On The Record

Sat., March 20, 1999

Highlights from the past week in the Idaho Legislature

They said it

“We are literally cutting the legs out from under out senior senator.”

-Rep. Jeff Alltus arguing against the resolution repealing calls for a Constitutional convention.

Votes

Blackout: A bill that tacks a 14-day blackout on reports showing neglect, abuse and death of nursing home facility residents cleared the House 51-13 Tuesday, with only two North Idaho Reps. voting against it. Reps. June Judd, D-St. Maries, and Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint, made up the dissenting votes, and Reps. John Campbell, R-Sandpoint; Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls; Alltus; Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene; Chuck Cuddy, D-Orofino; and Larry Watson, D-Wallace; were in favor.

Highway 95 funds: Sen. Jack Riggs’ plan to fund four more highway 95 projects, including a new route from Emmett to Council, failed in the Senate 22-11 Monday, with a surprising no vote from North Idaho Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden. Sens. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum; Marguerite McLaughlin, D-Orofino; and Riggs voted in favor of the projects.

Early development: Governor Kempthorne’s plan to appropriate $500,000 to pilot a “parents as teachers” program failed the House 51-18 after an hour of debate. Kellogg was alone in her consenting vote, and Cuddy, Stoicheff, Campbell, Judd, Watson, Pischner, Alltus and Jim Clark voted together in killing the bill.

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