

I DO GET THE SENSE FROM TALKING WITH LEGISLATORS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE HOUSE BILL 377 GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THAT THEY WANT TO SEE IT GO OVER ON THE SENATE SIDE.

IF IT PASSES THERE, THEY WANT TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR WILL TAKE ACTION AND THEN PERHAPS LOOK AT MOVING SOME OF THE BUDGET.

AND THAT COULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS, AS WE KNOW, WATCHING THAT PROCESS GO FORWARD AND GETTING A BILL TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND SO FORTH.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

I THINK THAT THAT'S THE DESIGN OF THAT BILL, IS TO FREE THE BUDGETS UP AND GET THEM MOVING AGAIN.

I THINK THAT WAS REFERENCED DURING THE DEBATE.

IT WAS VERY QUICKLY FROM INTRODUCTION TO COMMITTEE HEARING TO PASSING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND THAT CAME UP THAT THIS IS KIND OF THE TICKET TO GET THE BUDGETS UNSTUCK AND MOVING AGAIN.

WHETHER THAT WILL BE ENOUGH, I THINK WE HAVE TO STAY TUNED IN THE NEXT WEEK AND SEE.

>> I WANT IT TALK ABOUT THE OTHER BUDGETS THAT ARE HANGING OUT ON THE HOUSE READING CALENDAR.

AS WE KNOW, FRIDAY MORNING ADJOURNED FOR THE DAY AFTER BEING ON THE FLOOR FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES.

AND THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS ON THAT READING CALENDAR THAT THEY COULD HAVE TAKE UP AND DIDN'T.

IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE THE HOUSE IS HOLDING OUT UNTIL PERHAPS THE SENATE ADDRESSES HOUSE BILL 37 OR THEY GET SOME SORT OF REASSURANCE THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

HAYAT, ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN THE HECK THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT ADJOURN?

>> NO, FRANKLY.

I MEAN, THERE IS STILL A LOT TO BE DONE, OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU SAID.

I'D BE REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE THE SECOND EMERGENCY POWERS BILL GO THROUGH THE SENATE AND WHETHER THEY CAN HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO EVEN PASS THAT, WHICH THE GOVERNOR -- TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO.

IF NOT, WE COULD POTENTIALLY SEE ANOTHER EMERGENCY POWERS BILL POP UP.

SO IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THERE COULD STILL BE QUITE A LOT TO BE DONE AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE BLANKSMA THIS MORNING TALKED ABOUT A RECESS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1 TO ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES, TOO.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD POTENTIAL POTENTIALLY POTENTIALLY BEAT THE RECORD-BREAKING LONGEST SESSION BY FAR.

>> NOT NECESSARILY A RECORD I WANTED TO BE AROUND FOR.

JIMMY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THE VETO OVERRIDE ATTEMPTS WITH THE TWO BILLS THAT GOVERNOR LITTLE VETOED LAST WEEK ON EMERGENCY POWERS AND HIM SIGNING THE VOTER INITIATIVE BILL, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE "IDAHO CAPITAL SUN" WIDELY OPPOSED BY PEOPLE WHO CONTACTED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

IS THERE SOME SORT OF CALCULATION, DO YOU THINK, ON THE GOVERNOR'S PART ABOUT, OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I CAN GET AWAY WITH VETOING A COUPLE BILLS BUT NOT EVERYTHING THAT I THINK IS CONTROVERSIAL OR MIGHT NOT STAND UP IN COURT, JAMES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT WITH WHAT WAS A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTES FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE BILLS ON THE EMERGENCY POWERS, IT TOOK A LOT TO FLIP THOSE VOTES IN THE SENATE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS FOUR REPUBLICANS WHO DEFECTED.

ONE IN THE HOUSE FOR THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF POLITICAL CAPITAL THAT HE SPENT RIGHT THERE, BASICALLY PUTTING HIS FOOT DOWN AND SAYING, NO.

THESE ARE THE POWERS GIVEN TO EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL BRANCHES BY THE CONSTITUTION.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT.

ALL OF THE OTHER FORMER GOVERNORS WHO ARE LIVING SAY THIS IS WRONG.

AND REALLY TRYING TO MAKE A P.R.

CASE FOR IT.

