>> 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 BROADCAST.

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS RECESSED BECAUSE OF A COVID OUTBREAK, AND PERHAPS THE ONLY SURPRISE IS THAT IT TOOK THIS LONG FOR THE VIRUS TO HIT.

>> I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

>> I MOVE THE HOUSE INCONCURRENCE WITH THE SENATE, DOES NOW RECESS UNTIL THE HOUR OF 12 NOON, TUESDAY, APRIL 6th, 2021.

>> MR. SPEAKER I SECOND THE MOTION.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK AN OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 HAS PROMPTED THE LEGISLATURE TO RECESS UNTIL APRIL 6th.

BETSY RUSSELL OF THE "IDAHO PRESS" AND KEVIN RICHERT OF "IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS" JOIN ME LATER IN THE SHOW TO DISCUSS THE LEAD-UP TO THIS AND THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS.

>> ALSO, ALEX ADAMS, ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE IDAHO DIVISION OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, GIVES US A RUNDOWN OF THE BILLIONS IN FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS IDAHO WILL RECEIVE AS PART OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT.

>> BUT FIRST, A VACCINE UPDATE.

THIS WEEK, THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE ANNOUNCED ALL IDAHOANS AGES 16 AND OLDER WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE STARTING APRIL 26th.

IDAHOANS AGES 16-44 WITH AT LEAST ONE MEDICAL CONDITION WILL BE ELIGIBLE STARTING APRIL 12th.

BUT ACROSS IDAHO, SOME PROVIDERS ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED EARLY, THROUGH SO-CALLED NO-WASTE WAIT LISTS.

IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE THE VACCINES NEED TO BE USED WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ONCE THE VIAL IS OPENED, IF SOMEONE CANCELS AN APPOINTMENT, THE PROVIDER HAS THE ABILITY TO CALL UP SOMEONE WHO WANTS THE SHOT ASAP.

AVAILABILITY VARIES CITY BY CITY AND PROVIDER BY PROVIDER.

AS OF FRIDAY MORNING, NEARLY 350,000 IDAHOANS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

THIS COMES AS IDAHO'S POSITIVITY RATE HAS GONE UP, AND EASTERN IDAHO REPORTS THE WORST CURRENT COVID OUTBREAK IN THE COUNTRY.

>> ON THURSDAY, GOVERNR BRAD LITTLE ANNOUNCED WOIZ ACCEPTING ITS SHARE OF THE $1.9 TRILLION RELIEF PACKAGE PASSED BY CONGRESS LAST WEEK, DESPITE CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> I HAVE PLENTY OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE $1.9 TRILLION AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

AT THIS STAGE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE MASSIVE PRICE TAG OF THE PLAN IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

THE PLAN IS BEING MORTGAGED ON OUR CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

THEY WILL SHOULDER THE BURDEN TO PAY OFF THIS MASSIVE DEBT.

ALL THAT SAID, REJECTING THE FUNDS IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR IDAHO.

REJECTING THE FUNDS WOULD MEAN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, AND OTHER BIG STATES WOULD GET TO SPEND IDAHOANS' TAX DOLLARS.

REJECTING THE FUNDS WOULD MEAN IDAHO GIVES UP OUR SAY ON HOW OUR ALLOCATED SHARE GETS SPENT.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> ON FRIDAY, ALEX ADAMS, ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE IDAHO DIVISION OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, JOINED US TO OUTLINE WHAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, OR ARPA, MEANS FOR IDAHO.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.

CAN YOU START BY GIVING US A BROAD OVERVIEW OF HOW MUCH MONEY IDAHO WILL BE RECEIVING?

>> SURE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT INTO LAW, AND IT'S A MULTIFACETED BILL, WE'RE STILL SINKING OUR TEETH INTO IT.

