>>> PRESENT WROITION OF IDAHO REPORTS ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUND 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.

>> A SURPRISE EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM JANICE McGEACHIN WHILE SHE WAS ACTING GOVERNOR AND A STRONGLY WORDED REBUKE OF BRAD LITTLE GIVE US A PREVIEW OF HOW THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO LOOK.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WON'T BE PRODUCT.

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

>>> HOWHELLO AND WELCOME TO IDAO REPORTS.

THIS WEEK HOUSE MINORITY LEADER LAUREN NECOCEEA SITS DOWN WITH REPORTS ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LOGAN FINNEY TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS SHE SEES WITH THIS YEAR'S SWEEPING PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION.

THEN LOGAN FINNIE, RUTH BATTLEGROUND OF EYE HOE REPORTS AND OTHERS JOIN ME TO DISCUSS ANOTHER WILD WEEK IN IDAHO POLITICS.

E AND LET'S GET YOU CAUGHT UP ON THAT WEEK.

THE BIG NEWS ON THURSDAY WHILE SERVING AS AN ACCOUNT GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JANICE McGEACHIN ISSUED A SURPRISE EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES INCLUDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM ISSUING MASK MANDATES.

THE ORDER WENT INTO EFFECT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

SHE TOLD RUTH BROWN SHE HOPED GOVERNOR LITTLE WOULD LEAVE THE ORDER IN PLACE.

>> I'M AN OPIATE MIDWEST AND HOPING THAT HE'LL SEE THE VALUE IN KEEPING IT IN PLACE.

I MEAN, HE NEVER DID SUPPORT -- AT LEAST HE NEVER SUPPORTED A MASK MANDATE.

SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL HONOR IT AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE KIND OF BEYOND THAT POINT AND MORE B PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

IT'S JUST ESPECIALLY HARD FOR ME TO SEE THE LITTLE KIDS BEING FORCED TO WEAR A MASK IN SCHOOL.

>> SHE ALSO TOLD "IDAHO REPORTS" SHE DID NOT NOTIFY SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT THE ORDER WAS COMING.

ON FRIDAY LITTLE RESPONDED WITH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OF HIS OWN, REALING HERS.

HE ALSO ISSUED A SCATHING STATEMENT REBUKING HER, CALLING IT AN IRRESPONSIBLE SELF-SERVING POLITICAL STUNT, SAYING, QUOTE, THIS KIND OF OVER-THE-TOP EXECUTIVE ACTION AMOUNTS TO TYRANNY, SOMETHING WE ALL OPPOSE.

HOW IRONIC THE ACTION COMES FROM A PERSON WHO HAS GROUSED ABOUT TYRANNY, EXECUTIVE OVERREACH, AND BALANCE OF POWER FOR MONTHS.

ON FRIDAY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE RELEASEDDABLE ANALYSIS OF HER EXECUTIVE ORDER, SAYING QUOTE, THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER APPEARS TO RUN COUNTER TO BOTH THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION AND THE GOVERNOR'S STATUTORY EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

END QUOTE.

WE HAVE LITTLE'S FULL STATEMENT ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" BLOG AS WELL AS McGEACHIN'S RESPONSE AND THE A.G.

ANALYSIS.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE WITH THE PUNDITS.

>>> ALSO, ON THURSDY HOUSE SPEAKER SCOTT BEDKE ANNOUNCED HE'S RUNNING FOR LIEUTENNT GOVERNOR.

>> I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE WHO HAS TESTED AND TRUSTED EXPERIENCE IN GETTING THINGS DONE FOR IDAHO.

>> AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, I'D ROW REPORTS ASSOCIATE PRODUCE LOGAN FINNEY SAT DOWN WITH BEDKE.

>> THE STATE OF IDAHO IS GROWING VERY QUICKLY AND WITH THAT GROWTH COMES SOME GROWING PAINS, BUT AS WE GO FORWARD, WE DON'T WANT TO JETTISON ANY OF THE IDAHO VALUES THAT HAVE MADE US SO SUCCESSFUL AND THAT MAKE US SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND TO WORK AND TO RACES OUR FAMILIES.

I THINK THAT ALSO WE LOOK BACK ON MY TRACK RECORD, THAT I'VE GOT THE EXPERIENCE AND THE RESULTS THAT WILL HELP IDAHO GOING FORWARD.

