>>> WELCOME TO IDAHO DEBATES,
A LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES ON
THE 2014 BALLOT.
THE IDAHO DEBATES IS A
COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF THE
IDAHO PRESS CLUB, THE LEAGUE S OF IDAHO,
AND IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION.
THE IDAHO DEBATES ARE MADE
POSSIBLE BY BOISE STATE
UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC SERVICE, DEVOTED TO
BUILDING FUTURE CIVIC AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGH
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROBLEM
SOLVING, REAL-WORLD RESEARCH
AND POLICY STUDIES, AND THE
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE YOU CAN
ONLY GET HERE AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
THE IDAHO DEBATES ARE ALSO
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IDAHO
PUBLIC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT.
THANK YOU.
>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE
IDAHO DEBATES AT THE IDAHO
PUBLIC TELEVISION STUDIOS.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVEN
DEBATES WE'RE HOSTING BEFORE
THE NOVEMBER 4th ELECTION.
TONIGHT, THE TWO CANDIDATES
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE TAKE
THE STAGE TO ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
ADMINISTERS THE ELECTION LAWS,
COMPILES AND PUBLISHES THE
ELECTION CALENDAR, AND
CERTIFIES VOTES.
THE OFFICE ALSO ADMINISTERS
THE SUNSHINE LAW FOR CAMPAIGN
FINANCE AND LOBBYIST ACTIVITY
DISCLOSURE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
HANDLES TRADEMARKS, FINANCING
STATEMENTS, AND OTHER
BUSINESS DOCUMENTS, AND HAS
A SEAT ON THE LAND BOARD.
I WANT TO WELCOME CANDIDATES
LAWERENCE DENNEY AND HOLLI
WOODINGS.
REPRESENTATIVE LAWERENCE
DENNEY HAS SERVED A TOTAL OF
10 TERMS IN THE IDAHO HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
HE SERVED AS ASSISTANT
MAJORITY LEADER, MAJORITY
LEADER, AND THREE TERMS AS
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLI WOODINGS
HAS SERVED ONE TERM IN THE
IDAHO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SHE SERVED ON THE STATE
AFFAIRS, ENERGY, AND
ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
AND COMMERCIAL AND HUMAN
RESOURCE COMMITTEES.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
PANEL OF REPORTERS WHO WILL
ASK THE CANDIDATES QUESTIONS.
BETSY RUSSELL WITH "THE
SPOKESMAN REVIEW."
SCOTT GRAF WITH THE BOISE
STATE PUBLIC RADIO, AND
KIMBERLEE KRUESI WITH "THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS."
I'M MELISSA DAVLIN, COHOST
OF "IDAHO REPORTS" HERE ON
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION.
I'M MODERATING TONIGHT'S
DEBATE.
TO REMIND THE CANDIDATES HOW
LONG THEY'VE BEEN TALKING IS
RICHARD McBRIDE, VOLUNTEER
TIMEKEEPER FROM THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN
ONE MINUTE FOR OPENING
COMMENTS, AND 90 SECONDS FOR
CLOSING STATEMENTS.
WE FLIPPED A COIN A FEW
MINUTES AGO TO SEE WHO WOULD
GO FIRST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU TO IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION, LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS, IDAHO PRESS CLUB AND
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY.
I'M HOLLI WOODINGS -- THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE,
IMPORTANT MISSION.
NO OTHER STATE OFFICE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE
PUBLIC TRUST IN SUCH A
FUNDAMENTAL WAY.
OUR ELECTIONS ARE CRITICAL TO
ENSURE OUR VOICES OUR HEARD.
THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THE
ELECTION PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE
TAINTED BY EVEN THE APPEARANCE
OF SELF-SERVING POLITICS.
FROM THE TIME YOU REGISTER TO
VOTE UNTIL THE TIME YOUR VOTE
IS COUNTED, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO
TRUST OUR ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN
CONDUCTED IN AN EVEN-HANDED,
FAIR, AND HONEST WAY.
AS YOUR SECRETARY OF STATE, MY
FIRST PRIORITY WILL BE TO
MAINTAIN YOUR TRUST IN
ELECTIONS, IT IS WHAT YOU HAVE
COME TO EXPECT.
IT'S WHAT YOU DESERVE.
AND IT'S MY PROMISE TO YOU AS
SECRETARY OF STATE.
THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY.
>> I, TOO, WANT TO THANK THE
PRESS CLUB, LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS, IDAHO PUBLIC TV AND
BSU.
AS A LIFE-LONG IDAHOAN, WITH
EXPERIENCE AS A FARMER, A
MINER, A LOGGER, AND
BUSINESSMAN, I UNDERSTAND
IDAHO.
I WILL LEAVE MY PARTISANSHIP AT
THE DOOR.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS CAN BE
DONE, AND THAT WAS ONE OF OUR
PREDECESSORS, PETE CENARRUSA.
HE WAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE,
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT PETE
WAS A PARTISAN.
AND I BELIEVE THAT I CAN FOLLOW
IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS AND I CAN
LEAVE MY PARTISANSHIP AT THE
DOOR.