IN TERMS OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT WOULD COME TO IDAHO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE JUST UNDER $3 BILLION, AND THAT'S BOTH FOR DISCRETIONARY AID AS WELL AS DIRECT PROGRAMS.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE ESTIMATING AT LEAST $2 BILLION IN DIRECT SUPPORT TO IDAHOANS AND IDAHO BUSINESSES BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS THAT COME THROUGH STATE GOVERNMENT, THERE'S STIMULUS CHECKS TO IDAHOANS, CHILD CARE CREDITS TO IDAHOANS, THERE'S PPE LOANS, TARGETED SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES LIKE RESTAURANTS AND LIVE VENUES, SO JUST UNDER $3 BILLION TO THE STATE THAT -- AT LEAST $2 BILLION DIRECTLY TO IDAHOANS.

>> AS YOU ALLUDED TO, NOT ALL OF THESE FUNDS ARE IN THE SAME POT.

SO LET'S START WITH THE NEARLY $1.9 BILLION IN DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WHAT CAN THOSE FUNDS BE SPENT ON?

>> SURE.

SO DISCRETIONARY IS RELATIVE TERM, YOU CAN'T JUST USE IT TO PLUG INTO THE STATE BUDGET.

YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE TREASURY.

SO OF WHAT'S COMING TO THE STATE, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT DISCRETIONARY BUCKETS.

THE FIRST IS THERE'S JUST UNDER $1.2 BILLION FOR THE COVID FISCAL RECOVERY FUND.

YOU CAN USE THAT FOR DIRECT COVID RELIEF OR NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS IS THE WAY IT'S PHRASED.

IF YOU THINK OF A LOT OF THE WAYS THE STATE USE ITS CARES ACT DOLLARS FOR VACCINE, DISTRIBUTION, TESTING, THOSE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES, BUT THE NEGATIVE SIDE, THAT'S REALLY SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE THINGS WE DID LAST YEAR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHERE WE PROVIDED GRANTS TO BUSINESSES THAT IMPACTED -- WE BACKFILLED THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TRUST FUND TO KEEP RATES DOWN FOR INDIVIDUALS.

BUT PERHAPS MOST INTERESTINGLY, THIS YEAR THEY ALLOW IT TO BE USED FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE TREASURY, OR LANGUAGE THAT CONGRESS PASSED SPECIFICALLY SPEAKS TO BEING ABLE TO USE IT FOR WATER, SEWER, AND BROAD BAND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND GROWING STATE LIKE IDAHO HAS SUBSTANTIAL NEEDS IN WATER AND BROAD BAND INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE SEE BROADBAND FRANKLY AS A KEY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'S THE KEY TO DISTANCE EDUCATION, REMOTE WORK, TELEHEALTH, AND SO MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF WHAT'S BECOMING EVERYDAY LIFE.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING SEE US GET CLOSELY TO USING AS MANY OF THESE FUNDS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ALLOWED.

BEYOND THAT, EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN IDAHO WILL BE RECEIVING DIRECT FUNDS SPECIFICALLY AT THE COUNTY AND CITY LEVEL.

COUNTIES WILL RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $347 MILLION, CITIES ARE SLATED TO RECEIVE 230 MILLION.

THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE GENERALLY GOING DIRECT TO THOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEY'LL HAVE THE LATITUDE TO USE THEM FOR THE SAME TYPES OF EXPENSES, COVID RELIEF, WATER, SEWER, BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE LOGIC BEHIND ALLOWING SOME OF THE MONEY TO BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT NOT, SAY, TRANSPORTATION.

I GET THE BROADBAND, BUT WHY WATER AND SEWER?

>> SO YOU'RE ASKING A LOT OF THE SAME QUESTIONS WE'RE ASKING.

THE WAY SOMEBODY DESCRIBED IT TO ME, IF YOU THINK OF SOME OF THE GREATEST NEEDS IDAHO HAS THAT GOVERNOR LITTLE'S PRIORITIZED IS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, BRIDGES, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE SPECIFICALLY CALLED-OUT INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS.

