Betsy Z. Russell: Moment of silence over false-report bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 174, Rep. Pete Nielsen’s measure to increase – by five times – fines for falsely reporting child abuse, but no one on the committee looked very enthusiastic about the bill. Sen. Shirley McKague, R-Meridian, moved to send the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, and Sen. Mel Richardson, R-Idaho Falls, seconded the motion. But when Chairman Denton Darrington, R-Declo, asked who was in favor, only those two said “aye.” No one said “no.” No one said much of anything. Darrington asked that the chairman be recorded as voting no, and that was it. “I think the motion passed,” he said. Nielsen said he wanted to raise the fine to be a “deterrent that has more meaning in today’s society than $500.” He originally wanted to raise it to $5,000, but the House amended it down to $2,500.

Otter beans/Potter beans

Rep. Scott Bedke was telling the Idaho Press Club a story about how well lawmakers and Gov. Butch Otter get along by remembering a time several found the governor in his office in the early morning and came in to visit. “We went in and talked to him in an informal way, ate jelly beans out of that crystal cowboy hat that he has on the desk there,” Bedke recalled. At that point, Senate President Pro Tem Bob Geddes interjected, “By the way, there’s two flavors – ear wax and booger.” Geddes explained that “my kids read ‘Harry Potter.’ ” Asked about it, Otter’s press secretary, Jon Hanian, said, “I’ve had those jelly beans – they’re disgusting.” But they’re not Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans of Harry Potter fame, Hanian said. They’re sour apple and some other actual flavor.

Sagen Sie was?

Appearing last week at the Idaho Press Club at the group’s annual “Headliner” luncheon with legislative leaders, Geddes was asked about immigration issues and an official-English bill. Geddes responded in German, prompting a response from a reporter, also in German. Geddes said he sees great value in people knowing other languages, but he supports the official-English bill. He added that he’s been to Canada and seen the confusion caused there by having two official languages.

Casting call

A $1 million rebate program designed to draw more national movie and TV productions to Idaho in the next three years drew some flak in the Senate, even though famous Idahoans including actor George Kennedy and former “Gilligan’s Island” star Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) testified in suopport of the bill in a committee hearing. The measure, SB 1156a, would rebate 20 percent of production costs, up to a $500,000 maximum, with an overall cap on the state’s investment of $1 million. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said, “You’re being asked to take a million dollars of Idaho taxpayers’ money and give it to Tom Hanks’ production.” Sen. Tom Gannon, R-Buhl, said, “I’m not sure that it would be healthy for the state of Idaho to cultivate a Hollywood atmosphere.” Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, argued that the incentive will draw spending to Idaho – for every dollar the state spends, a film production will spend four. “Spend a buck, get four back,” he said. The bill passed, 23-12.

What would James drive?

Studded tires could be legal year-round in Idaho and Washington – if the studs retract at the push of a remote-control button. “It really is a good piece of technology, and there’s no reason not to give it a try,” said Idaho Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls. Hammond is sponsoring SB 1133, which would legalize retractable-stud tires in Idaho for year-round use. Similar legislation is pending in Washington, Oregon and Montana. The only catch: No one is actually making and selling such tires yet. But Q Tires Inc., of Greenville, S.C., hopes to have them on the market next winter. “They want to start their rollout in the Northwest – it’s a logical place for a tire of that type,” said Jerry Deckard, Idaho lobbyist for Q Tires. But first, he said, “We need to get the laws changed in the Northwest.” Deckard compared the tires to the gadgets supplied by “Q,” the technical whiz of James Bond movie fame.