>>> 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.

>>> TONIGHT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE GROWING ISSUE OF IDAHO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE, THE STEPS THAT SOME IDAHOANS ARE TAKING TO AVOID HOMELESSNESS, AND WHAT ROLE THE STATE COULD PLAY.

AND TUESDAY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL DEBATE, AND THE REST OF THE PRIMARY FIELD HEADING INTO THIS MAY ELECTION.

I'M LOGAN FINNEY FILL, IN FOR MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO IDAHO REPORTS.

THIS WEEK PRODUCER RUTH BROWN TAKES A LOOK AT IDAHO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE, AND SITS DOWN WITH MADELYN BECK OF BOISE STATE PUBLIC RAID GROW TO DISCUSS -- RADIO TO DISCUSS RECENT REPORTING ON PUBLIC -- PEOPLE FORCED TO CAMP ON PUBLIC LANDS.

AND THEN LATER STEPHANIE WITT AND JACLYN KETTLER OF BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY JOIN ME TO DISCUSS TUESDAY NIGHT'S REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL DEBATE AND THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

>>> BUT FIRST, THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT REINSTATED A LAWSUIT, PREVIOUSLY DISMISSED BY THE FEDERAL JUDGE IN BOISE, REVOLVE AROUND ACCUSATIONS AGAINST RURAL IDAHO DAIRY.

THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE, SIX MEXICAN VETERINARIANS, SAY THEY WERE REPEATED THREATENED BY IDAHO'S FUNK DAIRY AFTER THEY WERE RECRUITED TO WORK IN THE TN VISA PROGRAM.

THE LAWSUIT NOW MOVES FORWARD TO COURT.

>>> ON THURSDAY THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION FOUND IN TWITE 2022 STATE OF THE AIR REPORT THAT THE BOISE AREA EXPERIENCED A HIGHER NUMBER OF UNHEALTHY DAYS IN 2018 TO 2020 COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEARS AND EXPERIENCED WORSE SHORT-TERM AND YEAR-ROUND PARTICLE POLLUTION.

BOISE'S SHORT-TERM PARTICLE POLLUTION GOT WORSE, MEANING THE AREA STAY MORE UNHEALTHY DAYS THIS YEAR.

THE BOISE AREA TIES FOR 24TH WORST FOR SHORT-TERM PARTICLE POLLUTION.

>>> IN HOUSING NEWS, A REPORT RELEASED THURSDAY FROM THE NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION AND THE IDAHO ASSET BUILDING NETWORK FOUND THAT FOR EVERY 100 HOUSEHOLD WITH EXTREMELY LOW INCOMES, IDAHO HAS JUST 42 AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE THAT REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT TWO OUT OF THREE ECONOMICALLY MODEST HOUSEHOLDS IN THE STATE ARE PAYING MORE THAN THEY CAN AFFORD FOR A RENTAL.

>>> PRODUCER RUTH BROWN INTERVIEWED TWIN FALLS HOUSING AUTHORITY EXECUTEUF DIRECTOR SUNNY SHAW ABOUT WHAT SHE THINKS THE STATE COULD DO TO EMPROVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> THIS SUMMER I SAT DOWN WITH SUNNY SHAW TO TALK ABOUT WHO SHE HELPS AND SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND THE TYPE OF CLIENTS WHO NEED HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

WHEN WE MED OUTSIDE OF SOME OF THE DISEACIALED AND FAMILY HOUSING PROVIDED IN THE TWIN FALLS AREA, WE TALKED ABOUT STRUGGLES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

>> OF ALL THE HOUSEHOLDS WE SERVE, 81% ARE ELDERLY OR DISABLED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IF THEY'RE ON A SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROGRAM, THAT THEY ARE FREELOADERS, RIGHT?

81% ARE ELDERLY OR DISABLED.

AND THEN THE OTHER INTERESTING DATA POINT IN THAT SURVEY IS THAT OF THOSE ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS, 91% ARE WORKING.

SO THAT IS A HUGE MISCONCEPTION IN REGARDS TO HOUSING AUTHORITY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE FOLKS AREN'T FREE LOADERS.