I'M NOT DOING THIS BASED ON ANY PERSONAL AGENDA.

AS I DESCRIBED EARLIER, OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN VERY BLESSED.

WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE CHANCE AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE TO GIVE BACK AND I WANT TO DO THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE FACING A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS IN TRANSPORTATION, IN EDUCATION, IN NATURAL RESOURCES.

WELL, THAT'S WHERE I'VE SPENT MY LEGISLATIVE CAREER, IS SOLVING PROBLEMS IN THESE THREE AREAS.

AND OTHERS.

TAX POLICY AS WELL.

AND THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT FACE US AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> YOU'LL FIND A POST COVERING THE CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" BLOG, AS WELL AS THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH BEDKE ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

IN THE MIDST OF HEADLINE-GRABBING NEWS THIS WEEK, CITIES, COUNTIES, AND HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE STATE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND A SWEEPING NEW PROPERTY TAX REFORM LAW THAT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CAPS LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET GROWTH, INCREASES THE HOMEOWNERS EXCEPTION TO $125,000, AND MAKES CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PROGRAM.

LOGAN FINNEY SAT DOWN WITH HOUSE ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER LAUREN TO GET HER TAKE ON THE BILL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS.

>> LET'S START WITH THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.

HOUSE BILL 389.

WILL THIS MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND PROPERTY TAXPAYERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, DO YOU THINK?

>> NOT REALLY.

AND IT'S GONNA CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS.

THERE'S A MARGINAL INCREASE IN THE HOMEOWNERS' EXEMPTION WHICH WE ALL KNOW WE NEED.

IT'S LOW-HANGING FRUIT, TO ADJUST THAT EXEMPTION.

WE'RE SEEING AN INCREDIBLE TAX SHIFT ON TO HOMEOWNERS AND AWAY FROM OTHER TYPES OF PROPERTY IN THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, SINCE THAT OIRM HOMEOWNERS EXEMPTION WAS CAPPED IN 2016 AND NO LONGER ADJUSTS WITH HOUSING PRICE.

THE PROBLEM IS THE INCREASE WAS SO SMALL THAT IT'S NOT EVEN GONNA CUSHION MOST HOMEOWNERS FROM THE LAST YEAR OF GROWTH AND HOME PRICES.

>> RIGHT.

THAT WAS A $25,000 INCREASE, IS THAT RIGHT?

A 25% FROM THE 100,000 TO 125,000?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE SEEING IN COUNTIES LIKE CANYON COUNTY AND ADA COUNTY HOME PRICES HAVE GONE UP 42% OR 27%.

SO THAT'S SO SMALL AND REALLY THE HOMEOWNERS EXEMPTION WOULD BE $150,000 TODAY IF THE LEGISLATURE HADN'T CAPPED IT BACK IN 2016.

SO WE'RE NOT EVEN MAKING UP FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF GROWTH, LET ALONE THIS LATEST YEAR.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SOMETIMES.

THEY SAY, THEY POINT BACK TO THE NUMBERS AND SAY, WELL, WHEN THE EXENGS WAS INDEXED IT WENT DOWN FROM 100,000.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE TIMES SINCE THEN, IT WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

THAT THAT ARGUMENT DOESN'T HOLD AS MUCH WATER?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED.

AND I THINK THE INTERESTS WHO PURSUED THAT CAP ON THE HOMEOWNERS EXEMPTION COULD SEE THE FUTURE AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT IF THE -- SOME PEOPLE ARE MAKING OUT VERY WELL IN THIS SYSTEM, WHERE HOME PRICES GROW RAPIDLY, OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE A FUNCTION OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, HOME.

AND SO HOMEOWNERS ARE JUST CARRYING MORE AND MORE OF THAT LOAD WHILE WE SEE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS SEE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES GO DOWN YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.

AND IT'S NOT FAIR.

AND WE JUST HAVE TO GET BACK TO A FAVOR PREDICTABLE BALANCE.

>> SURE.

AND THE HOMEOWNERS EXEMPTION WAS NOT THE ONLY PROGRAM ADDRESSED IN THAT BILL.

THERE WAS ALSO THE SIR CALL BREAKER PROPERTY -- CIRCUIT BREAKER PROPERTY TAX PROGRAM.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW?

