Two naysayers, two rationales
An odd pairing – Sen. Mike Burkett, D-Boise, and conservative new Sen. Shirley McKague, R-Meridian – were the only two senators to vote against SB 1032, a bill to raise the maximum sentence for shooting at an occupied home from five years to 15 years. The measure was sponsored by two Canyon County senators, Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, and John McGee, R-Caldwell, who said the measure was needed to combat drive-by shootings that increasingly have been plaguing their communities.
McKague’s argument: “When this came up in committee, I spoke out against it for one reason – increasing the time in jail when we’re always building new jails. We’re always talking about needing more beds in the jails, and for that reason I’m voting against.”
Burkett, an attorney, had different reasons for opposing the bill, arguing it would give lawmakers a sense they’re doing something about the gang problem without taking a comprehensive approach to targeting gang activity, such as identifying and arresting gang leaders or dissuading young people from joining gangs in the first place. SB 1032 isn’t a mandatory sentence; it leaves the decision to judges. Burkett said there’s no evidence judges will impose longer sentences or that they’ll be effective in combating drive-by shootings.
The bill passed 32-2 and now moves to the House.
Still all in the family
A study commissioned by the state’s Division of Tourism about Idaho visitors found that the No. 1 reason people come here is to visit family or friends. That’s true of a majority of all travelers to Idaho. Also, 20 percent of visitors to Idaho come from Washington, 13 percent from California and 8.6 percent from Utah. The highest number of overnight leisure visits, just under 30 percent, was made by people from Idaho visiting spots within the state. Folks from three California cities – Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento – account for 16 percent of Idaho’s overnight leisure spending. The study also found direct spending by leisure travelers grew 5.7 percent from 2004 to 2005, while direct spending by business travelers was up 7.4 percent.
Consumer protection pays off
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden reported that his Consumer Protection Unit recovered more than $1.6 million for Idaho consumers last year – the 16th consecutive year in which the amount recovered exceeded the state’s general fund budget appropriation for the unit. At the end of 2006, he transferred $150,000 in surplus money from the program to the general fund. That makes more than $1.5 million in such transfers since 2003.
Where’s that check?
New House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, came before the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to give his committee’s take on the public schools budget. Just a few minutes into his presentation, Rep. Fred Wood, who sits in a front-row corner close to where Nonini stood, flashed a printed sign at him that said, “ENOUGH ALREADY.” Nonini barely paused and said, “I was warned, Mr. Chairman, that there would be some signs,” and went on with his pitch amid chuckles. At the end, Nonini told the panel, “Just in closing, because this is my first run at this, at which door do I pick up the check?” Wood then flashed another sign at him, this one saying, “NOT ONLY NO BUT H—- NO.”
Back from the woodshed
Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, successfully introduced a bill to require party registration in Idaho – a bill the House State Affairs Committee had refused to introduce the prior week, without noticing that the co-sponsors included the entire House GOP leadership team. A trip to the party leaders’ woodshed followed. Hagedorn told the committee that he’d made a few changes to the bill “based on many of the comments you made last week.” The bill still requires Idaho voters to register with a political party, or to register with no party, and then doesn’t let them vote in a party’s primary unless they’re registered members of that party. It does allow an exception, however, if a party chooses to open its primary to independents or to members of other parties. The concept, though endorsed by the Idaho Republican Party platform, is a controversial one in a state in which a third of voters identify themselves as independents. The measure is now sponsored by 21 House Republicans.