THEY'RE EITHER TRYING TO LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR DISABILITY.

WE KNOW THAT AMOUNT IS ABOUT $750 TO DLER 1200.

-- $1200.

SO FINDING A HOME OR APARTMENT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

OR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING SOMETIMES THEY'RE UNDEREMPLOYED.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING 40 HOURS A WEEK OR THEY'RE WORKING AT A WAGE THAT DOES NOT AFFORD THEM HOUSING ON THEIR OWN.

>> SHAW SAID IDAHOANS NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE DECISIONS FAMILIES FACE IF THEY CAN'T FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> WE DO HAVE HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE DE -- DECIDE DO I GET MEDICINE OR FOOD OR BE LATE ON MY RENT.

THOSE CHOICES ARE BEING MADE EVERY DAY AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT I'M NOT IN THAT SITUATION.

I HAVE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION BEFORE.

SO I THINK IT GIVES ME A LEVEL OF EMPATHY, BUT WE NEED TO TUG AT THAT EMPATHY MUSCLE AND BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE NEIGHBORS, WE HAVE FRIENDS, WE HAVE FAMILY WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS AND AND MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS AND MAYBE THERE'S NOT SHARING IT YOU.

-- IT WITH YOU.

IT STUNT MEAN IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> THE STATE HAS LEFT THE HOUSING TRUST FUND UNFUNDED FOR 30 YEARS.

>> THE HOUSING TRUST FUND WAS PASSED BY THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE IN 1992.

AT THAT TIME THEY COULDN'T AGREE ON HOW TO FUND IT.

SO THEY DECIDED, WE'LL CREATE IT.

WE'LL GET IT IN THE STATUTE AND WE'RE GOING TO KICK THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

NO ONE HAS WANTED TO TOUCH IT BECAUSE IT COMES BACK TO APPROPRIATION AND WHERE DO YOU PULL THE MONEY.

AND SHAMES THAT'S -- STEPS THAT'S IN REGARDS TO, TAS.

SO MOST ELECTED OFFICIALS DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT TAXES IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

IT'S NEVER BEEN PUNDED -- FUNDED.

IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE IT'S USED IN STATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO IMPROVE HOUSING.

SO WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS IF IT WERE FUNDED, THEN THERE COULD BE MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES MADE -- MONEYS MADE AVAILABLE FOR LOW-INTEREST LOANS OR BONDS OR EVEN DIRECTLY TARGETING PROGRAMS THAT COULD GO TO MUNICIPALITIES AND TO HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO INCREASE THE HOUSING STOCK OR TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR RENTING.

AND SO BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER LOOKED INTO DOING THAT, WE RELY ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDIZE ALL OF OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS IN IDAHO.

AND THE STATE ISN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN IDAHO.

AND IT GOES BACK TO AT SOME POINT, EVEN IN IDAHO, WE HAVE TO REALIZE HOUSING IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND WE HAVE TO START FUNDING THAT SO WE CAN CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

INDUSTRY, PEOPLE USED TO FOLLOW INDUSTRY.

PEOPLE USED TO MOVE TO WHERE THERE WERE JOBS.

NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE TREND, INDUSTRY IS FOLLOWING PEOPLE.

WELL, PEOPLE CAN'T BE IN A SPACE IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE.

AND SO IF WE WANT INDUSTRY IN OUR STATE, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> WITHOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IDAHOANS IN RURAL AREAS STILL FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF HOMELESSNESS.

IN RURAL AREAS, IT MAY NOT LOOK THE SAME AS HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN BOISE OR URBAN AREAS.

>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HOMELESSNESS NOT SO MUCH IN PEOPLE AT THE UNDERPASS OR AT THE OFF-RAMP.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT IN MOTHER AND FATHER WHO HAVE A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS LIVING WITH THEM.

YOU KNOW, A SON AND A DAUGHTER AND THEIR CHILDREN LIVING WITH EMTHIS.

THAT'S WHAT WE SEE HOMELESSNESS AS.

NOW, IS THAT APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF HOMELESSNESS?

NO.

