Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, said after reviewing Rep. Eric Anderson's complaint, there was no mention in it of the silver issue. Therefore, he said, he apologized to the committee and it shouldn't even be discussing it. Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, asked if under state laws and House rules, "If it's not listed in the complaint, that we can't talk about it?" In response, Loertscher asked Legislative Services Director Jeff Youtz to read the ethics committee rules. He did so. They make no specific mention of that question.

Loertscher said if items not specifically mentioned in the complaint can be brought up, "Then we could probably open this up to almost any action of any legislator at any time - do we really want to go there?" Jaquet asked Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, to comment; he's doing so now. "The intent there was to show that there is a pattern of behavior," Anderson told the panel.