>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>>> A SCHOOL SHOOTING IN EASTERN IDAHO PULLS THE DEBATE WILL WARMING TEACHERS OUT OF THE HYPOTHETICAL AND INTO SHARP FOCUS.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK REBECCA BOONE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND BETSY RUSSELL OF THE IDAHO PRESS JOIN ME TO DISCUSS THE LEGISLATURE'S SLOW APPROACH TO SIGNEE I DID.

BUT ON THURSDAY A SIXTH GRADE STUDENT OPENED FIRE AT RIGBY MIDDLE SCHOOL, INJURING TWO CLASSMATES AND A CUSTODIAN.

IT WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL SHOOTING IN IDAHO AND MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THE INCIDENT AND THE ONGOING POLICIES OF GUN VIOLENCE, IS GIVEN.

I WANTED TO START WITH YOU, YOU WERE THERE YESTERDAY IN RIGBY.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED.

>> YEAH.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, A SIXTH GRADE GIRL AT THE SCHOOL, A STUDENT AT RIGBY MIDDLE SCHOOL, PULLED A PISTOL OUT OF HER BACKPACK AND FIRED SHOTS, BOTH SCHOOL.

SHE INJURED WE KNOW TWO STUDENTS AND ONE CUSTODIAN.

>> SO DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE INJURED YESTERDAY?

>> WE DO.

WE KNOW THAT AS OF YESTERDAY, ACCORDING A SPOKESMAN THERE AT EASTERN IDAHO REGIONOL MEDICAL CENTER IN HIDE OWE FALLS, THAT THE CUSTODIAN HAS BEEN DISCHARGED.

HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED YESTERDAY.

THE TWO STUDENTS WERE STABLE.

THEY LEFT THE SCHOOL IN STABLE CONDITION.

ALL OF THEM DID.

AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STAY THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY WILL BE DISCHARGED.

YET.

>> AND I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE STUDENT --THE -- BEGAN FIRING SHOTS.

SHE WAS DISARMED BY A TEACHER.

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

WAS THE TEACHER ARMED WHEN SHE MANAGED TO DISARM THE STUDENT?

>> THAT WE DON'T KNOW.

THE INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL BEING CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY RELEASE AT THIS POINT.

WE DO KNOW THAT ACCORDING TO SHERIFF ANDERSON IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE STEEMP TEACHER DISARMED AND DETAINED THE STUDENT UNTIL POLICE CAME TO THE SCENE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT AGAIN, THERE WERE SHOTS FIRED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.

HOW EVERYTHING TRANSPIRED DURING THE SHOOTING IS OBVIOUSLY STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

BUT WE DO KNOW THAT ONE OF THOSE INJURIES OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.

>> WHEN YOU WENT TO THE SEEN -- THE SCENE, AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY EVERY PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE, EVERY TEACHER'S WORST MIGHT MAYOR, HOW WERE THE -- NIGHTMARE, HOW WERE THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND SCHOOL STAFF WHEN YOU SPOKE TO THEM?

HOW WERE HOLDING UP?

>> THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE AROUND 9:08 A.M.

ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF.

I ARRIVED AT THE SCHOOL ABEEN 10:30 A.M. STUDENTS AT THAT POINT HAD BEEN MOVED FROM B MIDDLE TO RIGBY HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS NEXT DOOR.

SO THERE WAS A LONG LINE OF VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GOING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE FAMILIES AND PARENTS COULD GET THEIR KIDS.

I PARKED AND HAD -- I WALKED UP THAT LINE, GLANCING INTO VEHICLES AS I WENT, AND YOU COULD REALLY SEE JUST SOME OF THE SHOCK, THE UNCERTAINTY, THE FEAR IN PARENTS' EYES AS NEWS WAS STILL COMING OUT ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

WE SAW SOME PARENTS RUNNING TO THE SCHOOL.

ONE FATHER CROSSED THE POLICE LINE AND TRIED TO GET INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND AN OFFICER HAD TO REDIRECT HIM.

SO A LOT OF -- WHAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE WHEN YOU GO TO A SCENE LIKE THAT.

WE SAW PARENTS GETTING THEIR KIDS AND LEAVING THE SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS THEY COULD.

SOME OF THEM, A FEW OF THEM WERE HOLDING HANDS, EMBRACING.

PARENTS IN THE PARKING LOT HUGGING.