THE WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME IS THAT CONGRESS INTENDS TO ADVANCE ANOTHER PACKAGE, ANOTHER MULTITRILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, THAT WOULD BE MORE TARGETED ON TRANSPORTATION.

WE LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S FOCUSED ON TRANSIT AND GREEN ENERGY THINGS, BUT SINCE THERE'S A SEPARATE PACKAGE RELEVANT TO TRANSPORTATION THAT'S COMING IN, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SATIATE THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS WITH THIS PACKAGE AND DAMPEN THE MOMENT FOR THAT.

>> THAT POT OF MONEY, AND THEN THERE'S ALMOST A BILLION IN DIRECT AID, OR DIRECT FUNDS, RATHER, FOR STATE AGENCIES.

WHAT CAN THAT MONEY BE USED FOR?

>> SO THE DIRECT AID TO STATE AGENCIES ARE FOR SPECIFIC FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT PASSED THROUGH STATE AGENCIES.

THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT IS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORT.

ABOUT 440 MILLION OF THAT WOULD BE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THAT CAN BE USED BY SCHOOLS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023, AND IN GENERAL IT WAS INTENDED TO HELP SCHOOLS WITH SAFE REOPENING, OF COURSE.

IDAHO IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN TERMS OF OUR SCHOOLS BEING REOPENED, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT CERTAINLY SHOULD CONTINUE TO HELP OUR SCHOOLS WHO HAVE I.T.

NEEDS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

BEYOND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORT, THERE'S A LOT OF TARGETED AID FOR THINGS LIKE CHILD CARE GRANTS, THERE'S MONEY FOR SUBSTANCE USE GRANTS, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER GRANTS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

MEALS ON WHEELS.

SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF TARGETED PROGRAMS THAT WOULD FILTER THROUGH STATE AGENCIES.

>> THE STATE HAD TO MOVE PRETTY QUICKLY, AS DID ALL STATES, WITH THE CARES ACT FUNDING LAST YEAR.

WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR ARPA?

>> SO ON THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS IT GOES THROUGH DECEMBER 2024.

AS WE HAVE JUST UNDER FOUR YEARS TO ALLOCATE AND USE THOSE FUNDS.

ON THE DIRECT PROGRAMS THAT FILTER THROUGH STATE AGENCIES, IT REALLY VARIES BY PROGRAM.

THERE'S SOME THAT HAVE TO BE USED BY SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, THERE'S OTHERS THAT GO THROUGH 2025, AND THERE'S OTHERS THAT APPEAR TO HAVE NO DEADLINE, AS THERE'S NO DEADLINE SPECIFIED IN THE ACT ITSELF, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT A DEADLINE COULD BE ESTABLISHED IN AGENCY GUIDANCE AS THESE PROGRAMS WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT ELONGATED TIME FRAME, WE SEE THIS AS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE SITUATION WE ARE SAIRG AT WITH THE CARES ACT.

WE WERE AT THE OUTSET OF A PANDEMIC WITH A LOT OF VACCINE, WE WERE STANDING UP A PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COULD DO TESTING AND TRACING, AND YOU HAD NINE MONTHS TO SPEND THE FUNDS.

IN MANY WAYS, WE WERE TRYING TO REACT TO WHAT WE SAW WHEN WE HAD TO DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD, WE HAD TO DEPLOY MONEY TO FACILITATE THAT PRETTY QUICKLY WHEN WE HAD BREAKS IN THE VETERANS' HOMES, WE HAD TO DEPLOY SOME RESOURCES QUICKLY.

WE HAD TO DEPLOY RESOURCES TO OUR HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE SO THEY COULD DO SURGE STAFFING AS NURSING CAPACITY BECAME TIGHT.

SO WE'RE JUST IN A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT POSITION WITH THE ABILITY TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STRATEGIC AND PROACTIVE IN HOW WE USE THESE FUNDS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF BROADBAND.

