>>> 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 BLISS THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>>> LAWMAKERS STAY MORE STARTS AND STOPS THIS WEEK AS THEY TRIED TO WRAP UP THE SESSION BY FRIDAY, BUT A RESURRECTED LIBRARY DEBATE STALLED ADJOURNMENT PLANS.

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

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

THIS WEEK SENATE MINORITY LEADER MICHELLE STENNETT JOINS ME TO DISCUSS HER VIEW OF THIS SESSION'S SUCCESSES AND ADDITION POINTS.

THEN, KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS AND BETSEY RUSSELL OF THE IDAHO PRESS GIVE US THE LATEST ON THE LEGISLATURE'S JAMMABLE TOWARD ADJOURNMENT.

BUT FIRST, GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFULLY SHELBY ROGNSTAD WHO PLANNED TO RUN AS A DEMOCRAT ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT HE'LL FILE AS A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR AFTER LEARNING LAST WEEK THAT HE WILL NOT BE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT THIS MAY.

HE WAS AFILLED SINCE A REPUBLICAN VOTERS SINCE AT LEAST 2014 SO HE COULD PARTICPATE IN LOCAL GOP PRIMARIES.

ON THURSDAY HE KICKED OFF HIS WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN AT THE STATEHOUSE.

ON THURSDAY GOVERNORS SIGNED A TEXAS-STYLE FETAL HEARTBEAT ABORTION BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW FAMILY MEMBERS OF PREGNANT WOMAN'S FETUS TO SUE ABORTION PROVIDERS.

HE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THE BILL MAY HAVE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS.

HE WROTE, THE LEGISLATION RISKS RETRAUMATIZING VICTIMS BY AFFORDING MONETARY INCENTIVES TO WRONG DOIRS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF RAPISTS.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE WITH KEVIN AND BETSY LATER IN THE SHOW.

>>> ON MONDAY THE HOUSE TOOK UP A LONG ANTICIPATED EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY BILL, WHICH PROVIDES FLEXIBLE FUNDS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO USE FOR PROGRAMS WHICH COULD INCLUDE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

>> THIS BILL IS NOT AN APPROPRIATION BILL.

THIS BILL IS SAYING THAT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO START DISTRIBUTING ANY LITERACY MONEY.

THE MONEY WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS.

ANY FUTURE MONEYS WOULD BE IMPACTED.

BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THIS MONEY BASED UPON FAILURE.

WE'RE GOING TO TRIBUTE THIS MONEY HALF OF IT UPON SUCCESS AND THE OTHER HALF IS GOING OUT IN ENROLLMENT.

PART OF THE POINT IS, YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU HAVE A CLASSROOM OF OPPORTUNITIES OF -- STUDENTS OF 20, 25 STUDENTS.

HALF OF THEM ARE PROFICIENT AND HALF ARE NOT.

YOU DON'T IGNORE HALF.

SO SENDING MONEY OUT TO THE TEACHERS SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN THE PROPER EDUCATION FOR ALL THEIR STUDENTS IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE INCENTIVIZED TO GET THEIR STUDENTS TO MOVE FROM BELOW BASIC TO BASIC, BASIC TO PROFICIENT, AND MAINTAIN THEIR PROFICIENCY AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

>> THIS IS IN FACT A FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN BILL.

AND I THINK I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.

AND I'M GOING TO VOTE NO.

WE HAVE NOT HAD THE POLICY DISCUSSION THAT REPRESENTS MANY HOUSEHOLDS, MANY FAMILIES, IN THIS STATE WHO DO NOT WANT THEIR 5-YEAR-OLD TO BE IN A FUXZ.

-- FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IN A 40-2 NOON VOTE AND ON WEDNESDAY IT PASSED THE SENATE IN A 31-3 VOTE.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR.

