Motorcyclist helmet bill goes nowhere
Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, says the Associated Students of the University of Idaho and several physicians asked him to propose legislation to reinstate Idaho’s helmet law for all motorcyclists, which was passed in 1967 but repealed in 1978.
Only those under 18 are now required to wear helmets in Idaho. Three university students in Moscow have died in motorcycle accidents while helmetless, while a passenger wearing a helmet survived with minor injuries, Trail told the House Transportation Committee on Thursday.
“Wearing a helmet does save lives,” Trail told lawmakers. Plus, he said, when motorcyclists don’t wear helmets and suffer injuries, local counties or the state often get stuck with the medical bills.
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, moved to introduce Trail’s bill, but Rep. Shirley McKague, R-Meridian, made a substitute motion to kill it without even allowing it a public hearing.
“I don’t think Idaho is ready for the government to watch over us in every aspect of our lives, and the people that ride the motorcycles are old enough to decide,” McKague said. “I believe it’s an individual choice.”
Rep. Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, said he opposed the bill because it didn’t allow an exemption for “agricultural uses of irrigation bikes.”
Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, said: “It’s my view that when government would require everyone to wear a helmet, that government’s actually in the role of a parent. People over 18 can take care of themselves. I don’t feel that I’m vested as a member of the Legislature with the ability to be someone’s parent.”
McKague’s motion passed on a 7-5 vote, with both Hart and Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, joining the majority. Ringo and Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard, favored introducing the bill.
Trail said: “I’m disappointed because we’ve got a lot of people who were going to come in and testify in support of the legislation. I find it ironic that we have folks who voted against it, very conservative, watching the state tax dollars, and yet statistics show quite clearly that medical costs are paid by counties and states for folks not wearing helmets.”
Helen’s back
Legislation approving the Nez Perce water rights agreement was introduced in the House Resources Committee on Wednesday afternoon, with a standing-room-only crowd in attendance. Among those looking on: former U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage.
After three bills to implement the agreement were introduced on 16-1, 15-2 and 15-2 votes, Chairman Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, introduced Chenoweth-Hage to applause.
Asked afterward why she came, Chenoweth-Hage said, “I just wanted to see what was going on with the water bills.” She wouldn’t say if she’s for or against them: “I have to read them first. I have to see how they affect North Idaho.”
She added, “Some of the people from the Farm Bureau asked me to come.”
The Idaho Farm Bureau is the leading opponent of the Nez Perce agreement, while most other agriculture groups in Idaho are backing the deal, which already has the support of Congress, President Bush and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.
‘Just a little late’
Senators reportedly were deluged with calls and e-mails earlier this month when they voted on an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment, but some were still getting them last week.
Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d’Alene, reported Tuesday that he was getting lots of similar e-mails from backers of the amendment, all saying that they understand there was an upcoming vote.
“They’re all exercised – they’re just a little late,” Compton said.
The measure failed last Wednesday in the Senate.
Pedometer pratfalls
With lawmakers locked in competition to see who can register the most steps on a pedometer – and a $5,000 prize for the winner’s school of choice hanging in the balance – there’s lots of debate going on about what really counts as a step.
Monday morning, House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet said she’s been racking up steps while riding a bike. Others grumbled about the unfair advantage held by a lawmaker who’s a marathon runner, and one member of the Senate Republican leadership claimed that Majority Leader Bart Davis put his pedometer in the dryer to make it register extra steps – a charge Davis vociferously denied.