First, the Bonner County Republican Central Committee passed a resolution supporting Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, and asking that her committee assignments be reinstated, after they were revoked following her disparaging comments about other female House members, suggesting that they only advance in leadership through sexual favors. That resolution was issued last Tuesday, a day before Scott issued a statement apologizing to every member of the House.

Then, the Madison County Republican Central Committee met on Friday, and had a discussion about one of its local representatives, Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, joining four others last week in asking to have his committee assignments revoked as well, in solidarity with Scott.

After a “spirited discussion,” the Madison County GOP passed a resolution, on an 11-3 vote, to “encourage all our elected officials to fulfill their duties and attend their committee meetings.” The resolution named the county’s three lawmakers, Sen. Brent Hill, Rep. Nate and Rep. Dell Raybould, encouraging them all “to continue to fulfill their duties and attend their committee meetings with the best interests of the constituents of Madison County first and foremost in mind.”

House Speaker Scott Bedke took no action on the request from the five lawmakers, four of them freshmen, to also have their committee assignments revoked, and they’ve continued attending and participating in committees since they made the unusual request.