>>> ON TUESDAY THE SENATE PASSED A WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BILL THAT WOULD USE $50 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO HELP FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SENATOR JEFF AGENBROAD SET THE RENT RATE AT THE PROPERTIES MUST BE AFFORDABLE TO 0% OF THE AREA'S MEDIAN INCOME RESIDENTS.

THAT FUNDING COULD HELP CREATE ABOUT 1,000 ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS IN IDAHO.

>> WORKFORCE HOUSING AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, THAT IT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE OR PROVIDE FUNDING FOR.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A SHORTFALL IN WHAT WE'VE SEEN FOR OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES.

AND WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO WORK ON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T MOVED FORWARD ON THAT THIS SESSION.

>> WE HAVE TEACHERS AND NURSES AND PRINCIPALS LIVING IN RVs OUT ON THE FOREST BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET HOUSING.

AND WE HAVE TRIED TO HIRE STAFF IN OUR SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY THOSE -- MOST DIFFICULT ONES WHICH ARE SPECIALTY -- SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WE HAVE HAD TO BREAK CONTRACTS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET ANY HOUSING.

AND AT SOME POINT IT DOES START TO BREAK DOWN OUR SYSTEMS.

THAT WE ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR.

>> I SNEED PEOPLE.

WE NEED SERVICES -- WE NEED PEOPLE.

WE NEED SERVICES.

WE NEED PEOPLE THAT CAN WORK IN THE HOSPITALS, CAN BE EMTs, CAN BE FIREMEN, POLICEMEN, TEACHERS.

THIS IS ONE EFFORT TO HELP THEM A LITTLE BIT.

THIS ISN'T THE TOTAL ANSWER, BUT IT IS A ACCEPT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION -- STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THANK YOU.

>> THAT BILL NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR.

>>> THE HOUSE ALSO NARROWLY PASSED ANOTHER COMPONENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD PUT $15 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT TARGETING AT BANDING DAYCARE OPTIONS WITH THE IDEA OF GETTING MORE PARENTS BACK TO WORK AMID NATIONWIDE CHILD CARE SHORTAGES.

THAT PASSED IN A 38-32 VOTE.

WHILE IT WASN'T THEIR FIRST CHOICE ON TUESDAY, THE SENATE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD INCREASE THE GROCERY TAX CREDIT BY $20.

>> THE FOOD TAX CREDIT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008, WHICH WAS BEFORE MANY ALL OF US PUT SENATOR STENNETT WERE HERE.

AND IT'S BEEN UNCHANGED SINCE 2015.

IN 2015 IT GOT RAISED TO $100 FOR RESIDENTS AND $120 FOR SENIORS.

AND SO IF YOU TAKE FROM 2015 AND YOU TAKE AN INFLATION CALCULATOR USING THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, IT SHOWS IT SHOULD BE $118 FOR RESIDENTS AND 141 FOR SENIORS CITIZENS.

AND SO REALLY ALL THIS DOES IS GET THE FOOD TAX CREDIT UP TO COMPENSATE FOR INFLATION OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, AND WITH THE RECENT BUMP IN INFLATION, IT PROBABLY DOESN'T EVEN COVER THAT.

>> IT IS PRETTY ADDITION COURAGING THAT -- DISCOURAGING THAT WE'RE AT $20 OF FOOD CREDIT GIVEN OUR EXPENSIVE FOOD IS GETTING.

AND THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2023 FOR THAT THEM TO GET IT.

BUT WE DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING BETTER THAN THAT, AND SIMILAR TO THE LAST BILL WHERE WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS ON FIXED INCOMES AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT FIXED, THIS IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

BUT IT IS PRETTY DISCOURAGING THAT WE CAN'T SEEM TO DO BETTER FOR OUR PEOPLE.

BUT I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT BILL PASSED THE SENATE.

>>> LY AFTER PASSING THE HOUSE IN A 23-R 2-27 VOTE.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR.

