Debate: ‘I will be kinder’

As the House State Affairs Committee debates the three pending motions regarding HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, here are some of their comments:

Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, said he’s learned much from the three-day hearing on bill. “From this point on and forever, I will be kinder and I will be more compassionate to those who bear a heavy burden,” he said. “While I will support the original motion, I’d like to go on record that I will support a compromise.”

Rep. Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer, recalled words from her grandfather about discrimination. “He said granddaughter, when I went off to World War 2 and when I came back, the first thing I experienced were the businesses that had, even in our own land, signs that said, ‘No dogs and no Indians allowed.’”

Rep. John McCrostie, D-Boise, said, “This isn’t a gay guy casting a vote for the gay bill. You need to know that I cast my vote in a thoughtful and deliberative manner, one that is representative of the people in my district, one that reflects my constituency … and one that represents the LGBT community in Idaho.” He said, “I understand fighting for equality issues, because I deal with it daily.”