GOVERNOR LITTLE DID MAKE $50 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR BROADBAND UNDER THE CARES ACT, BUT PROJECTS HAD TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, SO THAT MEANT WE PRIORITIZED THE QUICK SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS AS OPPOSED TO PERHAPS THE MOST NEEDED PROJECTS, BECAUSE THE MOST-NEEDED PROJECTS MIGHT BE IN RURAL, UNDERSERVED AREAS THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS TO BUILD OUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DELIBERATE, STRATEGIC PROACTIVE, AND ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS AS OPPOSED TO THE MOST SHOVEL-READY NEEDS.

>> WE HAVE MOORE WITH ALEX ONLINE, INCLUDING WHETHER ARPA WILL AFFECT IDAHO'S PLANS FOR TAX CUTS.

HEAD TO THE "IDAHO REPORTS" YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

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

>> WHILE THE BIG LEGISLATIVE NEWS OF THE WEEK WAS THE COVID OUTBREAK AND THE TWO-WEEK RECESS, BEFORE FRIDAY, LAWMAKERS WORKED THROUGH A NUMBER OF BILLS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HIT THEIR ORIGINAL GOAL OF ADJOURNING BY MARCH 26th.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE HOUSE DEBATED A TAX RELIEF BILL THAT WOULD LOWER INDIVIDUAL INCOME AND CORPORATE TAX RATES, AS WELL AS OFFER TAXPAYERS A ONE-TIME REBATE.

THE WIDE-RANGING DEBATE SAW SEVERAL CLASHES AS DEMOCRATS ATTEMPTED TO DISCUSS OTHER TAX PROPOSALS AND POSSIBLE IMPACTS TO OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE BUDGET.

>> WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO INVEST IN EDUCATION AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FLOATING BONDS EVERY YEAR FOR OPERATIONAL NEEDS -- >> MR. SPEAKER -- >> I'M TIRED OF BEING INTERRUPTED.

>> OBJECTION.

>> STOP.

>> I AM ABSOLUTELY ON THE SUBJECT OF THE BILL BECAUSE IT IS THE -- YOU HAVE TO CONNECT THE DOTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS BILL DOES.

IT DENIES MONEY THAT COULD BE SPENT ON EDUCATION, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SCHOOL BONDS AND LEVIES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT THE GOOD LADY DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR.

>> I OBJECT.

HE'S IMPUGNING MOTIVES.

>> WHAT?

>> WE NEED TO TAKE A TIME-OUT SO WE CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU THE CONCEPT OF IMPUGNING MOTIVES?

>> I'M BEING OBJECTED, I'M BEING SILENCED, SO CLEARLY SHE DOESN'T -- >> YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF PROPRIETY, WHICH I GET TO JUDGE, AND YOU'RE PUSHING THE LINE.

SO GO AHEAD.

>> THE MONEY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TAX RELIEF IS DENIED TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE.

WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING THE VITAL SERVICES OF THIS STATE AND ITS FUNCTIONS LIKE EDUCATION.

AND SO, YES, WE DON'T COLLECT PROPERTY TAX, BUT WHEN WE DON'T ADEQUATELY FUND EDUCATION, AND TAKE MONEY THAT WE DO HAVE AVAILABLE, AND SPEND IT ELSEWHERE, THAT PUSHES THAT COST ON TO PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.

THAT'S MY POINT.

>> THAT BILL PASSED ON PARTY LINES, 58-12, AND NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE.

>> ON THURSDAY, THE SENATE DEBATED A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT THE NEW GROWTH THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN ADD TO THEIR YEARLY BUDGETS.

SUPPORTERS ARGUE THAT ADJUSTING THAT BUDGET FORMULA WILL HELP EASE RAPIDLY RISING PROPERTY TAXES IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE, WHILE OPPONENTS SAID THE PROPOSAL WORK-FROM-HOME PACT LOCAL SERVICES.

>> PROPERTY TAX RODRIGUES DRIVEN BY THE BUDGETS OF THE TAXING ENTITIES.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES IS IF THE TAXING ENTITIES REDUCE THEIR BUDGETS, OR IF WE SHIFT TAXES FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER.