>>> ON THURSDAY THE HOUSE KILLED A BILL IN A 33-36 VOTE TO FUND THE IDAHO COMMISSION FOR LIBRARIES AFTER ACCUSATIONS THE LIBRARIES WERE TRIBUTING OBSCENE MATERIALS TO CHILDREN.

There is no first Amendment right to harm a child by exposing them to graphic sexual material.

These are materials that can't be posted on YouTube They can't be published in the n They couldn't be distributed on the House floor.

But these are professionals and a professional organization who are actively defending.

Their ability to place these mat in sections of the library available to children.

We're so far away from what this bill is about and trying to inject all this fe and doubt when in fact we have presented to us that the person in charge of this agency recognized there was a problem and took action to solve it.

Why can't we just leave it there If the head of the commission libraries ignored the thing and ignored the concer then they do have it.

Maybe we'd have a basis for this discussion.

But they took the action we would want them to take.

So I I'm still listening for whe there's any positive indication that the commission for librarie wants to promote pornography fo >>> THE JOINT BUDGET COMMIT PUT YOU ON A NEW BUDGET FOR FRIDAY.

WE'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS LATER IN THE SHOW.

>>> SNORT MINORITY LEADER MICHELLE STENNETT WON'T SEEK RE-ELECTION AFTER SERVING NEARLY THEY ARE TEEN YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SHE JOINED ME ON THURSDAY TO DISCUSS WHAT SHE CONSIDERS THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES TO BE FROM THIS YEAR.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

TO START IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT ARE THE SUCCESSES OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT ONE, MY MY OWN PERSONAL BILL WAS THE CAREGIVER BILL.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT AS WE WERE ROLLING ON IT FROM COVID AND EVEN BEFORE COVID, WE DIDN'T HAVE CONSISTENT POLICY AMONGST THE MEDICAL FACILITIES ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN AS A PATIENT ADVOCATE FOR THE PATIENT THEMSELVES.

AND IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT WE NEEDED TO ALLOW FOR THAT KIND OF VISITATION.

SOME PEOPLE CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

SOME PEOPLE ARE IN CRISIS.

AND SO WHETHER IT IS A FAMILY MEMBER OR A -- ANOTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OR PATIENT ADVOCATE, HOWEVER IT IS, THAT THEY HAVE THAT ABILITY TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE SO THAT THEY HAVE THE CARE THAT THEY NEEDED.

>> I LISTENED TO EVERYONE -- EVERY ONE OF THOSE HEARINGS AND LISTENED TO DOZENS OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEETINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN WE HEARD STORIES OF PEOPLE WHOSE LOVED ONES WERE IN THE HOSPITAL OR NURSING HOME FACILITIES WHO WERE ISOLATED BECAUSE OF VISITOR RESTRICTIONS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST NOW GOT AYESTERDAYS WITH YOUR LEGISLATION AND AN ATTEMPT FROM REPRESENTATIVE YOUNG IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT SORT OF FEEDBACK HAVE YOU GOTTEN ON THAT?

>> WONDERFUL FEEDBACK.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANYBODY DISSENTING.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEDICAL FACILITIES, HOSPITALS, AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, SO ON, FELT COMFORTABLE WITH IT, BUT THE BILL SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE FACILITY'S PROTOCOLS.

WE JUST DON'T WANT YOU WALKING INTO THE DOOR AND NOT MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE MINDFUL OF WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS THE -- IN THE FACILITY AND THEIR PROTOCOLS.

IT WAS WITH THE WORK OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND VARIOUS FACILITIES THAT WE DID CRAFT THE LANGUAGE, SO YOU HAVE ACCESS RESPECTFULLY, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED.

>> WHAT OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS SESSION STAND OUT TO YOU?

>> WE DID HAVE SOME OBJECTIONABLE LANGUAGE IN TENET POLICIES WHICH WAS REMARKABLY WELL WREFD IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, ABOUT TAKING -- MAKING SURE THERE IS FOR EQUITIABILITY AND SOME OF THE LANGUAGE ABOUT TENET POLICIES, THAT THERE WAS CLEANUP ON THAT.