THOSE STRAINS ARE STILL ON THOSE FAMILIES AND THOSE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ARE STILL BEING MADE BY THAT FAMILY.

SO IT DOES LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN RURAL IDAHO.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NONEXISTENT.

IT IS THERE.

>> EVEN IF YOU'VE NEVER STRUGGLED WITH HOUSING INSECURITY, SHAW ARGUED THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE INVESTED IN FINDING AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR EVERYONE.

>> I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY COMMUNITY AND INRESPONSIBLE FOR THE -- I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAMILIES IN MY COMMUNITY.

IF WE COULD GET TO WHERE WE HAVE A BELIEF THAT OUR PURPOSE IS BIGGER THAN US.

>> THE IDAHO HOUSING TRUST FUND REMAINS UNFUNDED AFTER THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOLLOWING OUR INTERVIEW WITH SHAW.

>>> ON A RELATED NOTE, RUTH SAT DOWN WITH MADELYN BECK ON BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO ON FRIDAY MORNING AND HOW THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS EXACERBATED THAT PROBLEM.

>> YOU RECENTLY PUBLISHED A STORY REGARDING THE HOUSING CRISIS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CAMP A PUBLIC LANDS.

63% OF IDAHO IS MADE UP OF FEDERAL LANDS.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOU FOUND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT I FOUND WAS THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STEEP SPIKE IN PEOPLE MOVING TO LIVE ON PUBLIC LANDS.

ONE OF THE OFFICERS AND CONFIRMED BY OTHER OFFICERS SAID AROUND THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY, THEY'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OF TENFOLD OF PEOPLE LIVING OUT THERE.

SO THAT IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING BECAUSE THERE AREN'T MANY RESOURCES OUT THERE AND THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF AREAS WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE LIVING.

THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO FOR PUBLIC SERVICES OR EVEN REMOVING WASTE.

SO YEAH, THAT'S PRIMARILY WHAT I FOUND.

AND GENERALLY THE BIGGEST CONCERN AMONG THAT ISSUE IS THAT THE PEOPLE MOVING OUT TO PUBLIC LANDS ARE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, WHICH IS UNLIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, WHERE YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK OR EVEN PEOPLE WHO JUST CHOOSE TO LIVE, NOW IT IS ENTIRE FAMILIES THAT ARE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC LANDS OUT OF NECESSITY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN TOWN ANYMORE.

>> CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF THAT.

CAN YOU GET EVICTED FROM THE FOREST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO MOST FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS HAVE A DATE, AN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU CAN STAY THERE.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE 14 DAYS.

AND THAT IS FOR AREAS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY CAMPING LOCATIONS, LIKE BUILT OUT WITH PORT-A-POTTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THESE ARE LOCATIONS THAT ARE JUST OUT THERE ON PUBLIC LANDS, OFTEN DISPERSED CAMPGROUNDS.

THESE AREAS, THAT'S THE LIMIT AND IF YOU OVERSTAY IT, THEN YOU CAN BE EVICTED, YOU CAN BE FINED.

ONE MAN UP AT GREATER TETON, HE WAS FINED $2,000 AND EVICTED FOR THREE YEARS FROM THE NATIONAL FOREST THERE.

>> SO THIS IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON.

CAN YOU TALK TO ME HOW IT'S EVOLVED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO OBVIOUSLY, MOVING OUT ON TO LIVE LAND IS NOT ANYTHING NEW.

IT'S WHAT SETTLERS DID WHEN THEY MOVED OUT WEST, RIGHT?

BUT THEN EVE -- WE'VE EXPERIMENTED ON THE FOREST SERVICE LAND IN OREGON.

THEY SET UP AN EMCAN'TMENT -- ENCAMPMENT FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO CAMP IN THE WOODS WITH SERVICES.

THIS IS NOT NEW.

EVEN AFTER THE 2008 HOUSING CRISIS, THEY SAW A SPIKE IN PEOPLE MOVING OUT TO PUBLIC LANDS THEN.

SO WE'VE SEEN EBBS AND FLOWS OF PEOPLE MOVING OUT TO PUBLIC LANDS AND EVEN WITH THAT RESEARCH FROM FOREST SERVICE RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING OUT THERE.

