Idaho House votes 54-16 to boot Occupy Boise

[IDemo]

The Associated Press
Published: 01/26/12

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho House members voted 54-16 to boot Occupy Boise protesters from state-managed ground near the Capitol building.

Republican Rep. Steve Hartgen before Thursday's vote reminded lawmakers the bill dealt with settled law, where the U.S. Supreme Court has concluded content-neutral camping bans from public ground aren't unreasonable restrictions.

Hartgen said Occupy Boise protesters can testify, picket and meet lawmakers - they just can' camp.

Democrats who fought the measure were joined by three Republicans: Phil Hart, Janice McGeachin and Tom Trail.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/01/26/1969567/house-considering-measure-to-boot.html

[gopiscrap]

1. This ought to be good

Hope occupy Boise will at least resist nonviolently...so much for free speech but I wouldn't expect much from Idah lawmakers

[julian09]

3. Shouldn't be able to legislate away rights to assemble on govt property.

[IDemo]

4. They held an open house for legislators, about as non-violent as it gets

Occupy Boise Holds Open House for Legislators, Develops New Strategies

Posted by Stephen Foster on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 9:23 AM

Occupy Boise members are bracing themselves for possible passage of House Bill 404, which would effectively evict them from their months-long vigil on the lawn of the Old Ada County Courthouse.

In an effort to court Idaho lawmakers, Occupiers held an open house on Tuesday. According to an Occupy spokesman, "approximately 20-30 legislators visited the camp, hoping to gain a better understanding of the ongoing protest.

“Right now, we’re focusing on keeping direct lines of communication open with the legislators,” said Occupier Richard Figinski. “We’re trying to encourage them to come down and talk with us and get our point of view on things so they can get a better understanding of what this vigil means.”

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2012/01/26/occupy-boise-holds-open-house-for-legislators-develops-new-strategies

House Bill 404 - nothing ironic about that bill number..

[gopiscrap]

5. What I meant is that I hope

they resist like the lunch counter sitters did in the 50's and 60's

[Cleita]

2. Really, Idahoans, it's time to kick out all your legislators who are

mining and lumber industry tools. I used to live in Idaho. You are good people, but you allow yourself to be ruled by those kinglets and barons who don't even spend any time beyond summer in your state giving them enough time to rob you blind. Although to be fair, even in liberal states the occupy protesters are being treated like terrorists.

[IDemo]

6. Not much at all remaining of the timber industry here

Boise Cascade was king 40+ years ago and their mills dotted the land, but they've all been closed for a long time. And the Sunshine Mine disaster took the wind out of the mining industry, but they've been trying to make a comeback (and dump arsenic in the Boise River!) with gold and silver skyrocketing. Agriculture is of course as big as ever, and many legislators are either farmers/ranchers or heavily invested in it.

[Cleita]

7. They are still wreaking havoc in the north, but I forgot you

southies don't care for the northies and vice versa, and forget you are all represented by the same crooks. Actually your farmers/ranchers I believe have been co-opted by Monsanto and other agri giants. Haven't lived there for a decade so maybe I'm not as current as I should be but I did notice when I did live there that things didn't change that quickly.

[IDemo]

8. I never have understood the panhandle/rest-of-the state schism

But there's also a Boise/rest-of-the state and an East/West schism. I guess Idahoans are just into Otherism.

Simplot was the resident Ag giant for decades, but you're right, Monsanto has probably taken much of that for itself now.

[Cleita]

9. Well, part of that I think had to do with terrain (N and S) anyway.

The one through road that connected north and south was so treacherous and badly kept that truckers took a detour through Washington state to transport stuff from north to south and vice versa so there wasn't much travel around the state to begin with like you would have in other states. (DH and I hazarded that road once, very scenic but oh so scary with 10% grades regularly and a potholed hwy.) However, I don't understand any division between east and west since it's easy enough to cross the state from west to east in one day providing you have enough gas. Maybe it's religious, Mormon vs. ?

[IDemo]

10. I think the East vs West thing has several roots

And proximity to the mother ship (Salt Lake) might be one of them. Probably a rural-agricultural vs high-tech/business element as well. Boise is also more purple politically, with the rest of the state neon red (minus the university towns anyway).

[Cleita]

11. It's a lovely state, no matter, and I hope you guys figure out how

to fix it. I still think you need to kick out the criminals who are fleecing you, no matter the industry, and move on from there.

[demosincebirth]

12. Is Idaho still in the Union?