SO YEAH, PRETTY -- PRETTY HORRIFIC SCENE THERE YESTERDAY.

AT THE SCHOOL.

>> WE'RE JUST GLAD THAT NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT AND THAT NOBODY DIED.

KEVIN, I WANTED TO BRING YOU IN TO THE CONVERSATION.

THIS COMES AFTER YEARS OF DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TEACHERS AND STAFF SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY, MORE TEACHERS AND STAFF SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE CONCEALED WEAPONS IN SCHOOLS TO POTENTIALLY DISARM A SHOOTER IN A NIGHTMARE SITUATION LIKE THIS.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S FIRST WALK THROUGH THE POLICIES THAT EXIST RIGHT NOW AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN TRANSPIRE AT THIS SESSION.

SO RIGHT NOW, SCOREBOARD, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE THE PREROGATIVE OF ALLOWING SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO CARRY WEAPONS ON CAMPUS.

TO CARRY FIREARMS.

IT'S A LOCAL DECISION.

YOU DO HAVE A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE DONE THIS.

GENERALLY THOSE ARE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS NAR IN RURAL -- THAT ARE IN RURAL AREAS WHERE THE RESPONSE TIME TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION IS GONNA BE -- YOU KNOW, A LONG RESPONSE TIME.

THAT'S A POLICY THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN UNFOLD THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE'VE HAD TWO COMPETING PIECES OF LEGISLATION I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY.

ONE FROM REPRESENTATIVE CHAT CHRISTIANSON WHO HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT HE WANTS IS TO ALLOW ANY SCHOOL EMPLOYEE WITH AN ENHANCED CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT TO BE ABLE TO CARRY ON SCHOOL GROUNDS WITH OR WITHOUT THE BLESSING OR THE ENDORSEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD OR FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.

THIS PASSED THE HOUSE EARLIER THIS SESSION.

IT PASSED IN EARLY MARCH.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ONE OF THESE BILLS HAD COME UP FOR A VOTE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

IT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

THERE'S ANOTHER BILL, WRITTEN BY THE SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION AND THE SCHOOLED ON STRAIRS' ASSOCIATION AT THE URGING OF SENATOR, THE CHAIR OF SENATE STATE AFFAIRS.

AND WHAT IT DOES, IT BUILDS ON THAT EXISTING POLICY, THAT ALLOWS LOCAL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL BOARDS TO DECIDE ABOUT EMPLOYEES CARRYING.

AND IT LAYERS IN A LOT OF AN EMPHASIS ON TRAINING FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES AND COORDINATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BOTH OF THOSE BILLS ARE IN SENATE STATE AFFAIRS RIGHT NOW AND YOU KNOW, HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO SENATOR LODGE TODAY ABOUT THE STATUS OF THOSE BILLS.

>> AND WHAT DID CHAIRMAN LODGE SAY?

>> WELL, SHE HAD TWO MAIN POINTS THAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

FIRST OF ALL, NEITHER BILL IS COMING FORWARD AT THIS POINT.

SHE WAS ADAMANT THAT HER COMMITTEE IS CLOSED RIGHT NOW.

THE SESSION MAY NOT BE OVER AS WE KNOW.

BUT SHE'S NOT HAVING ANY MORE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

AND THESE BILLS ARE NOT COMING FORWARD.

HER PREFERENCE WAS THE BILL THAT THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS WERE WORKING ON, BUT THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED IN COMMITTEE.

SENATOR LODGE HAS A BIG TAKEAWAY AND I TALKED TO HER AT SOME LENGTH ON FRIDAY.

SHE BELIEVES THAT THE KEY, THAT THE LYNCH PIN IS TRAINING.

THAT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, SCHOOL STAFF, HAVE TO BE TRAINED TO HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS.

AND SHE EMPHASIZED THAT FROM WHAT SHE COULD GATHER FROM A SITUATION, AT RIGBY, THIS WAS A CASE WHERE THE TRAINING WORKED.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PREPARE FOR A SITUATION LIKE THIS BUT YOU CAN TRAIN FOR IT.

YOU CAN -- YOU KNOW, AND SHE FEELS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN RIGBY IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT TRAINING IS THE KEY TO RESOLVING THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT FOCUS AT LOGGERHEADS ABOUT THE GUNS IN SCHOOL ISSUE.

>> AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT PROARLTZ IN -- PROPOSAL IN THE REALM OF WHAT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY IN RIGBY.

IF -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO GOOD POTENTIAL OUTCOME IF YOU HAVE STAFF AND TEACHERS WHO ARE ARMED, BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A SIXTH GRADE GIRL IN THE SIGHTS OF SOMEBODY'S WEAPON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF THERE HADN'T BEEN SOMEBODY WHO WAS ABLE TO DISARM HER, IF THERE HAD BEEN A LAG IN LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TIME AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IN A LOTS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, IT CAN BE A VERY LONG TIME BEFORE PEOPLE SHOW UP.

SHE COULD HAVE ALSO IS -- SUSPECT COULD HAVE ALSO POTENTIALLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED A LOT MORE PEOPLE.

SO THERE'S NO GOOD OUTCOME HERE.

>> THERE IS NO GOOD OUTCOME.

AND AS I WAS TALKING TO SENATOR LODGE, SOME OF HER CONCERNS ARE, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE ARMED TEACHERS OR IF YOU HAVE SROs EVEN IN THAT SITUATION.

DOES IT CORRECT SCENARIOS WHERE -- CREATE SNAR YOARS WHERE YOU COULD HAVE A SHOOTING, THE SITUATION ESCALATE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK FROM A PUBLIC TOLLSY -- POLICY PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S NO GOOD, EASY SOLUTION HERE.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOLKS ALL OVER THE SPECTRUM ON THIS.

YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS LIKE CHAD ADVOCATES ON THAT SIDE WHO WANT UNFILTERED ACCESSES, WHO WANT UNFETTERED SECOND AMENDMENTS RIGHTS EXTENDED TO ALL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

YOU HAVE PARENTS AND SENATOR LODGE SAYS SHE'S HEARD FROM THOUSANDS OF THEM OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS WHO DON'T WANT ANY MORE GUNS IN SCHOOL.

HARD STOP ON ANY OF THESE KIND OF PROPOSALS.

YOU HAVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.

THEIR PREFERENCE TO BE YOU KNOW MORE SROs FROM THE SCHOOLS, MORE TRAINED OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS.

AND THE SCOREBOARD ASSOCIATIONS AND AD STRAIGHTERS WHO REALLY WANT TO RETAIN -- ADMINISTRATORS WHO REALLY WANT TO RETAIN THE LOCAL CONTROL.

THERE'S NO EASY PUBLIC POLICY NEEDLE YOU CAN DLED HERE.

>> WE -- THREAD HERE.

>> WE HEARD THE RESPONSE FROM SENATOR LODGE.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING OR SEEING FROM OTHER LAWMAKERS ON THIS ISSUE?

>> REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTIANON WAS -- CHRISTIANSON WAS GO TO FACEBOOK ON THURSDAY SAYING THAT THERE IS STILL TIME IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HE DOES WANT TO SEE HIS BILL HE'S TRYING TO GET HIS SUPPORTERS TO PUT PRESSURE ON SENATOR LODGE TO MOVE THIS BILL AND YOU KNOW, HE'S UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THAT.

HE BELIEVES THIS IS THE PATH HE WANTS TO SEE MOVE FORWARD AND YOU KNOW, HE'S COMING OUT RIGHT NOW HE SAYS, BECAUSE IT'S LATE IN TH SESSION.

THERE ISN'T MUCH TIME TO MOVE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF STRONG EMOTIONS WITHIN THAT LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

AND YOU KNOW, TECHNICALLY, YES, THE SESSION IS STILL GOING ON.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE SAYING, WE'RE DONE FOR THE SESSION, THEY'RE PROBABLY DONE FOR THE SESSION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ON WEDNESDAY THE LEGISLATURE RECESSED UNTIL MAY 12TH.

GUARANTEEING THAT THIS SESSION WILL BE THE LONGEST IN IDAHO'S HISTORY.

BEFORE THAT RECESSION, LAWMAKERS SAW A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY THIS WEEK INCLUDING PASSING A PROPERTY TAX BILL.

