Thorne Sounds Conciliatory Note

Nampa Republican Sen. Jerry Thorne has withdrawn his bill to exclude lawmakers from portions of the Idaho Open Meeting Law, saying it went further than he had wanted to go.

He sounded a conciliatory note, saying he only wanted to settle the ambiguity of the law by subjecting legislators to its requirements and penalties.

But his bill read much differently. It would have allowed lawmakers in the same party to hear testimony and debate the merits of a bill behind closed doors.

Private legislative caucuses are now held at the Senate and House level. Thorne’s bill would have extended that power to the committee level.

Thorne said the bill was drafted by Attorney General Al Lance’s staff, but a spokesman said the office was only “minimally involved.”