Tribe, County Have 6 Days To Act

After a hearing packed with uniformed law-enforcement officers, tribal representatives, county sheriffs, lobbyists, legislators and more, the House Judiciary Committee voted to put a decision off for six days on HB 500, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s law enforcement legislation, in hopes of the two sides reaching a cross-deputization agreement between now and then. But committee members made it clear they were ready to do something: Two other motions were proposed to move the bill on to the full House with technical amendments attached, a step toward passing it. Rep. Donna Boe, D-Pocatello, suggested passing the bill with an enactment date in 2011, to see if that would spur the county to the negotiating table. Rep. Steve Kren, R-Nampa, said, “I’m content with moving this bill forward with the amendments to give some time for some last-minute negotiations, if you will”/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here . (Betsy Russell photo: Benewah County Prosecutor Douglas Payne)

Question: Prosecutor Douglas Payne has said that Benewah County won’t sign off on giving the Coeur d’Alene Tribe authority to issue tickets on its part of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Do you think it’s possible that the county and the tribe can reach an agreement? Or will the Legislature have to step in and grant the tribe power to ticket and arrest non-Indians on the reservation?