Legislators Express Views On Supermajority

A bill that would have allowed voters to decide whether to lower the supermajority requirement for school bonds died in a House committee earlier this month.

Three North Idaho legislators were able to vote in committee on the measure to lower the requirement to 60 percent. Here’s what they and other area legislators say about the proposal:

Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Hayden, voted against the bill. “There was very little support, even in the committee, for the bill. There would not have been sufficient support on the House floor. It was a poorly written bill. Property taxes have enough stuff on them already. We need to look at other solutions for fixing problems with our school buildings.”

Rep. June Judd, D-St. Maries, voted for the bill. “They say if you try and offer it (a bond) enough, you’ll get it down where people can afford it. That’s not really keeping up with the needs of education.”

Rep. Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint, voted for the bill. “It was important enough to merit a full-fledged debate on the floor. I don’t know if I would have supported it on the floor.”

Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum, supports the bill. “We should be able to lower the supermajority to 60 percent for school bonds. That’s a pretty high requirement.”

Rep. John Campbell, R-Sandpoint, supports the bill. “I very hesitantly would have sent it to the voters. It’s a tough one. I can see where the property owners are coming from. Someday, I would love to see it changed so the tax doesn’t fall on property owners.”

Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden, is undecided. “It never came out of committee. I’d have to see what the bill looks like first.”

Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, supports the bill. “I voted for it twice in the Senate.”

Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls, is undecided. “I haven’t heard the testimony. I’m not on the State Affairs Committee. I haven’t seen the bill.”

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, is undecided. “Each piece of legislation has different issues in it. My district is divided upon what they think ought to happen.”

Rep. Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene, supports the bill. “My vote would have been to allow the people to make the decision. It should have made it to the floor.”

Rep. Wayne Meyer, R-Rathdrum, supports the bill. “It’s a good compromise. I wish that we as a Legislature would at least allow the people in the state of Idaho to vote on this.” Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene, supports the bill. “I was listed to be a sponsor in the Senate. It would have put the issue on the general ballot.”

Rep. Larry Watson, D-Wallace, is undecided. “I would have liked to have listened to more debate. My tendencies are to support it. I completely understand the problem, but I was not on any committees where it came out.”