THE LAST OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGETS, AND THE LONG DEBATED BUDGET FOR IDAHO'S FOUR-YEAR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

MUCH OF THAT DEBATE CENTERED ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

>> WHEN THIS BUDGET IS PRESENTED HERE AND IT'S ADJUSTED BY $2.5 MILLION, BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGING THERE'S FAR MORE THAN 2.5 IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM BEING DEDICATED TOWARDS TEACHING -- NOT TEACHING, PROMOTING AND ADVOCATING FOR CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN OUR UNIVERSITIES, WE WOULD BE VIOLATING THE LAW WE JUST PASSED, THAT WE WOULD BE APPROPRIATING FUN TO EXACT WHAT WE SAID PUBLIC MONEY COULD NOT BE USED FOR.

IF YOU THINK THAT ANY MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION IS BEING USED IN OUR UNIVERSITIES TO PROMOTE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, YOU MUST VOTE AGAINST THIS BUDGET.

>> I AM A PROUD BOISE STATE GRADUATE.

JUST GOING TO LAY MY BIAS OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR.

I WENT DOWN THE G.I.

BILL.

THAT PLACE PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

THAT CHANGED MY LIFE.

AS I USED TO TELL MY UNDERGRAD STUDENTS, THERE ARE FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CRITICAL RACENARIY -- RACE THEORY.

NUMBER ONE, IT IS A THEORY WHO ARE WHICH THERE IS NO UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED IDEA EVEN BY ITS PO OPPONENTS.

IT'S AN IDEA.

NUMBER TWO, IT TRIES TO EXPLAIN OUR SOCIAL SITUATION AND TO EXPLAIN THE PRESENT THROUGH A MORE INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE VERSION OF THE PAST.

IF YOU CAN BREAK IT DOWN TO A SINGLE THING, NUMBER THREE, THIS IS IT.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND CRITICAL RACE THEORISTS DO BELIEVE THIS SINGLE THING, THAT AMERICA'S SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE LEGISLATE -- OWING OUR LEGISLATURES, COURTS, SCHOOLS, YOU NAME IT -- THEY DO HAVE TO VARYING STEMENTS, THEY ARE EMBEDDED WITH SOME -- EXTENTS, THEY ARE EMBEDDED WITH SOME BIAS TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUTCOMES.

VIRTUALLY EVERY LAW AND POLICY THAT WE MAINTAIN HAS A DISPARATE AND ADVERSE IMPACT.

ON PEOPLE OF COLOR.

HOW -- IS HEALTH, EDUCATION, WEALTH INCOME -- PEOPLE OF COLOR ALWAYS COME OUT ON THE LOSING END.

ALWAYS.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO ACKNOWLEDGING IT.

>> -- ACKNOWLEDGING IT.

>> I THINK TO MAKE SURE THE UNIVERSITIES UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE% TO SEE ADDRESSED AND THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, AS SERIOUS AS SOME OF US HAVE TAKEN IT, THAT WE CAN AT LEAST SEND THIS BACK FOR THE $20 MILLION DECREASE.

I'D APPRECIATE YOUR "NO" VOTE ON THIS BUDGET, THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE MORE ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL AS WELL AS OTHER NOTABLE DEBATES FROM THIS SESSION.

AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE, HIT SUBSCRIBE.

>>> JOINING ME TODAY TO DISCUSS THE NEWS-FILLED LAST WEEK WE'VE HAD IS REBECCA BOON OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND BETSY RUSSELL OF THE IDAHO PRESSION.

BETSY, THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN FILLED WITH ACTION AFTER SO MANY STARTS AND STOPS, INCLUDING A NEW PROPERTY TAX PROPOSAL THAT WAS PASSED BY BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER IT WAS FIRST DOWN INTRODUCED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND PROPERTY TAX HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR MANY LEGISLATORS.

THE ENTIRE SESSION THERE HAVE BEEN TONS OF BILLS PROPOSED.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM NEVER WERE INTRODUCED, NEVER GOT HEARINGS.

AND ON THE VERY FINAL THREE-DAY WEEK, MAYBE, OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER INTRODUCED AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX 26-PAGE BILL THAT DOES A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND WITHOUT REALLY ANY TIME FOR EXTENSIVE HEARINGS OR ANALYSIS, IT PASSED BOTH HOUSES AND IS NOW ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE MORE SPECIFICS ON THIS BILL ON FUTURE SHOWS AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GREAT WRITE-UPS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'VE EXPLAINED WHAT THIS DOES ON YOUR BLOG.

BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF THIS HAPPENING.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT A HUGE PROPOSAL HAS GONE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION WITH VERY, VERY LITTLE PUBLIC IN IT IN THESE LATE WEEKS OF AN ALREADY RECORD-BREAKINGLY LONG SESSION.

IT'S NOT A BILL FOR TRANSPAIRNLS, BETSY.

>> WELL -- TRANSPARENCY, BETSY.

>> WELL, THE LEGISLATURE COMMONLY IN ITS FINAL RUSH AT THE END OF THE SESSION HAS MUSH MORE HASTILY SCHEDULED MEETINGS AND LYNX LIKE THAT.

-- THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S PUSHED THIS BEYOND ANYTHING I HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE HAD THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, FOR EXAMPLE, MET TWICE, TWO DAYS STRAIGHT, MONDAY AND TUESDAY, INCLUDING EVENING MEETINGS.

THERE WERE MEETINGS BEING HELD ON 15' -- 15 MINUTES' NOTICE OR EVEN ZERO NOTICE THAT NEVER GOT A HEARING AT ALL.

THERE WAS A CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED ON TUESDAY THAT HAD A HEARING ON WEDNESDAY THAT WAS NEVER ANNOUNCED BEFORE IT HAPPENED.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TESTIFY ON THAT BILL WHO WAITED IN THE HALLWAYS FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS WONDERING IF OR WHEN THERE MIGHT BE A HEARING.

AND THEN WHEN THE HEARING WAS HELD, IT WENT VERY QUICKLY.

ALL THE TESTIMONY WAS AGAINST IT AND BOOM, IT PASSED.

AND THAT WAS THE MARIJUANA ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION BILL.

SO WE SAW ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK THAT WAS REALLY THE OPPOSITE OF PUBLIC NOTICE, INCLUSION, THE TYPICAL ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE REALLY ALWAYS TREASURED IN IDAHO, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE BILL THAT WAS PROPOSED THIS WEEK THAT WOULD BAN ADVERTISING FOR SCHEDULE 1 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

SO BASICALLY MARIJUANA.

IT WOULD STOP THE POT SHOPS FROM ADVERTISING IN IDAHO IF THEY'RE LOCATED IN WASHINGTON OR IDAHO.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

AND THAT GOT RUSHED THROUGH WITH NO REAL NOTICE.

ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO GET A HEARING IN THE HOUSE?

>> I HAVE NOT HEARD.

AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE UP IN THE AIR.

I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THAT BILL AFTER IT PASSED THE SENATE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A HOUSE HEARING AND COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IT DID NOT.

SO SOME BILLS GOT THAT TREATMENT.

SOME DIDN'T.

THERE'S A BILL TO CHANGE ALL CITY ELECTIONS FROM ODD NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN NUMBERED YEARS.

IT'S ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE ONCE BY AMENDING A SENATE BILL THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

THE SENATE KILLED THAT.

THE HOUSE AMENDED ANOTHER BILL INTO DOING THAT AGAIN AND THEY PASSED IT AGAIN.

THAT HASN'T COME UP YET IN THE SENATE.

AND INTERESTINGLY, THERE WAS A DIFFERENT BILL THAT WAS PRETTY OBSCURE BILL THAT CAME UP IN THE SENATE ON THAT FINAL NIGHT.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE AGAINST IT.

AND SENATOR MICHELLE STENIT SAID THE SENATE TOLD THE BODY ACROSS THE ROTUNDA "NO" ONCE.

THE ANSWER IS STILL NO.

AND THEY KILLED THE BILL!

SO I DEANG DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT THE FATE OF THIS OTHER.

>> I THINK WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF THAT THIS SESSION, ESPECIALLY AS IT DRAGS ON LONGER AND LONGER.

REBECCA, I WANT TO BRING YOU INTO IN CONVERSATION.

YOU AND I HAVE BOTH DONE REPORTING IN DIFFERENT WAYS ON THE HARASSMENT THAT THE 19-YEAR-OLD INTERN JANE DOE FACED AFTER SHE REPORTED AN ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT FROM FORMER REPRESENTATIVE AARON VON ELLENEDER.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON LAST WEEK'S SHOW.

I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW MUCH OF A DAMPENING EFFECT THAT MIGHT HAVE, THE HARASSMENT SPECIFICALLY, THAT JANE DOE FACED.