AS FOR THE INITIATIVES BILL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS WANTED SINCE 2019, RIGHT AFTER, YOU KNOW, THE MEDICAID EXPANPANSION INITIATIV PASSED.

THIS IS A LITTLE TUNED-DOWN, TO, I GUESS, MAKE THE INITIATIVE PROCESS HARDER.

SOME SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE UNDER THIS NEW STANDARD THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT I GUESS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER MENTIONED THIS MORNING DURING THE HEARING INTRODUCING THAT RESOLUTION TO POSSIBLY EXTEND THIS SESSION TO SEPTEMBER IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE NEW, I GUESS, RESTRICTIONS ON THE INITIATIVE PROCESS THAT ARE NOW IN LAW THIS NEW POTENTIAL RECESS COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR ANY REFERENDUM THAT MIGHT COME UP THIS YEAR.

UNDER STATE LAW, REFERENDUMS HAVE TO BE -- I GUESS THE SIGNATURES NECESSARY TO GET A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT HAVE TO BE COLLECTED WITHIN 60 DAYS BUT ORGANIZERS CAN ONLY COLLECT THOSE AFTER THE LEGISLATURE FULLY ADJOURNS FOR THE YEAR.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, MAY, THE WEATHER IS LOOKING NICE.

PEOPLE ARE GOING OUTSIDE TO PUBLIC EVENTS, MAYBE FAIRS ARE COMING BACK THIS YEAR AFTER COVID.

WHO KNOWS.

IF WE'RE TALKING SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, YOU KNOW, SNOW'S COMING IN THE MOUNTAIN TOWNS.

IF YOU HAVE TO GET SIGNATURES FROM 35 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, YOU CAN'T JUST HANG AROUND BOISE AND CANYON COUNTIES.

>> AND NOT ONLY THAT, CLARK, BUT WHEN THEY ARE REDRAWING THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, IT'S ALREADY A MOVING TARGET DURING A REDISTRICTING YEAR TO GET A VOTER INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT WHEN YOU HAVE 18 DISTRICTS UNDER THE PREVIOUS LAW THAT YOU NEEDED TO AIM FOR.

WITH 35, THAT'S A TARGET THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT PLANET THAT TARGET IS ON, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE BILL IS THAT IT WOULD BE PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT.

TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT'S BEEN OVER THE YEARS AND WE JUST DON'T SEE THAT MANY OF THEM IN IDAHO.

LIKE YOU SAID, GOING UP FROM THE 18 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS OR WHATEVER IT WAS TO NOW NEEDING 6% OF SIGNATURES IN ALL 35.

IT'S QUITE A HURDLE FOR THE REASONS THAT JIMMY MENTIONED, HAVING TO GO TO THE RURAL, EXPANSIVE COUNTIES AND GET, YOU KNOW, 6% OF SIGNATURES FROM REGISTERED VOTERS.

IT WOULD BE QUITE AN UNDERTAKING.

>> WE KNOW AFTER GOVERNOR LITTLE SIGNED THAT BILL LAST SATURDAY THAT RECLAIM IDAHO AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ARE PLANNING A COURT CASE.

IS THAT CORRECT, CLARK?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED AND SO I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO STAY TUNED AND SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, BUT RIGHT AWAY, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CHALLENGE THIS.

>> ONE OTHER ISSUE I WANTED TO BRING UP.

THIS IS A STORY THAT BROKE LAST FRIDAY.

REPRESENTATIVE AARON BONELINGER IS FACING ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

AND WE LEARNED MONDAY THAT THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION WITHIN THE BOISE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THAT ACCUSATION.

MEANWHILE, THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY, JAMES.

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THE ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE BY AN ADULT VOLUNTEER STAFFER IN THE G.O.P.

CAUCUS, HOUSE G.O.P.

CAUCUS, AS FAR AS I KNOW.

AND SHE ALLEGES THAT SHE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE WENT TO DINNER SOMETIME IN MARCH AND THEN AT SOME POINT RETURNED TO HIS APARTMENT WHERE SHE SAYS THAT HE FORCED HER INTO ORAL SEX, WHICH UNDER IDAHO LAW, IS DEFINED AS RAPE.

HE HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

BOISE P.D.

LAST FRIDAY SAID, NO, THERE IS NO OPEN INVESTIGATION.

AND THEN SUDDENLY ON MONDAY SAID, IT'S REOPENED NOW.

