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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Five GOP reps say they want to give up their committees, too, if Scott doesn’t get hers back

Five House members stood on the House floor this morning and asked to be removed from their committee assignments until Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, gets hers back. “I’m deeply concerned about the integrity of this body and mixed messages being sent to the communities of Idaho,” said Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg.

Similar requests came from Reps. Karey Hanks, R-St. Anthony; Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley; Christy Zito, R-Hammett; and Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird. Giddings said, “I request to be removed from my committees until this problem is resolved professionally.” You can watch video here of the five lawmakers' requests, courtesy of Aaron Kunz of Idaho Public Television.

Scott was stripped of her committee assignments last week after she said, within hearing of multiple representatives during this year’s organizational session, that female representatives only advance in the House, getting chairmanships, vice-chairmanships and the like, if they “spread their legs.” Other lawmakers also complained about Scott’s behavior toward other lawmakers, including going to their districts to hold meetings where she criticized them to their constituents.

The House Republican Caucus will meet immediately when the House adjourns this morning.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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