IF I SHIFT MY TAXES ON TO YOU OR YOU ON TO ME, SO WE CAN REDUCE BUDGETS OR WE CAN SHIFT.

>> IN MY COUNTY ACCORDING TO OUR LOCAL EXPERTS, THIS WOULD REDUCE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES BY $13 PER PERSON ANNUALLY.

THAT'S IN A COUNTY WHERE MY PROPERTY TAXES, MY LITTLE HOME WHERE I LIVE, BY MYSELF, ABOUT A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, MY PROPERTY TAXES INCREASED $720 LAST YEAR.

THAT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME.

ON A NONPROFIT BUDGET, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES OR OTHERS IN OUR COUNTY.

$13 IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THEM.

>> I KNOW MY CITIES AND MY COUNTY, I KNOW MY COUNTY, I KNOW MY FIRE DISTRICT FOLKS.

THESE ARE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND THEY'RE GOOD CONSERVATIVE FOLKS.

HAVING SERVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN A PREVIOUS LIFE, I KNOW THEY GO THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS AND SCRUTINIZE THEM FOR MONTHS, HOURS A DAY, TRYING TO SQUEEZE EVERY LAST LITTLE BIT OUT OF THAT BUDGET.

AND IN DOING SO, I KNOW MY CITY, MY CITIES AND MY COUNTIES STILL STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO PAY FOR NECESSARY ROADS AND REPAIRS.

EVEN WITH IMPACT FEES.

>> THAT BILL NARROWLY FAILED IN THE SENATE, 17-18.

>> ON WEDNESDAY, THE SENATE DEBATED FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, FOCUSING HEAVILY ON BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY AND ITS SO-CALLED SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS.

AFTER CRITICIZING THE PROGRAMS, MANY OF WHICH FOCUS ON RACIAL INJUSTICE AND DISPARITIES, THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE SHIFTED $409,000 FROM B TO LEWIS-CLARK STATE COLLEGE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE UNIVERSITY.

FOR SOME LAWMAKERS, THAT CUT WASN'T ENOUGH.

OTHERS ARGUED THAT PART OF HAVING A WELL-ROUNDED COLLEGE EDUCATION IS A DIALOGUE ON A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS.

>> I BELIEVE OUR UNIVERSITIES AND OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE THERE TO MAKE JOB-READY PEOPLE.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO COLLEGE, YOU'RE NOT GOING THERE TO LEARN ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, YOU SHOULD BE GOING THERE TO LEARN HOW TO GRADUATE WITH A JOB-READY SKILL.

SO THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY, AND BECOME THE PERP THAT YOU SHOULD BECOME ON THAT LEVEL.

>> THE HEART OF THE LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION, THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY LIBERAL EDUCATION IS TO CREATE A WELL-ROUNDED CITIZENRY.

AND THE GOAL OF COLLEGE, LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE, NOT A TECHNICAL COLLEGE, ETC., IS TO BE A WELL-ROUNDED CITIZEN BECAUSE THEN YOU OPERATE BETTER IN IT.

LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, THOSE WERE THE THINGS PROBABLY MOST OF US REMEMBER.

WE HAD TO TAKE A SMATTERING OF ALL THOSE SO OUR MINDS WOULD BE OPEN TO THINGS DIFFERENT THAN US.

I THINK WE'RE IN DANGEROUS TERRITORY WHEN WE START TO PUNISH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING WITH THEIR -- WITHHOLDING MONEY BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THE CONTENT.

AND I THINK THAT BORDERS ON CENSORSHIP.

>> WHAT I HEARD HER SAY WAS THAT IN OUR LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION THERE NEEDS TO BE BALANCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BOTH SIDES, TO HEAR THE DEBATE FROM BOTH SIDES, AND I SUPPORT THAT.