>> SURE.

SO THAT'S A PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND YOU APPLY BASED ON YOUR INCOME AND YOU CAN GET A CERTAIN LEVEL OFSIANCE TO PEP -- OF ASSISTANCE TO BUY DOWN YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL A LITTLE BIT.

THIS BILL MADE A VERY SMALL, SMALL INCREASE INTO THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE YOU COULD GET.

WE HAVEN'T UPDATED THAT SINCE 2006.

IT MADE A SMALL CHANGE IN THE LEVEL OF INCOME THAT MADE YOU ELIGIBLE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT TO PAY FOR THESE SMALL INCREASES, WHICH ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR, THEY'RE ACTUALLY CUTTING SENIORS OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

SO THEY'RE NOT ADDING MORE ASSISTANCE TO THE STATE.

THEY'RE CUTTING SENIORS OUT WHO HAPPEN TO HAVE A HOW MANY LEVEL -- HOME LEVEL OR A HOME VALUE ABOVE THE MEDIAN IN THEIR COUNTY.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF SEEN YOURS WITH MODEST HOMES WHO ARE SEEING GROWTH AND JUST SPRINGING UP AROUND THEM.

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE CAUGHT IN THIS -- IN THIS REALLY BAD BILL THAT DOES HARM.

WE SHOULD STRIVE TO DO NO HARM AND WE'RE DOING HARM IN THIS BOIL.

>> IT IS AN INTERESTING TWEAK THAT THEY MAKE, BECAUSE THE PROGRAM USED TO BE BASED ENTIRELY ON INCOME LEVEL.

AND THIS YEAR THEY ADJUSTED THE -- THE BILL ADJUSTS THE INCOME LEVELS AND A LITTLE ADDS A CUTOFF BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE HOME?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAMS IN THIS PROGRAM.

THAT'S NOT IN THE BILL.

IF YOU'RE AT 25% ABOVE THE MEDIAN HOME VALUE FOR YOUR COUNTY, EVEN IF YOU'RE EXTREMELY LOW INCOME, YOU ARE CUT FROM THE PROGRAM.

>> AND THERE IS A DELAYED IMPLEMENTTION IN THAT, RIGHT?

THERE'S A YEAR BEFORE THAT GOES INTO EFFECT?

>> THAT WILL HIT COME JANUARY.

>> COME JANUARY.

>> SO IT WILL HIT BEFORE WE HAVE -- WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO CHANGE IT.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP FOR ME.

SO WOULD YOU BE HAPPY WITH THESE CHANGES IF THERE WASN'T THAT CUTOFF ADDED TO THE PROGRAM?

>> I COULD HAVE SUPPORTED IT, EVEN THOUGH -- EVEN THOUGH THE CHANGES ARE MODEST, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MORE GENEROUS INCREASE TO THAT ASSISTANCE.

FOR SENIORS, JUST LIKE THIS BILL DOES FOR BUSINESSES.

THIS BILL INCREASES A BUSINESS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION TO THE TUNE OF $8 MILLION.

AND THE BILL IS GOING TO TAKE $8 MILLION OF STATE MONEY TO FUND THAT.

MEANWHILE, THE PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS, THAT MODEST INCREASE, IS FUNDED ABOUT I KICK SOMETHING SENIORS OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

AND THOSE ARE UNFORTUNATE PRIORITIES AND I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE THE PRIORITIES OF THE STATE.

>> THE PRIORITIZATION THERE.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO IN THE BILL, A BUDGET CAP PROVISION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE KEEP RUNNING DOWN THE CAFETERIA LIST IT FEELS LIKE.

SOME CITIES LIKE KEYEDWELL HAVE DISCUSSED A MORATORIUM ON NEW DEVELOPMENT.

WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS.

DO YOU SEE ANYLUTIONS TO THE CITY'S -- ANY SOLUTIONS TO THE CITIES CURBS?

>> I -- CONCERNS?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO UNDO THAT PIECE OF THE BILL.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARMFUL TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

INTERVIEW INCLUDING HER THOUGHTS ON THE BIG INCOME TAX BILL ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

JOINING US TODAY FOR THE PUNDITS WE HAVE LOGAN FINNEY AND RUTH BROWN, BOTH OF IDAHO SHORT ON REPORTS, KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS, AND BETSY RUSSELL WITH THE IDAHO PRESSION.