SO THAT INCLUDES YOU KNOW, RETIREES WHO MIGHT BE IN RVs LIVING RANDOMLY ON PUBLIC LANDS MOVING AROUND, PERFECTLY LOCAL BY WITHIN THE 14-DAY LIMITS.

YOU ALSO HAVE OUTLAWS, A VERY SMALL BUT CONSTANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE CAUGHT OR BROUGHT IN.

OR, YOU KNOW, SEASONAL LABORERS.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE RAFT GUIDES LIVING ON THESE PUBLIC LANDS.

>> SO THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ADDRESSED, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH FOLKS LIVING IN THESE RURAL AREAS, HUMAN WASTE, TRASH.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS AROUND THAT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, A LOT OF THESE PUBLIC LANDS AGENCIES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN A REALLY DIFFICULT PLACE BECAUSE THEY ARE CHARGED WITH UPHOLDING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ON THESE PUBLIC LANDS.

MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN RECREATE BUT ALSO PROTECTING THE PUBLIC LANDS.

AND SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIVING IN AN AREA FOR TOO LONG, YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE SOIL COMPACTION, YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE HUMAN WASTE, WHICH ARE A REALLY BIG PROBLEM AND IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING TO CLEAN THAT UP.

YOU HAVE ACTUAL MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF GARBAGE.

AND -- OR TRAILERS, TRYING TO GET A TRAILER OUT OF THE WOODS THAT'S BEEN ROTTING THERE AND ITS WHEELS NO LONGER TURN, THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY AND IT COSTS MONEY FOR THOSE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE TAXPAYER.

SO THEY'RE TRYING TO UPHOLD WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN PROTECTING THE LANDS AND PROTECTING IT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO RECREATE.

BUT THEY ALSO ARE HUMAN AND THEY SEE THESE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN REALLY DIRE STRAITS.

SO TRYING TO BALANCE THOSE TWO ISSUES ARE REALLY CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT IS THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD?

THE HOUSING CRISIS ARGUABLY IS ONLY GETTING WORSE.

THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM IN IDAHO.

I GUESS DOES THE FOREST SERVICE -- DO THEY HAVE A LAND MOVING FORWARD?

>> THEY SAID THAT GENERALLY THEY WANT TO WORK WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES OR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PARTNER WITH THEM IN ANY PART OF THE STATE.

IN IDAHO THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES OUT THERE, LIKE AROUND BRIDGER TEETON WHO SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.

OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE LAND.

IT'S NOT TO FIND PEOPLE HOUSING.

SO DIFFERENT PEOPLE SEE THIS IN DIFFERENT BASIS.

BUT AT LEAST AROUND -- IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AT LEAST AROUND IDAHO, THE BLM CHIEF RANGER SAYS SHE WANTS TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO GET PEOPLE HELP.

SHE DOES BELIEVE IT'S AN EBAND A FLOW.

SHE DOES -- EB AND A FLOW.

SHE BELIEVES IT WILL REDUCE, BUT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T SEE THIS IS JUST A SHORT-TERM PROBLEM.

IT COULD BE A LONGER TERM PROBLEM.

>> MADALYN BECK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THIS WEEK'S ATTORNEY GENERAL DEBATE FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

THAT DEBATE AIRED HERE AND WAS MODERATED BY MELISSA DAVLIN.

HERE'S SOMEWHAT THE CANDIDATES HAD TO SAY.

>> THE REASON I ENTERED THIS RACE IS BECAUSE IDAHO IS IN TROUBLE.

I'M A FULL-TIME LITIGATOR.

I'VE DONE THAT FOR 15 YEARS.

I GREW MY LAW FIRM FROM ZERO TO -- S -- ZERO, ME, A SOLO ATTORNEY TO SIX ATTORNEYS OPERATING IN THREE STRAITS.

I'VE BEEN TO THE SUPREME COURT SIX TIMES AND WHEN YOU'RE A LAND USE ATTORNEY, YOU NEED TO REMEMBER, IDAHO IS A COMMON LAW STATE.