WHAT I THINK THE CONCERN I SEE ON THE FLOOR TODAY IS THAT IS NOT HAPPENING IN SOME OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE 27-6, AND NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE, WHERE WE EXPECT MORE DEBATE AND A MUCH CLOSER VOTE.

>> BUT AS LAWMAKERS WORKED THROUGH THE AGENDAS, THE VIRUS WAS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE.

BY THURSDAY EVENING, SIX HOUSE MEMBERS, PLUS AT LEAST ONE STAFF MEMBER, HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS, PROMPTING THE LEGISLATURE TO RECESS UNTIL TUESDAY, APRIL 6th.

ON FRIDAY, HOUSE SPEAKER SCOTT BEDKE WAS ASKED IF HE WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THIS SESSIO.

>> I WILL NEVER TELL MY PEERS WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES.

I THINK THAT EVERYONE LEARNS -- I THINK MAYBE WHEN THEY COME BACK MAYBE IT WILL BE DIFFERENT.

BUT I HAVE NO REGRETS ON THE WAY WE CONDUCTED THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO THIS POINT.

>> JOINING ME TODAY TO DISCUSS THE SHUTDOWN IS BETSY RUSSELL OF THE "IDAHO PRESS" AND KEVIN RICHERT OF "IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS."

BETSY, WE JUST HEARD SCOTT BEDKE SAY THERE WASN'T ANYTHING HE WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID, TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WAS THIS A SURPRISE TO YOU?

THAT THE LUSH HAD TO RECESS TO ADDRESS COVID?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

REALLY, THE BIG SURPRISE WAS THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL NOW.

THAT WE MADE IT THIS LONG.

IF 15 INFECTIONS IN THE STATE HOUSE, INCLUDING NINE IN THE PAST WEEK ARE GOOD, AND WHAT WE PLANNED FOR, I GUESS WE'RE ON TRACK.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT MIGHT NOT BE SUCH A GOOD OUTCOME.

>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES ON THE PROGRAM, BUT JUST TO RECAP FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, KEVIN, THERE HASN'T BEEN MASK USE AT THE LEGISLATURE, THERE'S BEEN SOCIAL DISTANCING IN COMMITTEES, BUT NOT ON THE FLOOR.

IT WAS KIND OF A RECIPE FOR A POTENTIAL DISASTER.

>> IT WAS THAT AND MORE.

THERE WAS JUST A JARRING JUXTAPOSITION ALL SESSION, BETWEEN THE PRACTICES THAT WERE TAKING PLACE AT THE STATE HOUSE, AND THE POLICIES THAT WERE TAKING PLACE.

HOUSE DEBATING ABOUT WHETHER TO PASS A BILL THAT WOULD GET RID OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS' ABILITY TO IMPOSE MASK MANDATE.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAD THIS OUTBREAK TAKING PLACE IN TWO LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.

THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHERE LEGISLATORS WERE TRYING TO GOVERN ON THIS PANDEMIC, AND HOW THEY PRACTICED ANY KIND OF PROTOCOLS IS JUST KIND OF -- IT'S MIND BOGGLING, REALLY.

>> SO WE HAVE HAD SIX HOUSE MEMBERS TEST POSITIVE JUST IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE TOLD YOU BETSY THAT NO, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WEAR MASKS MUCH, BUT SOME OF THEM HAVE.

I'M THINKING REPRESENTATIVE GREG CHAINY, JAMES RUCKTE, THEY HAVE TAKEN THE PANDEMIC SERIOUSLY.

IS IT REALISTIC TO THINK THAT MAYBE THE SPREAD IS EVEN WORSE THAN THE SIX THAT WE KNOW ABOUT?

>> I THINK IT'S VERY REALISTIC.

I THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY QUITE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, POSSIBLY REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHO ARE REFUSING TO BE TESTED.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES WITH THINGS LIKE MASKING AND MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID.

CERTAINLY THERE COULD BE A SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TESTED, I THINK THEY WERE BOTH ASYMPTOMATIC AND THEY ONLY DECIDED TO GET TESTED BECAUSE SO MANY WERE COMING UP POSITIVE.