I WILL WORK JUST AS MY
PREDECESSORS HAVE TO SAFEGUARD
THE INTEGRITY OF THE OFFICE,
FURTHERING THE LEGACY OF
TRANSPARENCY, WHICH IS SO
INTEGRAL TO THE MISSION OF
SECRETARY OF STATE.
I RESPECT IDAHO'S LAND, AND THE
VALUE IT BRINGS TO OUR GREAT
STATE.
IN MY ROLE ON THE LAND BOARD, I
WILL WORK TO GET THE LAND BOARD
OUT OF COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE
BUSINESS, WHILE MAXIMIZING THE
RETURNS FOR THE STATE
ENDOWMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THE FIRST QUESTION GOES TO
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY FROM
BETSY RUSSELL.
>> NEITHER YOU NOR YOUR
OPPONENT HAVE EVER WORKED IN
THE COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE OR
IN THE STATE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S OFFICE.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
LIKE YSURSA DID WHEN HE WAS
ELECTED TO THIS POSITION.
SO, WHY SHOULD THE PEOPLE OF
IDAHO TRUST YOU IN THAT
POSITION?
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU REALLY
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING AN
ELECTION.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING
ELECTIONS.
WE HAVE 44 COUNTY CLERKS THAT
DO HAVE EXPERIENCE, WE ALSO
HAVE THE STAFF AT THE SECRETARY
OF STATE'S OFFICE THAT KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE HAVE
ASKED THEM TO REMAIN ON.
I THINK -- THINK THAT IS THE
CRITICAL PART.
HIRING GOOD STAFF AND TRUSTING
THE COUNTY CLERKS TO DO THE JOB
THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE
PAST.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS,
SAME QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT
QUESTION.
THE THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE,
CHALK FULL OF EXPERTS IN THE
FIELD.
EMPLOYEES OF THAT OFFICE HAVE
DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR MANY
YEARS.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY
WOULD MAINTAIN THEIR ENTHUSIASM
SHOULD I WIN THIS RACE AND STAY
IN THE OFFICE.
SO, I THINK THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING.
THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING TO
REMEMBER IS THAT I SERVE ON THE
STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND
THAT IS WITH ARE WE OVERSEE THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
EVERY BIT OF LEGISLATION THAT
AFFECTS THE OFFICE AND ALL OF
THE RULES COME THROUGH THAT
COMMITTEE.
I HAVE BECOME VERY CLOSELY
AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
DOES AND THE MANY CHALLENGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE
OFFICE HAS IN THE YEARS TO
COME.
>> FOLLOW-UP.
>> I DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FOR
BOTH CANDIDATES BASED ON YOUR
ANSWER.
YOU BOTH TALKED ABOUT KEEPING
THE STAFF THAT IS NOW IN PLACE
IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE.
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS,
REALISTICY, YOU WOULD BE THE
FIRST DEMOCRAT IN THIS OFFICE
SINCE 1967.
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT ANXIETY
OR MAYBE EVEN DECENT AMONG
STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED ONLY WITH
REPUBLICANS --
>> I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
IN THE OFFICE OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL MONTHS AND GETTING TO
KNOW THE FOLKS WHO WORK THERE
NOW.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT AT
ALL.
ACTUALLY I THINK THEY'RE A
HIGHLY NONPARTISAN BUNCH.
-- I DON'T SEE A CONCERN WITH
THAT AT ALL.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY, YOU
SAID REPEATEDLY THAT MOST OF
THE STAFF IN THIS OFFICE CAN'T
BE CHANGED BECAUSE THEY'RE
CLASSIFIED STATE EMPLOYEES
WHOSE JOBS ARE PROTECTED.
ALL EMPLOYEES OF AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL SERVE AT THE
OFFICIAL'S PLEASURE.
KNOWING THAT, DO YOU STILL
PROMISE, IF ELECTED, TO FOLLOW
THE LONG TRADITION OF KEEPING
THE STAFF IN PLACE IN THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK FOR CONTINUITY OF THE
OFFICE, I THINK KEEPING THAT
STAFF IN PLACE IS PROBABLY ONE
OF THOSE CRITICAL THINGS THAT
YOU HAVE TO DO.
CERTAINLY I AM NOT GOING TO
CHANGE STAFF WHEN I FIRST GET
THERE.
YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME
RETIREMENTS.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE WILL GO
THROUGH A PROCESS WITH THE
CHIEF DEPUTY AND WE WILL TRY TO
REPLACE THEM WITH WELL
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT QUESTION IS REPRESENTATIVE
DENNEY FROM SCOTT GRAF.
>> THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE, AT WHAT POINT
DOES FRAUD PREVENTION OBSTRUCT
THE CITIZENS RIGHT TO VOTE,
LEGITIMATE VOTE?
