STATEHOUSE

Auditorium may be named for Lincoln

Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, and David Leroy, former lieutenant governor and attorney general, propose naming the nearly 400-seat Idaho Capitol auditorium to mark the 150th anniversary of Idaho Territory. Abraham Lincoln’s signature established the territory in 1863.

“This is an occasion for celebration,” Bateman told the House State Affairs Committee Thursday.

Bateman recited poetry, retold Lincoln jokes and urged the lawmakers to study the 16th president.

The committee not only voted to introduce the measure, but to send it to the full House for debate without the customary public hearing.

- Dan Popkey

GUN CONTROL

Sheriffs’ lobbyist reassures Idahoans

Idaho law officers won’t help federal agents seize assault rifles or illegal ammunition — nor are they being asked to do so, despite rumors to the contrary.

Mike Kane, a former deputy attorney general turned lobbyist for the Idaho Sheriffs Association, said the 23 executive orders signed by President Barack Obama last week primarily address things like background checks, education and reporting requirements.

“I’ve read them and there’s nothing that says it’s up to my officers to seize guns or gun parts or ammunition,” he said. “There’s a rumor going around that we’re being put in a position to seize guns for the feds, but it’s not in the executive orders anywhere.”

Kane gave an hour-long presentation to about 30 people Wednesday , including about 15 lawmakers.

The sheriffs association meets in Boise Feb. 5, where it will take a position on the gun-legislation debate that is “measured and thoughtful.”

“It will not be, I can assure you, that we’re going to assist in the seizure of people’s firearms or ammunition. We aren’t going to bring legislation to restrict concealed weapons or that restrict the right to open carry. These are constitutional rights.”

- William Spence, Lewiston Tribune

NO-CALL LIST

Phone companies want law changed

The House State Affairs Committee introduced a bill Thursday to lift a ban that Minnesota-based Frontier Communications and Louisiana-based Century Link Inc. say hampers their ability to market new services to new customers by using cold calls.

Lobbyist and former Idaho Rep. Jim Clark says the bill gives customers the ability to opt out.

- The Associated Press

HEALTH INSURANCE

Bill aims to help brokers, clients

A bill introduced Thursday in the House State Affairs Committee would give brokers access to customers looking for coverage through the health insurance exchange provided for in the federal health care overhaul.

In coming weeks, lawmakers will debate whether to create a state exchange or accept a federal version.

Republican Rep. Lynn Luker of Boise says the rules for both exchanges leave hundreds of Idaho insurance brokers in limbo and unable to help clients.

- The Associated Press

HEALTH & WELFARE

Committees set next ‘listening’ session

The House and Senate Health and Welfare committees will hear from the public from 8 to 10 a.m. Feb. 8 in the Capitol Auditorium. The session follows another scheduled for 8-10:30 a.m. Feb. 1 by the House and Senate Education committees, also in the Capitol Auditorium.

- The Associated Press

EDUCATION REFORMS

Luna laid off 3 after November election

When the three Students Come First school reforms were rejected by voters, the state Department of Education laid off three employees, schools chief Tom Luna told lawmakers Thursday.

“They were specific to programs in Students Come First,” Luna said. “When the law and the funding went away, those positions were eliminated.”

He said the department is not asking for them back.

- Betsy Z. Russell, Spokesman-Review