I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON HERE.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT KEVIN SAID ABOUT A DISCONNECT.

IN SOME WAYS IT'S NOT A DISCONNECT, BECAUSE THE LACK OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND THE LACK OF FOLLOWING HEALTH GUIDELINES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD HERE IS IN SOME WAYS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE LEGISLATORS ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH LEGISLATIVELY, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS.

THERE ARE NO PRECAUTIONS BEING ENFORCED ANYWHERE, BECAUSE THEY THINK THERE SHOULDN'T BE.

BASICALLY AS A MATTER OF FREEDOM.

>> AS THE LEGISLATURE HAS RECESSED FOR SIX WEEKS, THERE'S STILL -- SORRY, TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE 6th, THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF ISSUES ON THE TABLE THAT THE LEGISLATURE CONSTITUTIONALLY THAT'S ADDRESS.

MUCH LESS ONES THAT THEY WANT TO ADDRESS.

SO KEVIN, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S LEFT ON THE TABLE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DO.

>> WHEN THEY GET BACK ON THE 6th I SUPPOSE THEY WILL DO AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS THEY WANT TO DO.

WE TALK ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE, YOU'VE GOT TO PASS A BUDGET AND THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG BUDGET BILLS THAT STILL HAVE TO BE PASSED.

NEITHER HOUSE HAS TAKEN THE K-12 BUDGET, AND THAT COULD BE A STICKY DEBATE WHEN THAT COMES.

YOU HAVE TO PASS THE BUDGET BILLS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO TAX RELIEF, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP REALLY WANTS TO DO TAX RELIEF.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE, ALTHOUGH THAT IS A HIGH PRIORITY.

WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE, WHEN THEY GET BACK ON APRIL 6th IS WHAT ISSUES MAKE THE CUT AS THINGS THAT -- THIS LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TAKE UP BEFORE ADJOURNMENT, AND WHAT DOESN'T.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, HOUSE SPEAKER SCOTT BEDKE SAID TODAY THAT THAT IS A BILL HE WANTS TO SEE MOVED ON, AND HE DOES EXPECT THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO TAKE IT UP RIGHT AWAY.

SEX EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS WAS POISED FOR A HEARING IN COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

WHAT DO LEGISLATORS PUSH FOR IN THIS INTERIM TIME?

WHAT DO THEY ALLOW FOR BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET ON THE AGENDA?

AND WHAT ISSUES FALL BY THE WAYSIDE, WHAT ISSUES DO SUPPORTERS SAY, WE'LL JUST FIGHT THAT FIGHT NEXT YEAR.

ON THE BUDGET BILLS, HOW HARD DO HOUSE CONSERVATIVES FIGHT ON BUDGETS, OR DO SOME OF THEM SAY, WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES ANYWAY, AND THIS IS GOING TO PASS AND LET'S JUST ADJOURN FOR THE SESSION.

I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE.

I THINK THE HARD LINE CYSTIC FIBROSIS ARE GOING TO COME BACK AND THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT OVER BUDGETS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING ALL SESSION.

>> THE MAJORITY OF THE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN SET BY THE JOINT FINANCE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

PRETTY MUCH ALL THE MAYOR BUDGET, BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT THEY HAVE TO DO WORK ON AS WELL, AND THAT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS TO GET THEM OVER TO BOTH HOUSES.

THOSE INCLUDE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S BUDGET WHICH WAS KILLED IN THE HOUSE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WHICH WAS PULLED BACK, VARIOUS OTHER APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE KEY.

AND THERE'S STILL A ROAD AHEAD OF THE LEGISLATURE HERE.

I THINK IT WAS A WEEK OR TWO AGO SPEAKER BEDKE SAID THE ISSUES ARE MORE LIKE FEBRUARY THAN MARCH.

SO I WONDER WHAT THEY'LL BE LIKE IN APRIL?