SO WE GO ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE ENGLISH COMMON LAW IN IDAHO TO ENFORCE OUR LAWS.

AND SO WHEN I SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE COVID LOCKDOWNS AND WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS NOT DOING, I DECIDED TO GET IN THE RACE.

I THOUGHT, YEAH, I CAN DO THAT JOB.

IDAHO NEEDS A FIGHTER.

I'M A FIGHTER.

LET'S GO.

>> I WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN WE HAD AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WAS UNWILLING TO STAND UP TO THE GOVERNOR, WHO JUST BECAME A YES MAN TO THE GOVERNOR, WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS DOING THINGS THAT WERE PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, WERE OUTSIDE THE LAW AND INSTEAD WAS PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE TO THE GOVERNOR THAT HE COULD INTERPRET THE LAW IN A WAY THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE STATUTE SAID.

I THOUGHT THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO NEEDED AN ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT WOULD STAND UP FOR THEM, BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL, IS THE CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL THINKS THAT HIS NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO JUSTIFY LEGALLY WHATEVER THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD EVER JUSTIFY WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO.

YOU NEED TO TELL THE GOVERNOR WHAT THE LAW IS.

YOU NEED TO TELL THE LEGISLATURE WHAT THE LAW IS.

YOU NEED TO TELL THE EXECUTIVE AGENCIES WHAT THE LAW IS.

>> THIS IS AN OFFICE OF 120 LAWYERS, 230 PEOPLE.

THIS ISN'T KICKS PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT -- SIX PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT A SMALL STAFF.

THIS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND LARGEST LAW OFFICE IN THE STATE.

THE CLAIM WE LOSE MOST OF OUR CASES IS NONSENSE.

ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.

WE WIN MOST OF THE CASES THAT WE HAVE.

I HAVE SOME CLIENTS THAT DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE GOOD LEGAL ADVICE.

AND THEY CHOOSE NOT TO.

AND IT COSTS THE STATE DEARLY.

NOW, WE TRY AND HELP THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR LEGISLATION.

BUT SOME OF THEM JUST SIMPLY ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT GOOD LEGAL ADVICE.

THAT'S NOT MY VOICE.

THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE A VISION OF WHAT THE STATE IS AND CAN DO, WHICH IS NOT CORRECT.

ON ONE OCCASION I HAD -- I HAD A LEGISLATOR WHO SAID, WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE WANT BECAUSE WE'RE THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE.

AND THE ANSWER IS NO, YOU CAN'T.

YOU'RE LIMITED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S A CRITICAL FACTOR.

VERY UPSET WITH ME OVER IT.

THE ANSWER IS YOU CAN'T DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE CONSTITUTION.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT FULL DEBATE ONLINE AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/ELECTIONS WHERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND THE SCHEDULE OF OUR UPCOMING DEBATES.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, AIRS MONDAY, APRIL 25TH AT 8:00 A.M. AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AIRS TUESDAY, APRIL 26TH AT 8:00 P.M. >>> IDAHO'S PRIMARY ELECTION IS TUESDAY, MAY 17th.

JOINING ME ARE STEPHANIE WITT AND JACLYN KETTLER OF BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY TO THEE ARE VIEW THIS WEEK'S DEBATE AND UPCOMING PRY MERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL WATSON HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR -- OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT DOESN'T DRAW A LOT OF ATTENTION.

>> WELL, I THINK WE'VE SEEN ATTORNEYS GENERAL THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TAKING ON A MORE ACTIVIST ROLE IN REGARD TO CHALLENGING LAWS OR HELPING LEGISLATORS DEFEND LAWS THAT MIGHT NOT PASS CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER.

AND THAT SEEMS TO BE AT THE HEART OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CANDIDATE LAB BRA DOR AND WAS DEN AND McKOMER.

HOW EAGER ARE YOU TO DEFEND THE LEGISLATURES' LAWS THAT MAY NOT PASS CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER OR DO YOU TAKE THE MORE -- I THINK WASDEN HAS THE MORE TRADITIONAL APPROACH IS I JUST LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTION AND EVALUATE IT THAT WAY.

>> IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING DEBATE ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS?

