Siddoway says odd ultrasound motion was ethics protest

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Sen. Jeff Siddoway’s unconventional conflict-of-interest declaration during Monday’s debate over an abortion ultrasound mandate was designed to protest an ethics investigation into his Senate colleague. Siddoway made a motion asking to be excused from voting, claiming his two unmarried daughters posed a conflict. A 15-minute, behind-doors session resulted, as Senate leaders debated what to do. Siddoway eventually withdrew his motion and voted for the mandate. But following the bill’s 23-12 passage, he described his true motivation: He believes Sen. Monty Pearce is getting a raw deal from Democrats who have complained he didn’t disclose a conflict of interest on gas-drilling measures. Pearce leased land to a company exploring for gas. Siddoway sought to underscore inherent conflicts facing a citizen legislature whose members vote on bills that touch their lives outside the Legislature.