House votes to let farmers burn land

Legislation to allow about 4,000 more acres of farmland to be burned in North Idaho cleared the House on a 65-5 vote Wednesday, with no debate.

House Bill 593 allows farmers to burn land that’s enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program. Current Idaho law allows field-burning only after harvest, and CRP land isn’t harvested. North Idaho representatives split on the bill, with Reps. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake; George Eskridge, R-Dover; George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene; and Tom Trail, R-Moscow opposing it. Those voting in favor of the bill were Reps. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d’Alene; Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake; Phil Hart, R-Athol; Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries; Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls; Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene; Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow; and Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard.

All North Idaho representatives voted in favor of HB 594, legislation to update Idaho’s noxious weed laws and include aquatic plants as well as those on land.

Hunting ‘rights’ bill fails in Senate

Plans to amend the state constitution to make hunting, fishing and trapping a right rather than a privilege fell short in the Senate on Wednesday, getting an 18-16 vote – well short of the two-thirds required to amend the constitution.

Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis of Idaho Falls said concerns from the Idaho attorney general’s office about the amendment restricting the state’s ability to revoke hunting privileges for failure to pay child support or other reasons prompted him to oppose the amendment.

The measure had 14 co-sponsors, including Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, and Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard.

Act limits control of religious issues

Legislation that would ask the U.S. Congress to give states more control over religious issues by approving a Constitution Restoration Act was endorsed by a Senate committee Wednesday.

Sponsors Bryan Fischer of the Idaho Values Alliance and Sen. Gerry Sweet, R-Meridian, said the act looks to “limit the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court” by restricting it from addressing religious issues that Fischer said should be left to the states.

If approved by Congress, Fischer said, the act would protect the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance, preserve the national motto “In God We Trust” and ensure that the Ten Commandments are allowed to be displayed in public.