THAT WAS AGAIN JUST SOME OF IT'S ARCHAIC LANGUAGE AND SOME OF ITS INTENTIONAL.

IT NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS -- THAT THE TENET HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE A SAY IN THE PROCESS AND THAT IT WASN'T SO LANDLORD HEAVY.

BUT I THINK IT WAS VERY CAREFULLY CRAFTED.

I BELIEVE IT WAS SENATOR WINTROW WHO MOVED IT FORWARD AND WORKED A LOT WITH THOATH -- BOTH TENETS AND LORDSES -- LANDLORDS ABOUT HOW IT'S MORE CONPREENSZ AND CLEARER CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT.

SO IT WAS REALLY DIDN'T AND -- DONE AND I THINK IT WAS TIME TO MAKE THE CHANGES.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE OR FOLLOWING THIS BILL, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE COVENANTS THAT SENATOR WINTROW WAS CONCERNED WITH?

>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER ALL OF THEM.

SOME OF THEM WERE HAVING TO DO WITH RACE.

SOME WERE HAVING TO DO WITH -- JUST SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH FAMILY SIZES.

IT WAS -- IT REALLY WAS QUITE A CONVOLUTED ESTIMATE ERGZ OF THINGS THAT YOU -- SMATTERING OF THINGS YOU WOULDN'T THOUGHT LONG AGO.

>> BUT DISCRIMINATORY FROM THE '50S AND '60S.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

MORE AERIC LANGUAGE THAT HAS -- HIGH PRESSURE ARCHAIC LANGUAGE THAT HADN'T BEEN ADDRESSED.

BUT IT WAS OVERDUE FOR MAKING SURE THAT DOESN'T PERSIST.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE DISAPPOINTMENTS THIS YEAR FOR YOU?

>> I THINK WHAT CONTINUALLY DISAPPOINTS ME IS WE GO INTO A LEGISLATIVE SESSION KNOWING FULL WELL WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US THEY WANT.

AND WE CONSISTENTLY END UP ADJOURNING NOT HAVING ADDRESSED THOSE ISSUES.

AND A CLASSIC EXAM IS DOING -- EXNL IS DOING MEEKFUL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

JUST A CLEAN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

A LOT OF, BECAUSE OF THE ESCALATION OF PRICES ON FOOD, COULD WE DO SOMETHING EVEN IF IT WASN'T A FULL GROCERY REPEAL, COULD WE DO SOME KIND OF RELIEF.

THERE ARE WAYS OF GOING ABOUT IT WHERE YOU COULD HAVE -- WITH PEOPLE UNDER A CERTAIN ECONOMIC LEVEL WOULD GET RELIEF SOMETHING LIKE YOU DO WITH SNAP OR FOOD STAMPS, WHERE YOU'RE NOT WAITING FOR A SMALL STIPEND TO COME AT THE END OF A YEAR.

INSTEAD YOU WOULD GET IT AS YOU'RE PURCHASING, WHICH IS MORE IMMEDIATELY -- IMMEDIATE RELIEF.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY THING WE WERE CAPABLE OF PASSING WHICH WE JUST DID YESTERDAY WAS $20 GIVEN BACK AT THE END OF I -- I THINK IT DOESN'T START UNTIL 2022 OR -- >> 2024.

>> SOMETHING.

IT'S SO FAR OUT.

AND IT'S ONLY $20.

AND IT COMES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

IT ISN'T IMMEDIATE RELIEF.

IT'S A LONG TIME BEFORE IT COMES INTO PLAY.

$20 IS NOTHING.

IT ISN'T GOING TO BE A MEANINGFUL RELIEF.

