Idaho legislators are undergoing civil discourse training today, working with the National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona. The institute has worked with 12 other states, but Idaho is the first to schedule a Legislature-wide training session backed by leadership; Maine is soon to be the second. All but five lawmakers turned out for today’s session, filling the legislative dining room to capacity for the opening luncheon; the program, which includes much work in small groups, will run all afternoon.

Carolyn Lukensmeyer, the institute’s executive director, briefed reporters this morning about the session. She said people tend to think of civility as “making nice,” but said, “That’s not what civility means at all.” Instead, she said, “We can have very different perspectives on an issue. It’s a conversation, and then we vote. … But if we do character assassination during the conversation, that gives us a dysfunctional interpersonal dynamic going forward.”

By encouraging civility in lawmaking, the institute hopes to make state legislatures more effective. Lukensmeyer said the institute started out working with Congress, and extended its work to state legislatures at their request. Political scientists studying the issue have determined, she said, that “this is the most uncivil time in U.S. politics since the end of the civil war and Reconstruction.” National polls show 80 percent of Americans “see this as a crisis in American culture at this point.”

When House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, reminded House members of the session prior to the House’s adjournment today, he said he knew some had other plans. “I would ask respectfully that you cancel those and attend this workshop,” he said. “I think this is of value, if you’ll let it be of value.” Bedke added, “This is not specific to any person or issue, but I think we can all do better.”

Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, addressing the assembled lawmakers in the legislative dining room, said, “Some of you are really going to enjoy this. Some of you, it will be pushing your comfort level a little bit.” He noted that Lt. Gov. Brad Little had joined the session, and “he actually volunteered,” to which Little responded amid laughter, “Not like the rest of you!”

Hill said, “I hope that we’ll all learn something, and that we’ll have a better Legislature and better relationships beyond our Legislature.”