BETSY, LET'S START WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF IT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW IT FELT VERY MUCH LIKE AN EXTENSION OF THIS PRIMARY CAMPAIGN FOR GOLFER.

>> OH, YEAH, IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE THE USUAL DRAB BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR McGEACHIN ISSUED THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER DURING A VERY, VERY BRIEF STINT AS ACTING GOVERNOR.

SHE TOOK OVER AT 11:30 P.M.

THE NIGHT BEFORE FROM CHUCK WINDER AND HAD ISSUED IT BY 11:00 THIS MORNING.

-- THAT MORNING.

AND TODAY NOW, ON FRIDAY, THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED HIS OWN EXECUTIVE ORDER, NOT ONLY RESCINDING HERS, BUT MAKING HIS NEW ONE EFFECTIVE AT 11:00 THE DAY BEFORE, RETRO ACTIVELY TO THE TIME HERS WENT INTO EFFECT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND, BECAUSE GOVERNOR LITTLE HAS BEEN OUT OF TOWN SINCE, WHAT, MONDAY, TUESDAY?

>> IT WAS TUESDAY MORNING WHEN HE LEFT.

AND SO WHEN THE GOVERNOR IS OUT OF STATE, HE FORMALLY NOTIFIED HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO'S NEXT IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, AND APPARENTLY HAD A LETTER HAND DELIVERED TO HER OFFICE, WHICH WAS ACCEPTED BY A STAFFER, I BELIEVE ON MONDAY.

BUT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS ALSO OUT OF STATE ON VACATION.

AND SO CHUCK WINDER, THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, BECAME ACTING GOVERNOR UNTIL THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COULD RETURN TO THE STATE, WHICH HAPPENED AT 11:30 THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE ISSUED HER EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>> AND SO MUCH ABOUT THE TEXT OF THE EXECUTIVE -- ORIGINAL EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT, FELT LIKE AN EXTENSION OF HER CAMPAIGN CHALLENGE TO GOVERNOR.

>> WELL, I -- GOVERNOR LITTLE.

>> I THINK THE ORIGINAL ORDER WAS VERY CLEARLY A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK IT WAS AGAIN WITH POLITICAL CHICKEN HERE.

SHE, McGEACHIN, ISSUED A STRUGGLE TO GOVERNOR LITTLE AND POLITICAL OBSERVERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, AND ANYONE WHO OBSERVES POLITICS, WHY WONDERING HOW -- WERE WONDERING HOW'S DOES GOVERNOR LITTLE RESPOND.

HE CAME OUT FORCEFULLY.

>> WITH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OF HIS OWN AND A VERY STRONG STATEMENT.

ONE OF THE MOST STRONGLY WORDED I'VE SEEN FROM HIM AND THAT'S INCLUDING HIS STATEMENTS DIRECTED AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS LAST SESSION.

HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO FELT A LITTLE BIT CAMPAIGNY, RUTH.

>> IT DID, YEAH.

HE LED WITH STATING THAT HE WAS A CONSERVATIVE IDAHOAN AND AS A CONSERVATIVE IDAHOAN, HE WAS GOING TO RESCIND McGEACHIN'S ORDER.

SO IT SEEMED AS THOUGH GOVERNOR LITTLE WAS NOT GOING TO START THIS BUT SINCE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR McGEACHIN DID, HE HAD TO RESPOND AND WAS MAKING IT CLEAR THAT HE DIDN'T APPROVE, BUT HE ALSO WAS GOING TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE.

>> IT WAS VERY MUCH AN INSTANT OF, IF HE WERE GOVERNOR FOR A DAY, AND SHE HAPPENED TO BE GOVERNOR FOR A DAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF ELECTED.

[LAUGHTER] >> AND SHE SAID I'M GOING TO REPEAL THE MASK MANDATES.

THIS IS HOW I'M GOING TO ACT, SHE SAID.

SHE DIDN'T SAY BUT SHE EFFECTIVELY FORCED A CAMPAIGN ISSUE A YEAR AHEAD OF THE PRIMARY AND WE SEE GOVERNOR LITTLE SAYS IF YOU WANT TO PLAY BALL, I'LL PLAY BALL.