AND THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHICH WE CAN'T SEEM TO -- TO ACCOMPLISH BY THE TIME THE SESSION IS OVER.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES LIKE BUMPING UP THE GROCERY TAX CREDIT BY $20 PER PERSON OR THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, DOING 150% INSTEAD OF 200%, IS IT BETTER TO HAVE THE BITES OF THE PROBLEM OR WOULD YOU RATHER THEY HOLD BACK AND WAIT AND TAKE ITS TIME AND TACK THE PROBLEM -- EVEN IF IT TAKES LONGER.

>> PHILOSOPHICALLY, SOME OF THOSE THAT SAID NO TO THE BILLS HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES FOR PASSING MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE THAT DOES MORE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR BROATS.

I'M OF THE OPINION -- PROTEST.

I'M OF THE OPINION, EVEN IF IT'S A BIT WE CAN DO MORE OF A BITE OR SOMETHIG ELSE THAT REPEALS IT AND DOES SOMETHING MORE MEANINGFUL.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT AS IN THE CASE OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, ALL OF THE COUNTIES TOLD US THAT YOU HAD TO BRING IT BACK UP TO 200%, BECAUSE WHEN WE PASSED THE LAW LAST YEAR, IT THREW SO MANY OF OUR SENIORS AND VETERANS AND PEOPLE WITH DISEANLTS UNDER THE BUS -- DISABILITIES UNDER THE BUS, INADVERTENTI --LY, WHY WOULD THERE BE -- THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS WHEN WE COULD HAVE RECLAIMED THOSE THAT LOST THEIR COMPENSATION.

SO IT'S THOSE SORTS OF THINGS I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THAT BECAUSE AT LEAST IT WOULD HAVE CAPTURED SOME, BUT IS THAT GOOD POLICY MAKING?

SO I KEEP HOPING THAT YOU'LL GET A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE DISCONTENT OF, THIS IS AN INSULT TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY DESPERATELY NEED OUR HELP.

>> WE HAVE MORE WITH SENATOR STENNETT ONLINE.

YOU'LL FIND THE PLINK AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

JOINING ME TODAY TO DISCUSS THE END MAYBE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ARE KEVIN RICHERT FROM IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS AND BETSY RUSSELL FROM THE IDAHO PRESSION.

KEVIN, WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE DEBATE OVER LIBRARIES?

>> IT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON TWO FRONT.

ON THE BUDGET FRONT AND THE PALMSY FRONT.

EARLIER ON FRED THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MET AGAIN TO TRY TO WRITE A BUDGET THAT MIGHT PASS.

BUT $3 1/2 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET.

THIS IS FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WOULD HAVE GONE INTO TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND THAT'S A BIG CUT.

WE'LL SEE NOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT BUDGET AS WE SPEAK HERE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

WE'RE NOT SURE YET.

AND THERE'S A HOUSE RESOLUTION THAT WOULD CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY AND LOOK AT OBSCENITY, PORNOGRPHY, IN LIBRARIES.

>> AND THIS IS A DEBATE THAT I LISTENED TO ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

CONCERNS THAT OBSCENE MATERIALS HANDS IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION IN LIBRARIES AND LISTENING TO TADEBATE, IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED THAT COPIES OF HUSTLER WERE TUCKED INTO NEXT TO RANGER RICK THAT.

WAS THE PHONE THE DEBATE WAS TAKING.

-- TONE THE DEBATE WAS TAKING.

THEY WERE USING THE WORD "PORNOGRAPHY."

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, BETSY?

>> EVEN IF YOU THINK THE WORST OF THE WORST, THE EXAMS OF THE QUOTE SUT THAT THEIR SO CONCERNED, WHAT THEY CALLED A SUPER SECRET FOLDER AND PASSED AROUND THE HOUSE BILL, THOSE WERE NOT COPIES OF HUSTLER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THERE WAS A SEX EDUCATION TEXTBOOK CALLED, QUITS -- "IT'S PERL NORMAL."

AND THERE WERE TEEN COMING OF AGE -- TEENS COMING OF ABLE, AND SOME ADULT BOOKS.

