OLYMPIA – Washington voters may some day be asked if they want to make hunting and fishing a constitutional right. But not this year. A proposed constitutional amendment wouldn’t undermine reasonable regulations, Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, its prime sponsor said. But it would recognize hunting and fishing as “foundational activities to the state,” he added, as some supporters are concerned about increasing urbanization.

Washington voters may some day be asked if they want to make hunting and fishing a constitutional right.

In his Lewiston Tribune editorial this AM, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase spotlights "innocuous" HJR 5: "Whatever else it is, House Joint Resolution 5 is not some obscure, innocuous, good-government housekeeping measure offered up by a benevolent Legislature looking out for the good of us all."

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is urging a “no” vote on HJR 5, the constitutional amendment on the November ballot, and he’s added a new twist to the debate: Otter says a clause in the amendment that says “in whole or in part” actually would vastly expand the Legislature’s current power to review administrative rules. Betsy Russell reports.

A citizens’ initiative seeking to expand the rights of Montana crime victims and their families qualified Friday for the November ballot.

The Senate is debating, and will ultimately vote, this morning on a constitutional amendment to require two-thirds majorities for tax increases.

House Republicans tried unsuccessfully to maneuver around committee hearings for a proposed constitutional amendment to require two-thirds majorities for tax increases.

BOISE – Idaho’s ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions will remain intact. “There really isn’t a direct impact on Idaho law,” said Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, noting that the U.S. Supreme Court rulings Wednesday defer to states for regulating marriage. “My job is to defend the constitution and the statutes of the state, and those haven’t changed.”

OLYMPIA – A proposed constitutional amendment gave a Senate panel another chance to argue whether democracy is helped or hurt by requiring legislative supermajorities to approve tax increases. Definitely helped, state Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, the sponsor of the amendment, told the Ways and Means Committee. The requirement has been approved five times by voters through the initiative process, she noted, including last year. Spokane voters recently changed their charter to require a supermajority from their City Council on tax increases.