For the week of November 19 - 24, 2003

Spin zone

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People who think they have trouble keeping track of what the politicians are doing in Boise haven’t seen trouble yet.

In October, legislative leaders from both parties agreed to draft rules that will allow them to hold secret committee meetings in some cases. What those cases may be no one yet knows.

The move to sanction secrecy came after Idaho Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane issued an opinion that says the Idaho Constitution does not require legislative committees to meet in the open. It only requires open sessions of the full House and Senate. The deputy opined further that because only the Legislature can create its own rules, the rules can override state law.

The opinion gave the Legislature the leeway to do as it pleases. It’s a chilling thought to people outside the Capitol, but both parties seem happy at the opportunity to slam the doors on the public.

This way, legislators can discuss difficult issues in their big comfy chairs, free from the stares of the public and the threat of hearing their comments on the evening news and seeing them in headlines.

It’s no wonder the politicians are happy. It’s bad enough that the Republican Caucus—where bills are dissected and votes counted before they ever reach the floor—is closed. But closing committee meetings for any reason will leave members of the public in the Spin Zone hearing only what politicians want them to hear.

Instead of cloaking committee work in secrecy, leaders in both parties would do better to protect the spirit of democracy and keep the meetings open.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.