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In one of the strangest moments yet in this year’s most unusual legislative session, the House finished its calendar and attempted to adjourn sine die, which means without a day to come back. But when the House sent its formal delegation to the Senate to inform it that the House was adjourning, no one was there - it was nearly 9 at night. “There wasn’t anyone around other than the security,” Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, reported back to the House. “We were told that they have left the building. Oh, Mr. Speaker, we did leave a note on the door.”
The note, taped to the door of a Senate office, said, “See ya later, gone home - Sincerely, Best wishes, The House.” Then, when the House GOP leadership placed the motion to adjourn sine die, Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, rose and debated against it. “I do not support this motion and this action by the House majority,” Rusche said. “First, I don’t believe it’s constitutional.” A 1980 Idaho Attorney General’s opinion found that one house can’t adjourn sine die without the other’s concurrence, and in such cases, must come back in session in three days, he noted. “We cannot be adjourned sine die except in the regular legal manner,” Rusche declared. House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, responded that the constitution allows “three days - that’s not three hours or three minutes,” and therefore, “This motion is fitting and proper at this time. Our business is finished.” A loudly divided voice vote then approved the motion to adjourn.
Betsy Z. Russell covers Idaho news from The Spokesman-Review's bureau in Boise.
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stebbijo on April 29 at 8:33 p.m.
Well, this is wonderful. This is a cost saving TOOL for at least 3 days and if the Senate makes them come back, then the Senate is costing us.
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JFanselow on April 29 at 8:55 p.m.
A 4-minute podcast of the final motion, Rusche's statement and the voice vote is available on the lower right-hand corner of http://www.idaho-democrats.org. Look for Sine Die motion April 29.
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souper6 on April 30 at 7:17 a.m.
Cowards! can't make the tough decisions. And look who's making the decisons for the House. It's the “welfare Moms” districts. The ones who take in more revenues from the state tthan they pay out. Disgusting bunch of animals. The same corporate greed that exists on wall street exists in the welfare counties.
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