Bill Lists Penalties For Political Use Of Student Fees

It’s illegal to influence a ballot issue with public dollars, but there’s no penalty in current law.

The House passed a bill 45-16 Friday that would require anyone who uses mandatory student fees to influence an election to repay the cash. Activity fees paid by university students are considered public funds.

“I find it interesting people are calling this a bill of freedom of speech,” Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Hayden said. “It doesn’t cost anything to talk. It doesn’t cost any public funds to speak.”

Alltus and Rep. Bill Sali, R-Meridian, are sponsoring the bill that outlines penalties for anybody who breaks the law by using public money to advance a ballot issue. Using a university copy machine or placing an advertisement with student fees are examples.

Several lawmakers argued that the measure may jeopardize freedom of speech rights.

“There’s lots of uncertainties in this,” said Rep. Maynard Miller, R-Moscow, a University of Idaho professor. “This is treading on very dangerous grounds on the basic freedoms of our young people.”

But Alltus argued it’s already illegal to use public funds to influence a ballot measure. He said the Idaho attorney general agrees that the bill deals with enforcing current law.

The measure now goes to the Senate for debate.

, DataTimes