HERE'S MY RESPONSE TO YOU.

>> IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION, ESPECIALLY WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHICH ARE AMONG THE ONLY POLITICAL ENTITIES LEFT THAT HAVE MASK MANDATES.

YOU TALKED TO HER RIGHT AFTER THE NEWS GAME PUBLIC THAT -- BECAME PUBLIC THAT SHE HAD DONE THIS.

>> YEAH.

AND I ASKED HER REGARDING QUESTIONS -- QUESTIONS REGARDING CHILDREN IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

NUMBER ONE, DID SHE INFORM THED SCHOOLS AND SHE SAID NO, SHE DID NOT.

IT WAS LARGELY A SURPRISE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

I ALSO ASKED HER IF SHE -- IS SHE CONCERNED ABOUT CHILDREN UNDER AGE 12 WHO CANNOT BE VACCINATED FOR CORONAVIRUS.

THEY CAN BOTH CONTRACT IT BUT THEY CAN ALSO VED IT -- SPREAD IT, WHICH IS A MAJOR CONCERN I THINK FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

SHE SEEMED LARGELY UNCONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE TEACHERS CAN CHOOSE TO WEAR MASKS.

I THINK THAT PERHAPS IS A LITTLE BIT SHORT SIGHTEDDED BECAUSE OF -- SHORTCITED BECAUSE THE CHILDREN ARE AROUND ADULTS.

>> WHILE CORONAVIRUS COMPLICATIONS IN CHILDREN ARE RARE, THEY CAN ALSO BE SERIOUS.

THERE HAVE BEEN 26 IDAHO CHILDREN THAT WE KNOW OF THAT HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MULTI-SYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN.

>> YEAH.

ONE WAS A TEENAGER, I KNOW.

AND REQUIRED A HEART TRANSPLANT.

BUT THEY CAN CREATE LONG-LASTING CARDIAC ISSUES THAT CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO THAT CHILD'S HEALTH FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

>> I THINK EMBLEMATIC OF THE CONFUSION WE SAW ON THURSDAY OFF THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, THE IDAHO SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATIONISHED A STATE THAT WE DON'T THINK OF THIS MASK MANDATE APPLIES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SCHOOL TRUSSES.

WE THINK THAT -- TRUSTEEES.

WE THINK THEY HAVE STATORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR HEALTH AND WELFARE.

SO YOU KNOW, YOU HAD SCHOOL BOARDS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE ONES THAT ARE STILL IN SESSION, A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE ADJOURNING AND RECESSING FOR THE SUMMER, SAYING, WE DON'T ANY THIS APPLIES TO US.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ISSUED AN ANALYSIS THAT SEEMS TO AGREE WITH THAT.

>> BASICALLY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ANALYSIS WHICH WAS REQUESTED BY SENATOR WIN TRO AND WHICH CAME OUT TODAY FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL.

IT DID THINGS YOU CAN'T DO IN AN EXCLUSIVE ORDER.

BASICALLY TRYING TO ENACT A LAW, THE MASK MANDATE PROHIBITION, THAT HAD PASSED THE HOUSE AND DIED IN THE SENATE.

SO IT WAS NOT A LAW.

BUT IT ALSO REALLY MADE ME WONDER ABOUT HOUSE BILL 392.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE FOUR EMERGENCY POWERS BILL THAT IS THE LEGISLATURE PASSED LATE IN THE SESSION THIS YEAR, WITH EMERGENCY CLAUSES, AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ALL FOUR OF THEM INTO LAW.

AND THEY WERE AIMED AT REDUCING THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS AND ENLARGING THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

AND WHAT HOUSE BILL 392 DID WAS IT SAID NO GOVERNOR COULD SUSPEND OR ALTER ANY PROVISION OF IDAHO COLD DURING A DISASTER EMERGENCY.

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF IDAHO CODE SAY THAT SCHOOL BOARDS OF THERE ISES ARE -- TRUST -- TRUSTEES ARE IN CHARGE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE SEPARATE PARTS THAT EMPOWER PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS AND CITIES TO HANDLE THESE MATTERS.

AND BASICALLY, THE -- LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THROUGH SOME NOTWITHSTANDINGLY, TRIED TO JUST SET THAT ALL ASIDE.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HEARD REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE ALL SESSION RAILING AGAINST.

