Davis moves to amend anti-Occupy bill

Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, has moved to send HB 404, the anti-Occupy Boise bill, to the Senate’s amending order. “Speech that’s uncomfortable certainly is entitled to protection of Idaho’s constitution and the 1st Amendment certainly as much as speech that I agree with,” Davis said. “But what I do feel uncomfortable with is the seizure, littering component.” Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, seconded the motion. Davis said he’s drafted possible language that “provides for a way of being respectful and satisfying what I believe are 4th, 5th and 14th amendment standards” on the property seizure issue. “Whether the Senate is inclined to consider other amendments to the bill or not I don’t know.”

Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill said he’d also like the Senate to “at least consider the emergency clause and if that’s really necessary at this point, in order to accomplish what our long-range plans are for this particular bill.” He noted that the bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Jim Hammond, said it wasn’t aimed specifically at the Occupy Boise group, and Hill said he saw no immediate threat warranting an emergency clause. When a bill goes to the Senate’s amending order, any senator may offer amendments.