>> SCOTT, I DON'T THINK THERE
IS ANY TIME THAT FRAUD
PREVENTION OBSTRUCTS A RIGHT TO
VOTE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
ELECTIONS ARE HONEST AND FAIR
AND THAT THERE IS NO FRAUD.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE
MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN, AND I THINK
THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO AS
SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> NEXT QUESTION FOR
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS FROM
SCOTT GRAF.
>> AT WHAT POINT DOES
CONVENIENCE AND EASE OF VOTING
COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF AN
ELECTION?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION.
I TALK A LOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE
AND INCREASING ACCESS TO THE
POLLS.
AND WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT
SYSTEM IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THAT
SECURES THE INTEGRITY OF OUR
ELECTIONS, AND THAT IS THROUGH
OUR COUNTY CLERKS.
THEY DO A TREMENDOUS JOB OF
MAKING SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS
ARE COMPOSED IN A SECURE WAY.
MY OPPONENT, ON THE OTHER HAND,
DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S
TRUE AND HAS ACTUALLY PROPOSED
THAT WE START TAKING
FINGERSPRINTS IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE'S IDENTITY
AT THE POLLS.
I THINK THAT IS AN INFRINGEMENT
OF PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND
SOMETHING THAT IDAHOANS AREN'T
WILLING TO DO.
I WOULD OPPOSE ANY EFFORT TO
PUT ADDITIONAL BARRIERS IN
BETWEEN VOTERS AND THEIR
BALLOTS.
>> IF I MIGHT RESPOND TO THAT,
I THINK --
>> PLEASE, DO.
>> I THINK THAT WHILE I DID SAY
FINGERPRINTS IN A GUEST
EDITORIAL, CERTAINLY I WAS NOT
IN -- THAT WE SHOULD
FINGERPRINT ALL VOTERS BEFORE
THEY VOTE.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
THAT IS AVAILABLE, AND THE SAME
TECHNOLOGY FOR SCANNING
SIGNATURES AND FOR SCANNING
FINGERPRINTS IS THE SAME.
AND I THINK ONCE YOU SCAN A
SIGNATURE, YOU KNOW THAT THE
PERSON WHO IS VOTING IS THE
PERSON WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE.
I WILL NOT GIVE UP THE SECURITY
OF THE BALLOT FOR CONVENIENCE.
>> CAN I RESPOND TO THAT,
PLEASE?
>> PLEASE DO.
>> WE CURRENTLY USE SIGNATURE
SCANNING IN OUR ELECTIONS, THAT
IS AN INTERESTING TECHNOLOGY
THAT WE ALREADY USE TO SECURE
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR BALLOTS.
>> AND MAY I RESPOND AGAIN?
>> PLEASE DO.
>> WE DO USE THAT TECHNOLOGY,
BUT WE SCAN THE SIGNATURES AND
IT IS MANUALLY COMPARED WITH
THE WRITTEN SIGNATURE ON THE
CARDS.
WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY NOW TO
SCAN THOSE AND ELECTRONICALLY
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY
ARE CORRECT.
>> A FOLLOW-UP.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
SAME-DAY REGISTRATION.
IDAHO IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF
STATES THAT HAS SAME-DAY
REGISTRATIONS.
CURIOUS TO HEAR BOTH YOUR
OPINIONS ON THAT PROCESS, IF
YOU LIKE IT, WHY YOU DO OR
DON'T AND IF YOU ARE ELECTED DO
YOU PLAN TO KEEP IT IN PLACE?
>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, I THINK SAME-DAY
REGISTRATION IS ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT A NUMBER OF YEARS
AGO, THE STATE OF IDAHO HAD THE
CHOICE TO EITHER GO TO SAME-DAY
REGISTRATION OR GO TO
MOTOR-VOTER, WHICH YOU ARE
REGISTERED WHEN YOU GO TO THE
DMV OR WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR
FOOD STAMPS OR THE LIKE.
SAME-DAY REGISTRATION I THINK
AT TIMES OVERWHELMS THE SYSTEM.
I THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY
PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND
REGISTER TO VOTE ON THE SAME
DAY.
IN 2008, THERE WERE OVER 40,000
SAME-DAY REJ STRANTS, AND I
THOUGHT SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK
OUT THOSE REGISTRATIONS AND I
ASKED FOR A COPY TO SEND AN
INTERN OUT TO CHECK OUT THE
ADDRESSES.
THAT WAS IN JANUARY OF 2009.
I DIDN'T GET THAT LIST UNTIL
MARCH.
THAT'S FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE
ELECTION.
AND I THINK THERE IS SOME WAYS
THAT FRAUD CAN BE PERPETUATED
IN NOT HAVING THAT DONE
INSTANTANEOUS
INSTANTANEOUSLY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT -- VOTES
THE REGISTRATION BILL THAT I
PROPOSED IN THE LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
-- ON THIS MATTER, IN 2007, IN
A "NEW YORK TIMES" OP-ED, HE
SAID THE SAME DAY VOTER
REGISTRATION IS A GREAT
CONVENIENCE FOR IDAHO VOTERS.
IT DOES STILL ENSURE THE
SANCTITY OF THE BALLOT AND IT
GIVES THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF
CONVENIENCE TO THE VOTERS OF
IDAHO.
