This afternoon’s hearing on HB 2, the anti-discrimination bill regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, went about 40 minutes past its scheduled 5 p.m. cut-off. "We do appreciate your participation in the process, and we do sincerely want to thank you for being here," House...
Rep. John McCrostie, D-Boise, told former Sen. Nicole LeFavour, “I want to congratulate you on finally getting your hearing after nine years. … Could you tell this body what it was that made you decide to bring forth legislation like this?” LeFavour responded, “I don’t…
Among the 18 people who have testified this afternoon on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, 14 in spoke in favor, three against, and one was neutral. Among those testifying: Nicole LeFavour, who was Idaho’s first openly gay state legislator, told the committee, “The...
In more testimony this afternoon on HB 2, the bill to ban discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity: Scott Nicholson said he grew up in the South and saw “whites-only” restrooms, drinking fountains and the…
In testimony so far this afternoon on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, seven people have testified, five for the bill, one against, and one undecided. Christine Antoniuk said, “Our son would not ever willingly subject himself to the hardship and ridicule that being…
"We will not be taking a vote today, but we will tomorrow," House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, announced at the opening of this afternoon's portions of the hearing on HB 2, the "Add the Words" bill. "I think we can get through…
Idaho’s last NRA license plate was discontinued for lack of sales, but the National Rifle Association’s Boise lobbyist says that’s because the money from the sale of the specialty plates all went to Idaho road funding. A new proposed “Friends of the NRA” plate will…
The House State Affairs Committee hearing on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, has recessed for the morning; it’ll reconvene at 3 p.m. “We will not be having a night session tonight, so we will go ‘til about 5 this afternoon,” said Chairman Tom...
With time running out for this morning’s portion of the hearing on HB 2, people who passed up notes saying they couldn’t return this afternoon are being called up, but urged to be very brief. Among those speaking: Michael Reineck told the panel he’s an…
More from today’s HB 2 testimony: Gretchen Bates said, “Imagine if Rosa Parks got off the bus to find another.” Things wouldn’t have changed, she said. “Religious liberty must have limits when it hurts someone else.” Breaking into tears, she said, “A few years ago...
More from this morning’s testimony, which has been heavily in favor of HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill: Hannah Brass Greer referred to earlier testimony from HB 2 opponents about Facebook’s many options for people to identify themselves. “It’s a good thing we don’t…
From this morning’s testimony on HB 2: Maddelynn Lee Taylor told the committee, “You all know my story, you’ve read it in the newspapers, trying to get my wife interred out at the Veterans Cemetery. That was discrimination.” She said, “I lost two jobs for...
Of the 20 people who have testified on HB 2 so far this morning, in the first hour and a half of testimony, just one has opposed the bill, and one other said he wanted a delay rather than a yes or no vote. All…
More testimony this morning on HB 2: Steve Martin of Boise told the committee, “I did not choose to be gay. … I can tell you that growing up gay in Idaho was difficult. I was always afraid.” He asked the lawmakers to pass HB...
So far this morning, 10 people have testified on HB 2, the bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, all of them in favor of the bill. Among them: Jill Gill, a professor of American history, said she’s a historian who…
At the opening of this morning’s hearing on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill regarding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, announced, “We’ll be using a timer today. … We’re really appreciate it…
The head of Idaho’s state Racing Commission, Frank Lamb, has been paid lobbyist for the company that operates instant racing machines in six locations of instant in Wyoming, the Idaho Statesman reported today, and he’s never formally revealed the conflict of interest to state officials....
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