UNILATERAL ACTION BY THE GOVERNOR IN AN EMERGENCY AND IN FACT, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HERSELF HAS BEEN VERY OUTSPOKEN AND SAYING IN THAT THAT WAS OVERREACH.

NOW TODAY WE HEARD -- OR FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT WE HEARD HIM USE THE WORD TYRANNY TO APPLY TO HER ACTION, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS.

>> A LOT OF THE -- TINTED TO ENSURE SMOOTH OPERATIONS AND A CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT.

AND IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTINUITY AND CONSISTENT POLICY, THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS.

>> YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S JUST -- THAT JUST HAPPENED BEFORE NOON ON THURSDAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> AND WAS JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY.

I WANT TO BRING UP THE INDOCTRINATION AND EDUCATION TASK FORCE HAS ALSO ONE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR McGEACHIN'S PROJECTS.

RUTH, KEVIN, BELTSY, YOU -- BETSY, YOU ALL COVERED THIS.

WERE THERE ANY SURPRISES IN THAT MEETING?

>> SO I WAS SURPRISED BY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SELECTED TO BE ON THE TASK FORCE.

BECAUSE MOST OF THEM -- THEY DID THE INTRODUCTIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.

MOST OF THEM SEEMED TO COME INTO IT WITH AN IDEA THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ROOT OUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THAT'S UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL AND OF COURSE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS SAID THEY KNOW OF NO WIDESPREAD INTOCK DRINNATION.

-- INTOCK TRIN NATION.

THAT OUR TEACHERS WOULDN'T DO THAT.

SO I WAS SURPRISED A TASK FORCE THAT WAS GOING TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER THIS IS AN ISSUE INSTEAD WENT INTO IT AS IF THERE WAS.

SO I THINK I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW THEY APPROACHED IT.

>> IF THIS TASK FORCE LOOKS FOR ALL THE WORLD LIKE IT'S AN EXTENSION OF THE McGEACHIN AND GIDDINGS CAME PAINS, WHICH IS HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW, THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHO THEY WANT TO LISTEN TO ON EDUCATION POLICY.

AND WHO THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO LISTEN TO ON EDUCATION POLICY, AT LEAST ON THIS ISSUE.

I'M STRUCK BY THE GROUPS NOT AT THE TITLE.

IDAHO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WANTED TO GET ONE AND THEY DIDN'T.

'D IDAHO BUSINESS FOR EDUCATION WANTED NO PART.

THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE NOT CONSTRUCTIVE AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN IT.

AND THEY WANT TO HAVE -- ADD ANY SENSE OF LEGITIMACY TO IT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, THEY DID GET A REPRESENTATIVE BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE HOW THIS IS GOING TO TURN OUT.

THIS IS A VERY POLITICAL BODY.

AND YO KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IN THE WAY OF RECOMMENDATIONS, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, IF AND WHEN THEY ARRIVE.

>> AND IT SEEMED THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND REPRESENTATIVE GIDDINGS WERE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND SAYS, OH, WE ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS A TICKET AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S NOT JUST A THEASK THAT'S LOOKING AT CRITICAL RACE THEERY AND ISSUES OF JIM -- RACE THEORY AND ISSUE OF DISCRIMINATION.

SHE'S CALLED OUT SOCIALISM AND MARXISM AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE ACTUAL MEETING ITSELF, WHICH DRAWS AN INTERESTING DISTINCTION BETWEEN THIS TASK FORCE AND HOUSES BILL 377 WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE CRITICAL RACE THEORY CONCERNS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HEARD REPRESENTATIVE WENDY HORMAN SAY THIS BILL IS ABOUT BELIEFS AND PERSONAL CONVICTIONS.

IT DOES NOT PURSUING ANY SPECIFICKISM.

-- SPECIFICKISM.

WHERE HAS THE FANTASTIC, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, ARE SPECIFICALLY SAYING WE'RE HERE TO SMOKE OUT MARXISM AND SOCIALISM IN IDAHO SCHOOLS.

>> YEAH, VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO WHAT ON THE SURFACE SEEMS TO BE THE SAME TOPIC.

KEVIN, THIS COMES AFTER HOLLY ELECTORATESEL'S REPORT -- ELECTORATESEL'S REPORT ABOUT ACCUTATIONS OF -- ACCUSATIONS OF INDOCTRINATION.

>> BOISE STATE RELEASED THE REPORT FROM HOLLY, THE BOISE LAW FIRM WAS ASKED TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS OF STUDENTS BEING HARASSED FOR THEIR VALUES AND BELIEFS IN THIS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION'S 200 CLASS, WHICH IS A DIVERSE IF I AND ETHICS CLASS.

-- DIVERSITY AND ETHICS CLASS.

AND THE REPORT EXONERATED BOISE STATE.

THAT INVESTIGATORS COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THE INITIAL CLAIM THAT A STUDENT WAS HARASSED IN ONE OF THESE CLASSES.

AND COULD FIND REALLY NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE POTENTIALLY A VIOLATION OF HOUSE BILL 377.

THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR BECAUSE THE HOUSE BILL CAME ALONG THE WAY.

BUT THE REPORT REALLY EXONERATES BOISE STATE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE INITIAL COMPLAINT TO BOISE STATE.

IT WAS A VERBAL COMPLAINT, NOT A WRITTEN COMPLAINT.

I FOUND A RECORDS CAN AND GOT NOWHERE WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS VERBAL.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHO FILED THAT COMPLAINT, BUT IN SPITE OF WHAT THE REPORT SAID, THAT COMPLAINT CLEARLY HAD RESONANCE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

IT'S NOT HARD TO DRAW A LINK BETWEEN THAT COMPLAINT, THIS INVESTIGATION, AND THE FACT THAT LEGISLATORS LATER CUT A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS FROM BOISE STATE'S BUDGET AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 377.

THE ANTI-INDOCTRINATION LAW BASED IN PART ON A CLAIM THAT CAME FROM A NONSTUDENT, A CONCERNED CITIZEN, THAT VERSUS WOULD NOT BACK -- INVESTIGATORS COULD NOT BACK UP THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY HARD EVIDENCE BEHIND IT.

>> I THINK THE INVESTIGATION WAS PRETTY CLEAR AND STUNNING IN ITS FINDINGS THAT THAT REPORT WAS A HOAX.

THAT THE INCIDENT WHEN THEY FINALLY FOUND OUT WHAT INCIDENT OCCURRED, AND THEY CORROBORATED WITH THIS EIGHT STUDENTS, DID NOT INVOLVE A DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL RACE NEAR YEAR OR WHITE PRIVILEGE.

IT WAS ANOTHER TOPIC.

IT WAS THE STUDENT WHO CALLED THE INSTRUCTOR STUPID.

THE INSTRUCTOR REACHED OUT TO THE STUDENT AND IT WAS -- >> TO MAKE SURE THE OPPORTUNITY WAS OKAY -- STUDENT WAS OKAY, TOO, AN DEFENDING HIM TO OTHER CLASSMATES.

>> A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EVENT THAT HAD BEEN ALLEGED.

>> IT CALLED INTO QUESTION THE CREDIBILITY OF THE INITIAL COMPLAINANT.

THE REPORT GOES INVESTIGATORS TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO MEET WITH THIS PERSON.

FINALLY DID MEET.

COULD NOT PRODUCE THE VIDEO.

THE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THIS HARASSMENT IN CLASS, AND WAS NOT FORTH COMING IN HELPING INVESTIGATORS GET THEIR HANDS ON -- >> CLAIMED TO HAVE SEEN IT ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PHONE?

>> RIGHT.

DESPITE ALL OF THIS, THE TASK FORCE IS STILL GOING STRONG.

THEY PLAN TO MEET IN JUNE TO TALK ABOUT K-12 SPECIFICALLY, ANY POSSIBLE INDOCTRINATION OR CRITICAL RACE THEORY IDEALOGY THAT IS ALLEGEDLY BEING BROUGHT INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THAT WITH THAT INDOCTRINATION TASK FORCE, THE CO-CHAIR IS REPRESENTATIVE GIDDINGS WHO OF COURSE IS RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

LOGAN, YOU COVERED SPEAKER SCOTT BEDKE ACE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE'S ALSO THROWING HIS HAT IN THE RING FOR THAT RACE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T MENTION IS THERE WAS SOME UNEXPECTED GUESTS AT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, SUPPORTERS OF GIDSINGS.

>> -- GIDDINGS, WELL, UNEXPECTED IS AD WO.

MAYBE UNINVITED.

AS WE WERE GETTING SET UP -- AS THE CROWD WAS GETTING SET UP BEFORE SPEAKER BEDKE'S ANNOUNCEMENT, THERE'S A PODIUM THAT SAYS BEDKE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AND A GOOD SIZED CROWD OF SUPPORTERS WITH VARIOUS OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN SIGNS AND HANDWRITTEN SIGNS SUPPORTING CANDIDATE GIDDINGS SET UP CAMP RIGHT BEHIND THE PODIUM AND THEN WERE SOON FOLLOWED BY A WAVE OF BEDKE SUPPORTERS WITH THEIR OWN SIGNS TRYING TO BLOCK AND SHOULDER THEM OUT.

SO WE HAVE A FOREGROUND ANNOUNCEMENT IN A BACKGROUND SHUFFLING OF SIGNS AND ELBOWS AND SHOULDERS, WHICH WAS AN INTERESTING MORNING FOR SURE.

>> DURING THE COURSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT, SOME OF THE -- AND THERE WAS NOT A LARGE NUMBER, BUT THAT SMALL NUMBER OF GIDDINGS SUPPORTERS WERE SHOVING THEIR SIGNS IN FRONT OF THE BEDKE SIGNS AND SOME WERE ACTIVELY HECKLING SCOTT BEDKE WHEN HE WAS MAKING HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND THIS WAS INCREDIBLY UNUSUAL FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A STATEWIDE RUN FOR OFFICE.

THE LAST TIME I CAN REMEMBER ANYTHING LIKE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1990, WHEN ROGER FAIRCHILD ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST CECIL AN DENSER AND HIS EX-WIFE -- ENDERS AND HIS EX-WIFE SHOWED UP AND HECKLED HIM.

I BELIEVE KEVIN WAS THERE.

>> I WAS NOT.

THIS LIVES ON IN FOLKLORE.

HE GOT OFF LIGHT.

>> HE SAID I DON'T HAVE AN EX-WIFE IN THE CROWD.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT THE THING ABOUT THIS -- I MEAN, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE SUCH A TENSE AND PITCHED BATTLE IN THIS PRIMARY.

AND IT REALLY -- SCOTT BEDKE IS KIND OF A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN IDAHO APPLICATIONS AND HE'S OBVIOUSLY A POLITICAL -- POLITICS AND HE'S OBVIOUSLY A POLITICAL FORCE WITHIN THE STATE HOUSE.

HE OUSTED A SITTING SPEAKER TO GET HIS CURRENT POST.

HE'S BEATEN BACK CHALLENGES IN HOUSE LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS TO MAINTAIN HIS SPEAKER'S POST.

HE'S NOW THE LONGEST SERVING SPEAKER IN STATE HISTORY.

BUT THE LAST TIME HE FACED A CONTESTED ELECTION, AT THE POLLS, REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, 2004.

HE'S NOT HAD A CONTESTED RACE SINCE.

HE'S GOT ONE NOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF A CAMPAIGNER HE IS WITH THE PRESSURE ON.

>> AND THERE'S A THIRD CANDIDATE, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE LUKE MALIK.

SO IT'S ALREADY A THREE-YEAR PRIMARY RACE.

>> IT COULD BE A SIX-WAY PRIMARY.

>> I'M READY FOR ANYTHING.

TO KEVIN'S POINT, IT IS VERY DIFFERENT RUNNING AS A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN THE COUNTY FOR A STATE -- AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

VERY DIFFERENT RUNNING FOR A STATEWIDE POST IN A COMPETITIVE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

I ASKED SPEAKER BEDKE ABOUT THAT AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

HE SAID RUNNING STATEWIDE AS OPPOSED TO RUNNING IN MY LOCAL DISTRICT, IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO CHANGE MY STRATEGY THAT MUCH.

HE SAID I HAVE EXPERIENCE AS THE SPEAKER BEING ELECTED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM STATEWIDE, AND SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE TALKING TO DIFFERENT GROUPS WITH DIFFERENT LOCAL INTERESTS, BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER, HAVING THOSE STATEWIDE CONVERSATIONS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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