IF THINGS ARE TAKING THAT LONG TO MATURE, UNLIS THEY DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO LET SOME THINGS GO, GOOD HEAVENS WE COULD BE HERE IN JUNE.

>> DON'T SAY THAT, BETSY.

[LAUGHTER] DON'T JINX US.

I AM JUST HAPPY THAT THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO RECESS OVER MY KIDS' SPRING BREAK.

I THINK IF THERE'S A SILVER LINING IT'S I GET A WEEK OFF, NOT OFF, BUT NOT FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATURE WITH MY KID, BUT I DON'T THINK I CAN HANDLE A JUNE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW -- THOSE BUDGETS THAT WE ARE EXPECTING TO BE CLOSE.

AND I'M THINKING OF COURSE THE K-12 BUDGET, DEFINITELY THE HIGHER ED BUDGET, AND THE RESURRECTION OF THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION GRANT.

KEVIN, YOU SAID THAT IT MIGHT CHANGE THE CONVERSATION ON THOSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME LOBBYING BEHIND THE SCENES.

BETSY, DO YOU THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE HOUSE CONSERVATIVES PROTEST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT ON THAT EARLY EDUCATION GRANT, THE NEW VERSION HAS COME OUT FROM JFAC, IT HAS CONSIDERABLY MORE INTENT LANGUAGE AND STRINGS AROUND IT, DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO SATISFY AND TO ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS OF THE HOUSE CONSERVATIVES, AND THAT BILL WAS KILLED BY ONLY TWO VOTES, AND AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE FROM NO TO YES.

SO I THAT I ONE HAS A SHOT.

>> I THINK IT REALLY DOES HAVE A SHO.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON MARCH 2nd, WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THE PROCEDURAL MANEUVERINGS, THE HOUSE WAS SPLIT EVENLY DOWN THE MIDDLE ON THE BILL.

IF BETSY SAYS THAT -- IF AS BETSY SAYS THERE ARE ONE OR TWO LAWMAKERS THAT HAVE CHANGED THEIR OPINION, THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT IT, THAT'S ENOUGH TO GET IT PASSED.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE IF IT PASSES THE HOUSE IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SHOT AT PASSING THE SENATE.

>> IT'S REMARKABLE THIS SESSION, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SENATE'S APPROACH TO APPROPRIATION BILLS AND THE HOUSE.

AND APPROPRIATION BILLS ARE THE ONE THING THE LEGISLATURE ABSOLUTELY HAS TO DO BY THE CONSTITUTION.

THEY'VE GOT TO PASS THEM.

ALMOST EVERY ONE HAS BEEN A BATTLEGROUND IN THE HOUSE.

AND IN THE SENATE, IT'S BEEN A MUCH QUIETER, MUCH CALMER, AND GENERALLY OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE VOTE ON THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM.

>> AND THAT'S TYPICALLY THE CASE, THOUGH I CAN THINK OF A FEW EXCEPTIONS THERE.

WAS ONE YEAR WITH THE K-12 BUDGET THAT THE SENATE VOTED IT DOWN AFTER THE HOUSE HAD PASSED IT.

BUT GENERALLY, THE HOUSE IS A LOT MORE CRITICAL OF THESE BUDGETS THAN THE SENATE IS.

>> YOU SEE IT ON THE POLICY END.

THIS WEEK IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON A DAILY BASIS THEY VOTED DOWN HOUSE-PASSED EDUCATION BILLS THAT WERE CONTROVERSY OR AGREED TO STRIP DOWN ANOTHER HOUSE-PASSED BILL THAT WAS CONTROVERSIAL.

>> THAT'S ABOUT ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS WEEK.

BETSY RUSELL OF THE "IDAHO PRESS," KEVIN RICHERT OF "IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I THINK I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US THAT WE HOPE EVERYONE WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE AT THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK GETS BETTER SOON AND MAKES A FULL RECOVERY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE MUCH MORE ONLINE ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" WEBSITE.

IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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