HOW MUCH OF A DAMPENING EFFECT THAT MIGHT HAVE ON FUTURE COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE MAY BE CONSIDERING REPORTING IN THE LEGGURE?

>> WELL -- LEGISLATURE?

>> WELL, WE WE KNOW MANY WOMEN CHOOSE NOT TO REPORT.

THAT'S THROUGH STATS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND WOMEN WHO PROSECUTIONS WHEN WOMEN DO REPORT ARE NOT VERY FREQUENTLY SUPER SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE HAVE TWO REALLY BIG HURDLES.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND LOOKING AT THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATS THAT A HUGE MAJORITY OF WOMEN WHO CHOOSE NOT TO REPORT SAY THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT RETALIATION OR HARASSMENT AS THE NUMBER ONE REASON.

AND CERTAINLY WHAT HAPPENED TO JANE DOE SEEMS TO REINFORCE THAT FEAR FOR PEOPLE.

I SPOKE WITH EXPERTS FROM RAIN.ORG.

AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOMEN WATCH AND WHEN WOMEN REPORT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THEN ARE SURROUNDED BY SUPPORT PUBLICLY, THEN THEY TEND TO SEE MORE PEOPLE COMING FORWARD.

AND THAT -- OF COURSE, THEY RUN THE NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE.

SO THEY HAVE REAL -- THEY CAN JUST MONITOR THE CALLS AND THEY SAY WHEN PEOPLE REPORT AND THEN ARE SORT OF PUBLICLY FACED WITH HARASSMENT AND THAT WE CAN IN -- BECOMES REALLY APPARENT, THAT MAKE OTHER PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO.

THIS COULD HAVE A REAL EXACT MOVING FORWARD PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN IN OUR STATE WHO WATCHED IT ALL GO DOWN.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WENT DOWN.

THERE WERE SOME PRETTY SERIOUS THINGS, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING THE WOMAN PUBLICLY IN ALL IN -- IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AVENUES ON PLOTION AND IN A LETTER THAT WAS RELEASED BY THE FORMER ATTORNEY.

AND ALSO HARASSING HER AFTER IMMEDIATELY AFTER HER TESTIMONY LAST WEEK.

>> RIGHT.

SO THIS 19-YEAR-OLD INTERN REPORTED THAT SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY REPRESENTATIVE AARON VON ELLINGER.

HE'S DENIED THE CLAIMS.

HE SAID THEY HAD SEXUAL ASSAULT CONTACT BUT THAT IT WAS ENTIRELY CONSENSUAL.

THERE WERE NO CHARGES FILED THE LAST TIME I CHECKED.

BUT AFTER THAT CAME TO LIGHT, THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD AN ETHICS HEARING, THEN ONE OF HIS FORMER ATTORNEYS RELEASED THIS LETTER THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN TO THE ETHICS COMMITTEE I THINK ORIGINALLY CONFIDENTIALLY THAT INCLUDED JANE DOE'S REAL NAME AND SOME DETAILS ABOUT HER LIFE.

THAT INFORMATION GOT PICKED UP AND PUT ON TO LIKE SOME FAR RIGHT BLOGS.

THEN THOSE BLOGS WERE AMPLIFIED.

REPRESENTATIVE GIDDINGS PLACED THE LINK TO A BLOG ARTICLE THAT INCLUDED JANE DO'S PHOTO AND HER NAME AND PERSONAL DETAILS ABOUT HER LIFE.

SHE PUT IT ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE THAT WAS SEEN BY, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

SHE ALSO SENT IT OUT -- LINK OUT IN A LETTER TO CONSTITUENTS.

AND THEN OF COURSE, JANE DOE HAD TO TESTIFY, WAS CALLED TO TESTIFY AT THE HEARING.

SHE DID SO FROM BEHIND A SCREEN, A FABRIC SCREEN TO, HELP PROTECT HER IDENTITY FROM FURTHER RELEASE.

PUT AS SHE LEFT, SOME ON-LOOKERS AND THEN A TV REPORTER CHASED HER AND LIKE TRIED TO FILM HER AS SHE WAS KIND OF HAVING THIS -- YOU KNOW THIS, EMOTIONAL SORT OF BREAKDOWN FROM THE GOING THROUGH THE STRESS OF TESTIFYING.