>> WITH EXPLICIT SCENES, TO BE CLEAR.

>> RIGHT, BUT NOSE ARE NOT IN THE CHILDREN SECTION OF THE LIBRARY.

THOSE ARE THE ADULT SECTION.

THE TEEN BOOKS FROM THE TEEN SECTION.

THE SEX EDUCATION BOOK FOR CHILDREN IS A YOUTH SEX EDUCATION BOOK THAT'S PLACED IN A PLACE WHERE IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE OVER AGE 10.

BUT THERE WAS NOT -- THERE WON'T THINK THAT THERE'S -- DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S PORNOGRAPHY IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF OUR LIBRARIES WHERE KIDS GO FOR STORY TIME AND TO READ THEIR BOARD BOOKS.

>> THESE DEBATES HAVE A TANGIBLE EFFECTS ON BUDGETS.

THIS IS REM IN ITENCE WITH HIGHER EDUCATION LAST YEAR.

THE HIGHER BUDGET CUTS -- EDUCATION BUDGET CUTS CAME TO TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS SPREAD ACROSS THREE UNIVERSITIES.

WE'RE WITH HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION, OUT OF A SMALL LIBRARY COMMISSION BUDGET.

THIS IS A PRETTY BIG BITE OUT OF THE BUDGET IF THAT'S THE BUDGET THAT WINDS UP PASSING.

>> ANY INDICATION ON WHETHER WHAT THE -- SO TO GO BACK TO THE POLICY SIDE, THE HOUSE HAS INTRODUCED A BILL AS OF -- ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, TO FORM A WORKING GROUP TO LOOK AT OBSCENE MATERIALS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO MINORS.

>> RESOLUTION.

BECAUSE A HOUSE RESOLUTION MEANS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO -- SO I BYPASSES BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE ON BILL 666.

THE SENATE HAS REFUSED TO TAKE UP.

HOUSE RESOLUTION, IF IT PASSES THE HOUSE, THAT'S IT.

WORKING.

GAME OVER.

>> WITH NO PUBLIC HEARING, TO BE CLEAR.

>> EXACTLY.

>> STRAIGHT TO THE SECOND READING.

>> AND THAT RESOLUTION HAS SOME PRETTY STRONGLY WORDED WHEREAS CLAUSES SAYING THAT IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE OBSCENE OR EXPLICIT MATERIAL TO CHILDREN IN LIBRARIES.

AND THAT THIS IS ILLEGAL AND THAT THIS IS A MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE STATE.

ALL THOSE STATEMENTS ARE IN THERE QUITE STRONGLY.

BUT IT IS JUST A RESOLUTION.

THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS ENOUGH TO SATISFY THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE COMMISSION FOR LIBRARIES BUDGET, WHICH DIED ON A 36-THAT 3 VOTE.

AND I HAVE -- 33 SLEET.

I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH REPRESENTATIVE WENDY HORMAN WHO WAS THE SPONSOR THAT HAVE BILL.

AND WHO ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORTED HOUSE BILL 666.

THE BILL TO CRIMINALIZE LIBRARIANS IF CHILDREN GET ACCESS TO EXPLICIT MATERIAL IN LIBRARIES.

AND I ASKED HER IF SHE IS NOW SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET THAT NEWLY CAME OUT THIS MORNING, WHICH MAKES MORE CUTS TO LIBRARIES.

IT CUTS ANOTHER THREE AND A HALF MILLION AND IT COMES OUT OF TECHNOLOGY GRANT TO LIBRARIES.

AND SHE SAID NO.

AND I THOUGHT, OH, MY, IS SHE GOING TO OPPOSE THIS BUDGET, BECAUSE WHEN SHE OPPOSES A BUDGET THAT SHE HELPS CRAFT, THAT'S PER WAYSIVE TO THE HOUSE AND THEY KILL THE BUDGET.

I ASKED WHY AND SHE SAID SHE OPPOSES THE BUDGET CUTS.