>> I THINK THE APPROACH THAT% THEY WOULD TAKE TO THE OFFICE, WHETHER IT WOULD BE WASDEN, LIKE I'M USING THE CONSTITUTION TO EVALUATE, YOU KNOW, TO LEAD THE OFFICE VERSUS I'M GOING TO GO MORE POLITICALLY ACTIVE.

BUT HE WAS MENTIONING THE SIZE OF THE OFFICE, MANAGING THE OFFICE, WHICH IS SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO THINK ABOUT, BECAUSE THE STATEWIDE POSITIONS MANAGING LARGE OFFICES IS ACTUALLY KIND OF AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE JOB THAT DOESN'T REALLY GET TALKED ABOUT VERY MUCH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S A DEPUTY A.G.

IN EVERY AGENCY PRETTY MUCH.

AND SO YOU DO HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF THOSE ATTORNEYS THAT WORK UNDER YOUR DIRECTION.

>> AND THERE'S AN INTERESTING -- CANDIDATES IN THE RACE I FEEL LIKE DEMONSTRATE KIND OF AN INTERESTING STRIPES OF THE PARTY.

WE'VE GOT ATTORNEY GENERAL WASDEN WHO'S THE OLD GUARD REPUBLICAN.

HE'S BEEN SORT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT RAUL LABRADOR WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE TEA PARTY FOLKS, BUT NOW HAS SOME EXPERIENCE.

HE WAS IN CONGRESS FOR EIGHT YEARS.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT MR. MAC AMER WHO'S COMPLETELY NEW AND RUNNING AS THE OUTSIDER CANDIDATE.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT REFLECTION OF AT LEAST THREE OF THE STREAMS RUNNING THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW.

JACKIE CAN PROBABLY SPEAK BERT TO THAT.

>> -- BETTER TO THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING LOOK INTO THE IDEOLOGICAL POSITIONS, THE ISSUES OF KEY -- TOP OF THEIR AGENDA, AS WELL AS LIKE APPROACHES TO CAMPAIGNING, WHERE WE SEE LIKE McI AM ERTAKING MORE GRASSROOTS TYPE OF OUTSIDER TYPE CANDIDACY.

>> A LOT MORE ACTIVE ONLINE ON THE INTERNET.

>> VERY TRUE.

AND WASDEN HAS SUPPORT OF SOME OF THE MORE ESTABLISHMENT, BUT LABRADOR GETTING SUPPORT INCLUDING SOME OF THE FARTHER RIGHT REPUBLICAN ENTITIES AS WELL.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING ON HOW -- IN A THREE-WAY RACE, HOW THE DIFFERENCES PLAY A ROLE IN VOTER SUPPORT.

>> AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY THREE-WAY RACE THIS YEAR.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PRIMARY DEBATES COMING UP NEXT WEEK FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON MONDAY AND THEN SECRETARY OF STATE ON TUESDAY.

IS THERE ANYTHING INTERESTING IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DEBATE YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON?

>> I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER RACE WHERE MAYBE AUSTIN DOESN'T GET A TON OF ATTENTION, BUT GIVEN THE PRESENCE AND THE SALEIENCE OF EDUCATION ISSUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT PARTICULARLY IN IDAHO, THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS RACE AND WE'VE GOT THREE CANDIDATES WHO ARE YOU KNOW, LIKE WITH THE INCUMBENT I BARRA, COWHERCH FIELD AND DURST WHO ARE FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE MAJOR EDUCATION ISSUES COMING UP LATELY.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT ISSUES THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON IN THE DEBATE AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

>> AND HOW MUCH FOCUS DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE ON KIND OF THE TRADITIONAL IDAHO METRICS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S A GO ON RATE OR ENROLLMENT LEVELS, VERSUS THESE NATIONALIZED ISSUES LIKE YOUR CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR OTHER SUCH THINGS.

SOME SO FAR WE'RE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT THESE HOT BUTTON ISSUES THAT ARE PLAYING NATIONALLY.

WHETHER OR NOT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS -- YOU KNOW, ENDEMIC IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IF SO, HOW TO ROOT IT OUT.