THAT'S A LOT FOR A PERSON TO GO THROUGH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BETSY, I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE LAWSUIT FILED JUST TODAY BY -- JUST FRIDAY BY RECLAIM IDAHO ABOUT THE NEW VOTER INITIATIVE LAW THAT GOVERNOR LITTLE SIGNED >> THE GROUP RECLAIM IDAHO, WHICH SPONSORED THE MEDICAID INITIATIVE IN 2018, HAD PROMISED TO SUE TO OVERTURN SENATE BILL 1110 AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THESE ARE THE NEW LIFTS -- THAT MAKE IT -- MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE BASICALLY ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT.

THEY WERE JOINED BY THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION, WHICH I DID NOT REALIZE BUT A WEEK AGO THEY FILED A REFERENDUM.

AND A REFERENDUM IS KIND OF LIKE AN INITIATIVE BUT INSTEAD OF AN INITIATED LAW ABOUT YOU THE VOTERS, IT OVERTURNS OR DECIDES WHETHER TO OVERTURN AN ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THAT REFERENDUM TARGETS THAT SENATE BILL.

SO THEY'RE ALSO A PARTY TO THE LAWSUIT.

AND I JUST FOUND OUT THAT ANOTHER LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED CHALLENGING SENATE BILL 1110, ALSO WITH THE IDAHO SUPREME COURT.

I'M STILL GETTING THE DOCUMENTS.

THIS WAS FILED ON APRIL 26TH.

SO I DON'T KNOW ON WHAT GROUNDS IT'S BEING CONTESTED BUT THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES BEING THROWN AT THAT NEW INITIATIVE LAW.

AND KIND OF THE UNDERLING THEME NEAR AS I CAN TELL FROM -- IN ALL THE CHALLENGES IS THAT THE IDAHO CONSTITUTIONAL SINCE 1912 HAS GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM TO THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO.

AND FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THAT IMPOSSIBLE TO PRACTICE, VIOLATES THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION.

INTERESTINGLY, THE LAWSUIT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY.

THERE WILL BE THREE VO VE OS GO BACK -- VETOES GOING WAY BACK TRYING TO GET INITIATIVES OR REFERENDUM QUALIFIED FOR THE BALLOT.

RERCH DA ONLY HAVE -- REVEREND WERE HAVE ONLY 60 DAYS, MA THAIX THAT -- WHICH THAT MAKES IT AN AMAZING HURDLE TO HAVE THAT MANY SIGNATURES REQUIRED AND OF COURSE, THIS YEAR WHO KNOWS.

THEY MAY NEVER ADJOURN SINE DI.

>> SO IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE.

REBECCA, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ON THURSDAY, WE LEARNED THAT THE STATE HAS SCHEDULED AN EXECUTION FOR JERALD PIZUTO.

>> RIGHT.

GERALD WAS CONVICTED I THINK IN 1986, ACTUALLY, OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE PROSPECTING IN IDAHO COUNTY IN A CABIN.

HE WAS INDICTED OF ROBBING THEM AND MURDING THEM.

HE'S FOUGHT HIS DEATH PENALTY ON MULTIPLE GROUNDS.

BUT THE STATE HAS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED THAT FOR JUNE 2.

SO WE WILL SEE IF THAT GOES FORWARD.

OBVIOUSLY THE STATE HAS HAD -- OTHER STATES HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING EXECUTION DRUGS IN EYE HOE.

WE EXECUTE BY LETHAL INJECTION.

SO THEY'LL HAVE TO OBTAIN THE DRUGS.

THERE'S A LAWSUIT GOING ON IN FEDERAL COURT BY HIM AND ANOTHER DEATH ROW INMATE WHO SAY THAT THE WAY THE STATE CARRIES OUT EXECUTIONS AND THEIR POLICY FOR IT POTENTIAL MAKES IT HARD FOR THEM TO HAVE DUE PROCESS AND FIGHT THAT PROCESS IN COURT.

>> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, BUT HE'S ALSO VERY ILL, TERMINALLY ILL, WHICH ADDS ANOTHER LAYER TO THE PROJECT.

>> HE IS.

THE MARSHAL REPORTED HE'S BEEN ON HOSPICE WITH THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION FOR A YEAR.

HE HAS DIABETES AND BLADDER TUMORS AND A LOT OF OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MEAN THAT HE PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE LONG TO LIVE IN HIS NATURAL LIFESPAN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LOTS OF NEWS THIS WEEK.

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