SHE SAID THEY SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED BY HAVING THE FUNDING.

SHE WAS THE SPONSOR AND VOTED FOR IT.

AND IT WILL NEED TO PICK UP THREE TO PASS.

>> THIS IS A TOUGH BUDGET VOTE TO HANDICAP HERE, BECAUSE BETSY NAILED IT ON THE HEALTH.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME VOTES PROBABLY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSET TO SEE THE CUT IN THE TECHNOLOGY.

YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE, AND WE SAW IT IN DEBATE IN JI FACT ON FRIDAY MORNING, RON SAYING THESE CUTS AREN'T BIG ENOUGH.

WE SHOULD TAKE EVEN MORE OUT OF THIS BUDGET.

>> AND EHE EVEN TRIED TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO CUT ANOTHER ONE AND A HALF MILLION OUT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOY LIBRARIES BUDGET.

EVERY NEW INITIATIVE THEY WERE PROPOSING AND THE 3 AND A HALF MILLION AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR MEN HAD SLICED OUT.

HE DIDN'T GET A SECOND AND HIS MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

>> IT'S HARD TO GET 36 YES VOTES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, BUT WHO COULD HAVE THOUGHT WE'D THINK OF THIS AS THE GOING HOME BUDGET BILL IN THE SESSION.

>> I'VE SEEN STRANGER THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS VERY LEGISLATIVE.

CAN'T SAY I'M SURPRISED.

YOU KNOW, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED THIS -- I DO WANT TO GET TO GOVERNOR LITTLE'S VETO NOT -- NOT VETO LETTER.

HIS TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR THE ABORTION BILLS.

AND THE REASON I CALLED IT A VETO/NOT VETO LETTER, WHEN YOU READ IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE A VETO LETTER.

HE LISTS ALL OF HIS CONCERNS WITH THE LEGISLATION, BUT HE SIGNED IT ANYWAY.

>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF TRANSMITTAL LETTERS OR AT LEAST A COUPLE THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE GOVERNOR IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

HOW BILL 377, THE INDOCTRINATION BILL LAST YEAR.

THE REAPPORTIONMENT LEGISLATION THAT GOT SHOT DOWN IN COURT.

WE HEARD THIS SHSTICK FROM GOVERNOR LITTLE BEFORE.

[OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >> HIS SIGNING LETTER OF SENATE BILL 1110 IN WHICH HE INDICATED THAT IT LIKELY WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BUT HE WOULD LEAVE THAT UP TO THE IDAHO SUPREME COURT TO WEIGH IN.

THIS GOING MUCH FURTHER.

HE SAYS HE BELIEVES IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THIS IS A PARTY FOR TE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

-- MATTER FOR THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING HE KNOWINGLY SIGNED INTO LAW A BILL THAT HE BELIEVES TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THAT HE IS WITH THOSE PUSHING THE LAW ON PRINCIPLE AS AN OPPONENT OF ABORTION BUT HE'S CALLING ON THE LEGISLATURE TO FIX THIS BILL AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LAWSUIT MECTISM AND SO FORTH.

THEY CAN'T DO THAT TO FIX A BILL THEY JUST PASSED WITH AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE.

IT TAKES EFFECT IN 30 DAYS.

HE CALLED ON THEM TO FIX IT NEXT YEAR.

>> NEXT YEAR THERE WILL LIKELY HAVE BEEN A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO IT AND WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE LEGAL CHALLENGES WITH THE TEXAS LAW THAT THIS WAS MODELED ON.

>> AND BY NEXT YEAR, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MAY HAVE OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE AND THERE MAY BE A LEGAL ISSUE ON THIS MATTER.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS LUKEWARM RECEPTION THAT WE'VE SEEN ON SOME OF THE MAJOR INITIATIVES.

THE GROCERY TAX CREDIT, THE LITERACY INITIATIVE, THE SIR BREAKER.