THE DEBATES THAT CONTINUE ABOUT THE COMMON CORE.

AND HOW TO ASSESS THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN K-12.

I THINK WE'LL -- THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING MOST ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THE MATERIALS FROM THE THREE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT THE IDAHO VOTING PUBLIC IN GENERAL IS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.

I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY A PART OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE THAT IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW BROADLY THAT'S HELD.

>> AND SIMILAR TALKING ABOUT SORT OF THESE NATIONALIZED ISSUES MAKING A FOOTHOLD IN POLITICS, WE ALSO HAVE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE WHERE A LOT OF CONVERSATION HAS BEEN AROUND THE 2020 ELECTION AND ELECTION SECURITY.

>> FOR SURE.

THIS CONTINUES TO BE A BIG POINT OF DISCUSSION.

AND LEGISLATORS AND SIMILAR SORT OF SECRETARY OF STATES OR OTHER ELECTION OFFICIAL RACES AND CAMPAIGNS SINCE 2020 IS ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY, WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S PRESENCE OF ELECTION FRAUD, WHICH IN GENERAL THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE VERY MUCH FRAUD, BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE A BIG ISSUE THAT'S REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT COME OUT IN THIS RACE AS WELL AMONG SOME OF THE CANDIDATES.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE FOR DOROTHY MOON AND MARCH SOUZA -- MARY SOUSA, THE CONCERN IS THERE IS FRAUD AND WE NEED TO GET RID OF IT, WHEREAS MCGRANE'S LEDGE -- MESSAGES SEEMS TO BE I'M ALL ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY, BUT HE'S NOT CLAIMING THERE WAS VOTER FRAUD IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS WHICH MAKES SENSE.

HE WAS IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS IN ADA COUNTY.

>> WHICH IS HOME TO A QUARTER OF THE STATE'S POPULATION ALREADY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RACES THAT WE DON'T HAVE DEBATES SCHEDULED FOR AS WELL.

THERE'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2, WITH CONGRESSMAN SIMPSON AND BRIAN SMITH.

THERE'S THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACES WHICH WOULD -- WHETHER AN INCUMBENT OR CHALLENGER, WHY WOULD A CANDIDATE DECIDE NOT TO DEBATE?

WHAT SORT OF ADVANTAGE DO THEY HAVE?

>> THERE CAN BE A FEW MOTIVATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITHDRAWING FROM THE DEBATE.

IF YOU'RE THE INCUMBENT, YOU MAY HAVE MORE TO LOSE THERE IF YOU DO DEBATE IN TERMS OF GETTING CAUGHT UP AND SAYING SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY OR JUST ANNIVERSARY TO DISCUSS ISSUES -- HAVING TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT YOU DON'T THINK SHOULD BE DEBATED.

AND AS THE INCUMBENT, YOU MAY HAVE NAME RECOGNITION, RIGHT.

SO YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THE TIME REQUEST VOTERS TO SHARE WHAT -- WITH VOTERS TO SHARE YOUR ISSUES.

YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

YOU MAY HAVE MORE RESOURCES TO CAMPAIGN, AND SO I THINK WHERE THE ISSUE CAN BE IS FOR CHALLENGERS WHO AREN'T GETTING -- GETTING THAT TIME TO SPEAK WITH VOARSES.

-- VOTERS.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST STAGE IN THE ELECTION CYCLE.

THIS IS ONLY THE PRIMARY WHERE THE PARTIES ARE NOMINATING THEIR CANDIDATES.

BUT STEPHANIE, YOU LOOKED INTO SOME NUMBERS AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INSTANCES WHERE THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.

>> YES, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE A VARIETY OF OPINIONS ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE LAST TIME THE DEMOCRATS SUCCEEDED IN ELECTING A STATEWIDE OFFICER WAS MARYLAND HOWARD WHO WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, WHO'S TERM ENDED IN 2007.

SO IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS SINCE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE WON ONE OF THOSE RACES.

NOW, GIVEN THAT, IT DOES STAND TO BE TRUE THAT IF YOU WANT TO PARK PICKING WHO'S GOING TO WIN, THEN YOU NEED TO VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MOST LIKELY WINNERS IN THOSE STATEWIDE RACES ARE GONNA HAPPEN.

