Highlights from 03-01-2013
CONCEALED WEAPONS
'Enhanced carry' bill clears House
Representatives voted unanimously Thursday to send Meridian Republican Rep. Joe Palmer's "enhanced" concealed-weapons permit plan to the Senate, where it is also likely to encounter little or no resistance.
Today it is fairly easy for Idaho gun owners to get a concealed-carry permit. But because of minimal training standards, just 11 states have reciprocity agreements with Idaho. Under Palmer's bill, people seeking a concealed-weapons permit could opt for more rigorous training, including live-fire instruction.
The Associated Press
CAPITOL MALL
Proposal loosens rules on protests
The House State Affairs Committee on Thursday approved a plan to allow gatherings 24 hours a day, seven days a week at most Capitol Mall locations.
Following the semi-permanent Occupy Boise vigil of 2011-2012, Teresa Luna, director of the Department of Administration, sought to limit protests on the Capitol Mall. But that draft drew ire from House and Senate members as potentially unconstitutional.
Consequently, Luna had to rewrite her agency's proposal, which she now says won't limit use of loudspeakers and won't confine Capitol gatherings to the steps on the south side of the building.
Under the new rules, camping still would be prohibited.
The Associated Press
LIQUOR LICENSE
Caldwell rodeo bill heads to House
The Senate on Wednesday backed, 27-8, a bill to grant a liquor license for the Caldwell Night Rodeo.
Alcoholic drinks have been served on some nights of the August event for years. But the event's organizers have been doing it via a local restaurant's catering permit, which state liquor regulators say isn't proper.
Consequently, the outfit that runs the rodeo and donates thousands yearly to charity, including cancer research, sought Republican Sen. Patti Anne Lodge's help.
Lodge argues that the license is necessary to help the event make money and continue its charitable activities.
The Associated Press
TEEN DRIVERS
Cellphone bill taken for another look
A measure backed by AAA of Idaho to keep teen drivers-in-training off the phone while they drive during a six-month practice period has been pulled back to the House Transportation Committee at the request of Joe Palmer, R-Meridian.
Palmer said a question came up about wording of the penalty section in the bill.
Betsy Z. Russell,Spokesman-Review
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