SO THAT'S ONGOING.

AS FOR THE ETHICS COMPLAINTS, YEAH, WE'LL HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY.

WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF A DEFENSE HE PUTS UP AND WHAT THE COMMITTEE DOES END UP HEARING.

HE HAS SAID, NO, THIS SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WAS ABSOLUTELY CONSENSUAL, DENIES ANY WRONGDOING, YOU KNOW.

SO THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES IS CENSURE OR REPRIMAND.

MY READING INTO THE HOUSE RULES, HE CAN NOT BE EXPELLED, AS OF NOW.

IF THERE WERE A FELONY CHARGE OR CONVICTION -- AND, AGAIN, HE HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME -- THEN THAT'S WHEN EXPULSION WOULD BE ON THE TABLE.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 3 1/2 MINUTES LEFT.

AND, HAYAT, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, AS WE ARE 103 DAYS NOW INTO THE SESSION AND THIS IS YOUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN IDAHO COVERING THIS FOR THE "IDAHO STATESMAN."

WHAT WILL YOU BE WATCHING FOR -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY COMING WEEKS, BECAUSE HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT BE THAT LONG, BUT IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS, WHAT IS ON YOUR AGENDA TO WATCH?

>> THE EDUCATION BUDGET WILL BE A BIG ONE, HIGHER EDUCATION AND K-12.

AS YOU ASKED BEFORE A VERY GOOD QUESTION WILL BE WHETHER THAT BILL IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO PASS THROUGH THE BUDGETS.

I WILL BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THE SENATE VOTES ON THE SECOND EMERGENCY POWERS BILL THAT POPS UP.

YOU KNOW, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, IN THE PAST THEY VOTED 25 IN FAVOR, SO THEY'RE ONLY ABLE TO LOSE ONE VOTE.

IF THEY LOSE TWO, IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO SCRAP THE BILL.

AND SO -- AND THAT'S -- THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THEM CONSIDERING THAT THE FIRST EMERGENCY POWERS BILL THEY LOST FIVE VOTES.

I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE THAT.

THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG ISSUES.

OBVIOUSLY, THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS WILL BE A MAJOR ONE AND JUST THE ONGOING APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

THERE IS STILL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUDGET THAT WILL HAVE TO BE PASSED.

YEAH.

>> SOMETHING ELSE ON THE SENATE WITH THE EMERGENCY POWERS THING, TOO, SENATOR MARY SUSA HAD A PREPLANNED VACATION TO HAWAII SHE ANNOUNCED ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE A SUBSTITUTE, THAT CHANGES THE MATH.

>> I THINK SHE SAID SHE MIGHT HAVE A SUBSTITUTE SHOWING UP.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> IT HAS TO DO WITH -- JIMMY, IT'S A GOOD POINT, BECAUSE THE MATH HAS TO DO WITH 2/3 OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT.

SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, WHETHER IT WAS SUSA OR ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS ABSENT.

A FULL SLATE IS 35 SENATORS AND, WHAT WAS IT, 24 IS THE NUMBER THEY NEED BASED ON 2/3 OF A FULL SLATE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF HOW MANY ARE THERE.

>> AND ONE LAST ISSUE THAT'S HANGING OUT THERE THAT IS ADDRESSED AT LEAST PARTLY BY REPRESENTATIVE BLANKSMA'S PROPOSAL TO PERHAPS RECESS LONG-TERM AND COME BACK IN THE SUMMER AND THAT'S THE ISSUE OF THE BILLIONS OF AMERICAN RESCUE ACT FUNDS.

CLARK, WITH 30 SECONDS LEFT, DO YOU IMAGINE IT WILL GET SUPPORT IN THE SENATE TO RECESS AND COME BACK LATE SUMMER?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

REPRESENTATIVE BLANKSMA SAID SHE WANTED TO GET IT PRINTED.

THE BILL IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF BACK INTO SESSION WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE GOVERNOR.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WILL BE ON NEXT YEAR'S BALLOT TO DECIDE.

IF THIS BILL PASSES, IT WILL ESSENTIALLY LET THE LEGISLATURE DO THIS YEAR.

IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH GOING FORWARD.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU HERE NEXT WEEK.

>> PRESENTATION OF “IDAHO REPORTS” ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION.

COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.