AND IT IS BY THE WAY, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION'S OFFICE WHERE THE DEMOCRATS TEND TO GET THE MOST VOTES.

THEY COME CLOSEST.

YOU USUALLY -- WELL, IN SEVERAL OF THE LAST ELECTORAL CYCLES, THEY'VE HAD 49% OF THE VOTE IN THAT RACE.

SO THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY CLOSE, BUT THEY DON'T WIN.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A DEMOCRAT WIN IN NOVEMBER, THEN YOU BETTER LIKE WHO'S GOING TO RIN THE PRY -- WIN THE PRIMARY IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS AND WE ALSO LOOKED BY THE WAY AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE FILING FOR OFFICE AND THERE ARE 105 SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE TOTAL AND 59 OF THEM HAVE NO DEMOCRATS RUNNING AT ALL.

SO THE PRIMARY IS -- REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS THE ONLY ELECTION IN THOSE CASES.

>> AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION IN POLITICAL CIRCLES OF WHETHER A DEMOCRAT SHOULD STICK TO THEIR GUNS AND NOMINATE GOOD CANDIDATES, WHETHER THEY SHOULD CROSS OVER TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

YOU'VE LOOKED AT SOME NUMBERS, WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND AS FAR AS PARTY AFFILIATION?

>> YEAH.

IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE, RIGHT, FOR THE MINORITY PARTY IN A SUPER MAJORITY STATE.

HOW DO YOU GROW, RECRUIT CANDIDATES, GROW YOUR VOTER BASE.

AND THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ENCOURAGEMENT OF REGISTERED DEMOCRATS OR UNAFFILIATED VOTERS TO REGISTER AS A REPUBLICAN.

AND THERE DOES SEEM TO BE SOME MOVEMENT, NOT HUGE, HUGE NUMBERS.

HUGE CHANGES IN CHANGE BUT I WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE 2018 PRIMARY AND SINCE THEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS GAINED OVER 100,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT GROWTH IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SHIFTS AND THAT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH THIS TIME AROUND.

>> AND 2018 WAS THE LAST GOVERNOR PRIMARY, RIGHT.

SO THOSE WOULD BE THE NUMBERS TO COMPARE.

>> EXACTLY.

THOSE WOULD BE THE PRIMARIES WHERE YOU TEND TO GET HIGHER TURNOUT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT COMPETITIVE PRIMARY RACES.

>> AND THEN WE HAVE JUST ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT IN THE SHOW.

I DO ALSO WANT TO GET TO THE LEGISLATURE.

NOT JUST THE STATEWIDE RACES.

WE'VE HAD A REDISTRICTING CYCLE, AT LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

STEPHANIE, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IS GOING TO BE THE IMPACT TO THE LEGISLATURE THIS CYCLE?

>> I EXPECT TO SEE HIGHER THAN USUAL TURNOVER.

AND I KNOW JACKIE HAS BETTER INFORMATION ON THIS, BUT GENERALLY WE'LL SEE MORE INCUMBENTS HAVING TO RUN AGAINST INCUMBENTS AS THE NEW DISTRICTS ARE CREATED.

AND A FEW CASES WHERE THE DISTRICT IS BRAND NEW AND NO INCUMBENT LIVES THERE -- >> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT 8 LEAST FOUR RACES WITH INCUMBENTS RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

SEVERAL OPEN RACES.

SO WHILE WE MAY NOT -- IT'S -- WE MAY BE LACKING DEMOCRATS IN SOME RACES, WE'RE STILL GONNA SEE A SIZABLE TURNOVER, EVEN JUST FROM THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

AS A REMINDER TO OUR VIEWERS, IN ORDER TO VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, YOU MUST BE AFILLED AS A REPUBLICAN VOTER.

THE WINNERS OF ALL PRIMARY RACELESS APPEAR ON THE GENERAL LEXER BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED TO VOTE YET, YOU CAN DO THAT IN PERSON AT THE POLLS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT VOTEIDAHO.COM.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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