Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, debating in favor of the nullification bill, HB 117, said as a longtime teacher of government and history, "I cannot begin to express my satisfaction that this bill has reached the House of Representatives." He said, "This bill is symbolic of a growing awareness throughout this country that our federal system of government needs to be finely tuned." He said the balance between the two has been thrown off due to growth in federal power, and needs to be restored.

Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, debating against the bill, said, "The federal government is not an agent of the states. The states and the federal government are together agents of the people." He said, "I believe that bills such as this spring from the notion that this legislature is a better protector of the rights of the people than is the United States Supreme Court. I do not accept that." Burgoyne said the nation's federal government is "not a tyrannical, occupying foreign power." He said, "I know who I am. I'm an American."