-- CIRCUIT BREAKER.

THERE SEEMS TO BE THE THEME OF THIS IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

>> THIS BILL IS THE BEST WE CAN DO ON A LOT OF FRONT.

AND I THINK EXPECTATIONS WERE SO HIGH WHEN YOU COME INTO TOWN, YOU HAVE A 1.9 BILLION-DOLLAR SURPLUS AND YOU WANT TO SEE HOW THAT CARVED UP.

I THINK IT'S INEVITABLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM SAYING, IS A $46 MILLION CURRENT PROGRAM THAT ISN'T REALLY A CURRENT PROGRAM, IT'S A LITERACY PROGRAM, IS THAT THE WEST WE CAN DO FOR ALL-DAY KINDER S. THE NEXT TAX BILL, FIRST BILL THAT PASSED T INCOME TAX REDUCTION THAT IS LAWMAKERS WERE LUKEWARM ABOUT EVEN THEN BOOZE THEY SAID THIS IS TAKING MONEY -- BECAUSE THEY TAKING OFF MONEY OFF THE TABLE.

THEY WERE RIGHT.

I THINK -- IT SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISING THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY LAWMAKERS ON SO MANY FRONTS FEELING LIKE, EH, IT'S THE BEST WE COULD DO THIS YEAR.

>> AND IT'S FUNNY.

WHEN WE HAD SO MUCH OF A PROJECTED SURPLUS GOING INTO THIS SESSION, 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF IDAHO'S BUDGET EVERY YEAR, ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT WE DIDN'T SEE MORE BOLTED INITIATIVES BESIDES -- BOLD INITIATIVES BESIDES INCOME TAX CUTS AND A $20 GROCERY CREDIT?

>> WE DID SEE BOLD INITIATIVES ON INVESTING.

A LOT OF THE SURPLUS FUNDS AND ALSO INVESTIGATING THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RAVENING PLAN -- RESCUE PLAN.

AND HE -- 300 MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE SEWER AND WASTEWATER PLANTS AT -- IN SMALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS IDAHO IS AN EXAMPLE.

AND A BIG ONE.

HE PROPOSED 100 MILLION TO UPGRADE BROADBAND ACROSS IDAHO.

HE PROCEEDS 25 MILLION FOR CHILD CARE INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT.

THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT GO ALONG WITH ALL THOSE, BUT IT WENT PARTWAY.

THEY FUNDED -- THEY FUND THE FULL 300 MILLION FOR TH WEISS WATER AND SEWER -- WASTEWATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.

>> WHICH IS HUGE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES.

>> IT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR THOSE COMMUNITY.

THE HOUSE KILLED THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUDGET BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE BROADBAND FUNDING.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ARPA FUNDS AND THAT MONEY IS NOT EVEN FROM ARPA.

IT'S FROM THE BI -- BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.

SO THAT GOT CUT DOWN TO LESS.

BUT THEY COULD STILL COME BACK AND APPROVE THE REST OF IT NEXT YEAR.

THEY CUT THE CHILD CARE INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT DOWN TO 15 MILLION.

AND THEY APPROVED THE 15 MILLION.

AND THE GOVERNOR PROCEEDED AND THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A $200 MILLION ONGOING INVESTMENT IN OUR LOCAL BRIDGES.

ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW NOW.

IS THAT ONGOING?

MAYBE THAT'S ONE-TIME.

IT WIPES OUT A THIRD OF OUR BACKLOG DETERIORATING BRIDGES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

SO THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED, BIG INVESTMENTS, THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE IMPACT FOR GENERATIONS IN IDAHO.

>> AND THE LEGISLATURE COULD GO ALL IN ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL FOR ARP AREA FOR PARENT GRANT, AND TEACHER BONUSES.

>> AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE FAMILY FOUNDATION, FOR BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

BY THE FRIEND OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND FOR THE CORPORATION OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING.