Was it a joke?
There was a little pause after Gov. Otter, after talking about his plan for a new “sprung structure” to help house Idaho’s overflowing prison inmate population, said this: “In addition, I will ask Chairmen Darrington and Clark to join me in exploring other innovative ways to address prison crowding – including the Pro Tem’s idea for hot-bunking.” Then, Senate President Pro Tem Bob Geddes, whose suggestion last year that “hot cots” – the idea of having inmates sleep in shifts, thus using fewer beds – was a viable option for prison crowding drew widespread publicity, started clapping loudly, and chuckling lawmakers joined in.