SO, I VERY MUCH SUPPORT
SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION.
IT ACTUALLY SHOWS IN STATES
THAT HAVE IT AN INCREASE OF 10
TO 12% IN PARTICIPATION, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I VERY
MUCH SUPPORT.
>> AND --
>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
>> ARE YOU SAYING IF ELECTED,
YOU WOULD DO AWAY WITH SAME-DAY
REGISTRATION IN IDAHO?
>> ACTUALLY, NO.
THAT IS A POLICY DECISION,
BETSY.
IF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR DECIDED TO DO THAT, WE
WOULD ENFORCE THE LAW.
BUT I AM NOT ADVOCATING THAT AT
ALL.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION.
THE NEXT FOLLOW-UP.
>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP HERE.
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE HAS
ONE OF THE SMALLEST BUDGETS OUT
OF IDAHO'S SEVEN STATEWIDE
ELECTED POSITIONS.
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE
SPENT FOR ENHANCING SECURITY
FOR --
>> I THINK THAT IS A CASE THAT
HAS TO BE MADE BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURE.
AND CERTAINLY IF WE CAN FIND
THE TECHNOLOGY AND IT IS AT A
REASONABLE PRICE, I THINK THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE
SHOULD DO.
I'M ALL ABOUT SECURITY.
I THINK THAT THE MORE SECURITY
THAT WE HAVE, THE MORE
CONFIDENCE THAT THE PEOPLE IN
THE STATE OF IDAHO WOULD PLACE
IN THEIR ELECTIONS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO
THAT.
OUR ELECTIONS ARE ADMINISTERED
BY THE COUNTIES.
MUCH OF THAT EXPENSE GOES DOWN
TO THE COUNTY LEVEL.
WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR COUNTIES
ARE EXTREMELY CASH STRAPPED.
ANY OF THESE PROPOSALS WOULD
HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY MEASURED
AGAINST THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE
THAT OUR COUNTIES CAN BRING IN
TO PAY FOR THEM.
THEY ALREADY HAVE CHALLENGES
WITH ADDING ADDITIONAL
TECHNOLOGY AT THE POLLS, SUCH
AS COST AND TRAINING POLL
WORKERS TO USE THAT TECHNOLOGY.
I WOULD TRED VERY LIGHTLY IN
PASSING DOWN ANY KIND OF NEW
REQUIREMENT AT THE POLLING
PLACES.
>> I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE WANT
THE ENHANCED SECURITY, THAT WE
CAN GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, BUDGET PROCESS, AND
ACTUALLY ASK -- TO APPROPRIATE
MONEY TO DO THIS TECHNOLOGY,
AND IF WE CAN MAKE THE CASE, I
THINK THAT WILL BE DONE.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE AN
ADDED BURDEN ON THE COUNTIES.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS,
WHICH DO YOU THINK WOULD BE
WORSE, FOR SOMEONE TO
FRAUDULENTLY CAST A VOTE OR FOR
SOMEONE WHO IS LEGITIMATELY
TRYING TO VOTE TO BE TURNED
AWAY?
>> YOU KNOW, BETSY, WE HAVE AN
ISSUE IN THIS STATE AND THAT'S
THAT WE HAVE VERY LOW VOTER
REGISTRATION AMONG THOSE WHO
ARE REGISTERED.
WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH
VOTER FRAUD.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SOLVING A
PROBLEM, WE SHOULD BE SOLVING
THE ISSUE OF PARTICIPATION.
NOT LOOKING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM
THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE, YESTERDAY AT
THE CITY CLUB OF BOISE DEBATE,
YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO INCREASE
VOTER PARTICIPATION BUT YOU
CALLED FOR DOING AWAY WITH
PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN IDAHO AND
LETTING POLITICAL PARTIES
HANDLE THEIR OWN PROCESS -- NOT
AFFILIATED WITH ANY PARTY, HOW
IS THIS GOING TO INCREASE VOTER
PARTICIPATION TO LET VOTERS
HAVE A SAY ONLY IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION AND NOT ALSO IN THE
PRIMARY?
>> I THINK YOU MISUNDERSTOOD
WHAT I SAID IN DOING AWAY WITH
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
CERTAINLY I DO BELIEVE THAT A
PRIMARY ELECTION IS NOT
NECESSARILY AN ELECTION AT ALL.
IT IS A NOMINATION PROCESS.
AND IT IS A PARTY NOMINATION
PROCESS, AND I THINK THAT THE
PARTIES DESERVE TO CHOOSE THEIR
OWN CANDIDATES, AND AS FAR AS
THOSE WHO ARE UNAFFILIATED, I
THINK IF THEY -- IF THEY WANT
TO HELP CHOOSE A REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE, THEN THEY CAN
REGISTER AS A REPUBLICAN AND
VOTE IN OUR PRIMARY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS, DID
YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE EXTREMELY LOW VOTER
TURNOUT IN THE LAST PRIMARY,
SOME AS LOW AS 16%.
THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL BARRIER
PUT UP BETWEEN VOTERS OF IDAHO
AND THEIR BALLOT AND I WOULD
OPPOSE ANY SUCH EFFORT.
>> IF I MIGHT RESPOND.
THE VOTER TURNOUT IN THE LAST
ELECTION WAS A LITTLE BIT
HIGHER THAN THE LAST 10-YEAR
AVERAGE.
AND THE ELECTION BEFORE THAT,
THERE WAS ALSO A CLOSE PRIMARY,
A LITTLE BIT BELOW.
SO, IF THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T
THINK THAT THERE IS ANY
CORRELATION BETWEEN VOTER
TURNOUT AND WHETHER YOU HAVE AN
OPEN OR A CLOSED PRIMARY.
>> BETSY WITH A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY, YOU
SAID A PRIMARY ISN'T REALLY AN
ELECTION.
IT IS A NOMINATION PROCESS.
I BELIEVE YOU ALSO SAID THERE
ARE BETTER WAYS TO DO IT THAN
HOW WE DO IT NOW.
HOW WOULD YOU SEE THE PARTIES
DOING IT IF NOT THROUGH A
PRIMARY ELECTION?
>> YOU KNOW, I -- WE HAVE A
LONG TRADITION OF HAVING THE
PRIMARY AND HAVING THE BALLOT.
WHAT I -- WHAT I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT IS HAVING THE TAXPAYERS
OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ACTUALLY
PAYING FOR A PARTY NOMINATION
PROCESS.
>> AND THE NEXT QUESTION FROM
KIMBERLEE FOR REPRESENTATIVE
WOODINGS.
>> WHY SHOULDN'T POLITICAL
PARTIES BE THE ONES THAT CHOOSE
THEIR OWN CANDIDATES DURING THE
PRIMARY?
>> WELL, POLITICAL PARTIES ARE
THE ONES WHO CHOOSE THEIR OWN
CANDIDATE AND WE DID THAT
THROUGH THE PRIMARY ELECTION
PROCESS.
I SUPPORT PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
I BELIEVE IF THEY'RE OPEN AND
AVAILABLE TO ALL OF THE VOTERS
OF IDAHO TO CHOOSE WHICH
PRIMARY THEY WOULD LIKE TO VOTE
IN, THAT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE
ADMINISTERING AT THE STATE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND
TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY SAID.
IT IS A NOMINATING PROCESS.
IN A ONE-PARTY STATE, ISN'T A
PRIMARY SYSTEM, ESSENTIALLY THE
ELECTION, MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ELECTED IN
MAY OF THIS YEAR WILL GO ON AND
QUITE FRANKLY WIN HANDILY IN
THE NEXT MONTH?
>> ACTUALLY, NO, IT IS NOT.
AND THAT IS NOT THE ELECTION.
THE ACTUAL ELECTION IS IN
NOVEMBER.
AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO HELP
CHOOSE THE CANDIDATE FOR THE
PARTIES THEY NEED TO BE A
REGISTERED REPUBLICAN OR A
REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, IN MY
OPINION.
>> DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO
THAT?
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
BETSY RUSSELL.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS,
JUST 26% OF IDAHO'S REGISTERED
VOTERS PARTICIPATED IN THIS
YEAR'S PRIMARY ELECTION, AS
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY
MENTIONED, SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN
THE PREVIOUS ONE, BUT JUST
SLIGHTLY, 74% VOTED IN THE LAST
GENERAL ELECTION, FEWER THAN
60% VOTED IN THE 2010 GENERAL
ELECTION.
ARE THESE NUMBERS HIGH ENOUGH?
DO YOU BELIEVE MORE IDAHOANS
SHOULD BE VOTING AND IF SO, HOW
WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE MORE VOTER
TURNOUT?
>> WELL, THAT'S AN INTERESTING
NUMBER THAT YOU BROUGHT UP,
BETSY.
PEOPLE ARE MORE EXCITED DURING
PRESIDENTIAL YEARS TO GET OUT
AND VOTE.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT'S THE
CASE, BECAUSE I VOTE IN ALL OF
THE ELECTIONS WHETHER THEY'RE
PRESIDENTIAL OR NOT.
I THINK WE HAVE A JOB TO DO AS
A STATE.
AND THAT'S TO GET PEOPLE MORE
ENGAGED IN ELECTIONS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YESTERDAY I
RELEASED iPHONE AND ANDROID APP
THAT WILL GIVE YOU A VOTER
GUIDE.
IT'S MOBILE.
YOU CAN PICK YOUR FAVORITES.
YOU CAN BRING THAT TO THE
POLLING BOOTH.
ALREADY I HAVE HAD FEEDBACK
FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE NEEDED.
THOSE TYPES OF EFFORTS THAT ARE
PRETTY LOW COST, VERY EASY FOR
PEOPLE TO ACCESS IN THE WAYS
THAT THEY CURRENTLY ACCESS
INFORMATION, THAT I THINK CAN
EDUCATE PEOPLE AND GET THEM
TURNED OUT.
BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE
BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE'RE
MISSING IN THIS STATE IS, YOU
KNOW, EDUCATION, PEOPLE WANT TO
KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE ON
THEIR BALLOT AND WHAT THOSE
PEOPLE STAND FOR.
SO, THE MORE OF THAT THAT WE
CAN PROVIDE, I THINK THE MORE
WE CAN GET PEOPLE TURNED OUT TO
THE POLLS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS,
DOES YOUR SMARTPHONE APP WORK
ONLY FOR VOTERS ALREADY
REGISTERED?
>> YES, IT DOES, BETSY.
WE WERE -- BECAUSE OF THE WAY
THAT THE VOTER SYSTEM IS IN THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, WE
WERE UNABLE TO USE GIS DATA
WHEN WE -- WE HAD TO USE THE
EXISTING VOTER FILE, COMMON
SEPARATED VALUES, IF ANYONE
KNOWS WHAT THAT IS.
THAT WAS OUR CHALLENGE.
WE HAD TO USE THE CURRENT VOTER
FILE TO LOOK UP VOTERS AND SHOW
THEM WHAT THEIR POLLING PLACE
IS BUT WE PROVIDE A LINK ON
INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS,
YOUR APP REQUIRES PEOPLE TO
ENTER THEIR NAME AND ZIP CODE
AND DISTRICT INFORMATION POPS
UP.
IS THERE INFORMATION GOING
ANYWHERE, BEING STORED?
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE
PROPONENT TO PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO
PRIVACY.
IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, I COSPONSORED A BILL
TO THAT END IN THE LEGISLATURE.
YOUR DATA DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE.
IT IS NOT SAVED.
IT IS SAVED LOCALLY ON YOUR
DEVICE SO THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO
RETRIEVE THAT WHEN YOU GO TO
THE POLLING BOOTH.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY, SAME
QUESTION THAT I BEGAN WITH WITH
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS, ARE
ENOUGH PEOPLE VOTING IN IDAHO?
IS OUR VOTER TURNOUT HIGH
ENOUGH?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, BETSY.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN
TO EDUCATE VOTERS AND GET THEM
TO THE POLLS.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW
IMPORTANT THEIR VOTE IS.
YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
FOR US TO ELECT OUR LEADERS AND
CERTAINLY WE GET CAUGHT UP IN
LIFE AND WE FORGET ALL OF OUR
CIVIC DUTIES AND CERTAINLY ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIC
DUTIES IS THAT RIGHT, THAT
PRIVILEGE, THAT RESPONSIBILITY
TO VOTE.
>> SO, IF YOU'RE ELECTED
SECRETARY OF STATE, WHAT WOULD
YOU DO TO ENCOURAGE MORE VOTER
TURNOUT?
>> I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO
ENCOURAGE VOTER TURNOUT.
ONE OF THOSE, SECRETARY OF
STATE IS IN CHARGE OF THE CIVIC
EDUCATION OF THE STUDENTS, AND
CERTAINLY I THINK THAT THAT IS
AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION,
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT AND MAKING SURE THAT
IS HAPPENING IN ALL OF OUR
SCHOOLS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE
BEING TAUGHT, YOU KNOW, THE
IMPORTANCE OF VOTING, NOT ONLY
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND
THE RIGHT AND THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE, BUT
ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A
VERSION OF THE QUESTION I ASKED
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS
EARLIER.
WHICH WOULD BE WORST, FOR
SOMEONE TO CAST A FRAUDULENT
VOTE IN IDAHO OR FOR A
LEGITIMATE VOTER TRYING TO VOTE
TO BE TURNED AWAY?
>> BETSY, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU
CAN TURN A LEGITIMATE VOTER
AWAY UNLESS THEY ARE NOT
PROPERLY REGISTERED, AND WHERE
YOU CAN REGISTER AT THE POLLS,
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT CAN
HAPPEN.
AND, CERTAINLY, WE WOULD HOPE
THAT WE HAVE ZERO FRAUD, AND
THAT WE STILL GET PEOPLE TO
VOTE.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS FROM
SCOTT GRAF.
>> IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO
CHANGE IDAHO'S SUNSHINE LAWS OR
COULD LOBBY TO CHANGE THEM,
WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU DO
IT INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND
INSTILL VOTER CONFIDENCE?
>> WELL, WE WENT VERY FAR IN
INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN THE
LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY
REQUIRING ALL 501-C-4 POLITICAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTICIPATE
IN ELECTION TO DISCLOSE THEIR
DONORS.
BUT WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GO A STEP FARTHER IN MAKING
THAT INFORMATION MORE
ACCESSIBLE OVER THE INTERNET.
AND OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW HAS SO
MUCH INFORMATION AND SO MUCH
DONOR INFORMATION AND
INFORMATION ON WHERE THAT MONEY
IS GOING, BUT IT'S VERY HARD TO
NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM AND REALLY
PAINT A COMPLETE PICTURE OF
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND, SO, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITY TO OVERHAUL THE
TECHNOLOGY OF THE OFFICE TO
MAKE THAT INFORMATION MORE
TRANSPARENT, AND MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE OF
IDAHO.
>> A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN IN ELECTED
OFFICE A TENTH OF THE TIME AS
YOUR OPPONENT.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH IDAHO
PUBLIC RECORD LAWS AND HOW
WOULD YOU RESPOND TO A PUBLIC
RECORDS REQUEST?
>> WELL, THAT IS A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
GOVERNOR RECENTLY APPOINTED A
PUBLIC RECORDS OMBUDSMAN TO
KIND OF BE THE PEOPLES VOICE IN
THAT PROCESS.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PROPONENT
OF TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT.
AND IF WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT
WE CAN'T BE PROUD OF, THAT WE
NEED TO BE ASHAMED OF, WE
SHOULDN'T BE DOING THOSE.
SO, AS FAR AS PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUESTS, I FILED PLENTY OF MY
OWN IN THE PAST AND HAVE ALWAYS
APPRECIATED A TIMELY RESPONSE
AND WOULD DO THE SAME AS
SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> NEXT QUESTION IS FOR
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY FROM
SCOTT GRAF.
>> YOU HIRED A PRIVATE ATTORNEY
FOR FEDERAL LANDS, THE FEDERAL
LANDS INTERIM COMMITTEE INSTEAD
OF USING ATTORNEY GENERAL
LAWRENCE WASDEN.
THIS COST TAXPAYERS ABOUT
$61,000.
IF ELECTED, DO YOU PLAN TO
CONTINUE TO USE TAXPAYER
DOLLARS FOR PRIVATE COUNSEL OR
WILL YOU USE MORE OFTEN THE
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION
AS WELL.
CERTAINLY, AS I SAID YESTERDAY,
YOU DON'T HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO
GIVE YOU A OPINION THAT YOU
WANT TO HEAR.
YOU HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO GIVE
YOU SOUND LEGAL ADVICE.
OUR INTERIM COMMITTEE HAD AN
ATTORNEY OR DR. KOESHEN FROM
THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY, AND THE
FEDERALIST SOCIETY HAS ABOUT
40,000 ATTORNEYS AS MEMBERS AND
HE GAVE US A REPORT SAYING THAT
THERE WAS LEGAL BASIS FOR WHAT
WE WERE DOING.
OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPUTY
ATTORNEY GENERAL TOLD US THAT
THERE WASN'T.
MY CO-CHAIR AND I DECIDED THAT
IT MIGHT BE BEST IF THIS
INTERIM COMMITTEE HIRED
INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO GUIDE US
THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AS SECRETARY OF STATE I THINK
YOU HAVE TO PLAY EACH CASE BY
EAR, AND IF YOU CAN, I WOULD
SAY USE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE.
IF THERE IS AN INHERENT
CONFLICT, THEN WE HIRE
INDEPENDENT COUNSEL.
>> I WONDER IF I WOULD JUMP
BACK FOR A MOMENT,
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY TO THE
EARLIER REQUEST ABOUT WHEN
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS WAS
ASKED WHAT WOULD SHE CHANGE IN
IDAHO'S SUNSHINE LAWS?
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU
COULD PROPOSE CHANGES?
>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS
THAT COME TO MIND OFF THE TOP.
ONE OF THOSE I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE US GO TO A QUARTERLY
REPORTING FOR CANDIDATES.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL
REPORT, WE HAVE THE
PRE-PRIMARY, POST PRIMARY,
PREGENERAL -- AND I THINK THIS
OCTOBER, A PRE-GENERAL AND A
POST-GENERAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US JUST GO
TO A QUARTERLY REPORTING.
I THINK THAT GIVES US MORE
INFORMATION AND I THINK IT'S
MORE TRANSPARENT AND I THINK
THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO
SEE WHO IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE
CAMPAIGNS AND HOW THAT MONEY IS
BEING SPENT.
SECOND AREA THAT I THINK IS
RIGHT NOW THAT NEEDS TO BE
CHANGED, IF YOU ARE A
CANDIDATE, BUT NOT AN
INCUMBENT, A LOBBYIST DOES NOT
HAVE TO REPORT WHAT THEY SPEND
ON YOU.
WHERE AS IF YOU ARE IN ANY
ELECTED OFFICE, YOU HAVE TO DO
THAT REPORTING.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT
EQU
EQUAL.
ONCE YOU BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR
THE GENERAL ELECTION, I THINK
YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT REPORTING
MANDATORY FOR BOTH.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO
THE EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE IF
POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL DEPUTY WHO
GAVE THE OPINION WAS STRONG,
THE CHIEF OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION, 37 YEARS' EXPERIENCE.
STEVE -- WHO WORKS UNDER CLYDE
STRONG, 26 YEARS' EXPERIENCE
AND DELIVERED THAT REPORT TO
THE INTERIM COMMITTEE.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT -- WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE
WHO HAVE BEEN HIRED BY THE
PERSON WHO WAS HIRED BY THE
PEOPLE OF IDAHO THROUGH THE
ELECTION PROCESS TO REPRESENT
US IN LEGAL MATTERS, AND THAT'S
ATTORNEY GENERAL LAWRENCE
WASDEN.
SPENDING $61,000 OF TAXPAYER
MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPINION
WITH THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE
CONTAINED IN OUR ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE, TO ME IS A
COMPLETE WASTE.
>> A FOLLOW-UP --
>> I MIGHT JUST ADD TO THAT,
THOUGH, WHEN WE HEARD THE
REPORT FROM MR. KOESHEN, WHO
REPRESENTS THE FEDERALIST
SOCIETY, AND THEY HAD 40,000
ATTORNEYS AS MEMBERS OF THAT
SOCIETY, IT APPEARS TO US THAT
WE NEED THE BEST LEGAL ADVICE,
WE NEED INDEPENDENT LEGAL
ADVICE SO THAT WE CAN COME TO
THE RIGHT DECISION ON THIS
ISSUE.
AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUE TO THE STATE OF IDAHO.
>> DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND?
>> NO, THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> QUESTION FOR REPRESENTATIVE
WOODINGS.
IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE FACED A LEGAL CHALLENGE
AND YOU FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE
WITH THE LEGAL COUNSEL THAT YOU
WERE GET FROM INSIDE STATE
GOVERNMENT, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO
SEEK OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR WHAT
YOU BELIEVE IS ACTUALLY BEST
FOR VOTERS IN THE STATE OF
IDAHO?
>> I CAN'T REALLY SEE THAT
SITUATION ARISING.
I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
RESPECT FOR LAWRENCE WASDEN,
OUR CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL.
WE HAVE HAD MANY LONG
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES FACING OUR STATE AND
THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE MANY
ISSUES THAT THE SECRETARY OF
STATE DEALS WITH.
AND I BELIEVE THAT HE IS VERY
MUCH WORKING IN THE INTEREST OF
IDAHOANS, AND I WOULD RESPECT
HIS COUNSEL.
>> NEXT QUESTION --
>> ACCORDING TO THE
CONSTITUTION, IDAHO
CONSTITUTION, LAND BOARD'S JOB
TO BUY AND SELL LAND IN SUCH A
MANNER AS WILL SECURE THE
MAXIMUM LONG TERM -- THIS MONEY
GOES TO SUPPORT IDAHO SCHOOLS,
AMONG OTHER THINGS.
SO, HOW DO YOU INTERPRET
MAXIMUM LONG-TERM FINANCIAL
RETURN AND HOW WILL THIS AFFECT
THE PRIVATE SECTOR?
>> WELL, I'M IN AGREEMENT,
AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE I'M STUMPING
FOR OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL HERE.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE
DEFINITION OF LAND, AND THAT'S
THE GROUND AND ANYTHING BUILT
ON TOP OF THIS.
THIS MISNOMER THAT SOMEHOW SOME
OF THE STATE ENDOWMENT LAND ARE
COMMERCIAL ARE -- THE WAY THAT
WE -- THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT
HARVESTING ALL OF THE TIMBER
BECAUSE THAT GIVES US THE BEST
RETURN FOR NEXT YEAR.
THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE MANAGING
LAND SO THEY GIVE US A
LONG-TERM BENEFIT FOR 20 YEARS,
100 YEARS, 200 YEARS.
AND SO WE ALWAYS NEED TO LOOK
AT THOSE WITH THAT LONG-TERM IN
MIND.
WHAT MAKES THE BEST SENSE IN
THE LONG TERM?
WHAT IS THE PORTFOLIO MIX ON
THOSE LANDS THAT MAKES THE BEST
SENSE IN THE LONG TERM?
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE REALLY
NEED TO LOOK AT AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE MANDATED TO DO BY THE CON
CONSTITUTI
CONSTITUTION.
>> SAME QUESTION.
>> I THINK YOU MISSPOKE WHEN
YOU SAID THAT IT IS A CHARGE OF
THE LAND BOARD TO BUY AND SELL
LAND TO MAKE THE GREATEST
LONG-TERM RETURN FOR THE
ENDOWMENTS.
THAT IS NOT THE CHARGE OF THE
LAND BOARD TO BUY AND SELL LAND
AT ALL.
WE ARE CHARGED WITH MAKING THE
MAXIMUM LONG-TERM RETURN FOR
THE ENDOWMENTS, BUT THERE ARE
SOME VERY, VERY SPECIFIC
CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO
SELL ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY IN
THE STATE OF IDAHO.
AND ONE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS
IS THAT IT HAS TO GO TO
AUCTION, OR IT HAS TO BE
TRADED, SO, I THINK THAT -- I
THINK YOU MISSPOKE WHEN YOU
SAID THAT.
NOW, AS FAR AS COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY, I DISAGREE THAT ALL
OF OUR LAND IS COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY.
I THINK THOSE AREAS THAT ARE IN
TIMBER AND GRAZING, WE ARE
SELLING A COMMODITY.
WE ARE NOT SELLING A PRODUCT
OTHER THAN THE TIMBER.
WE ARE NOT HARVESTING -- OR
HARVESTING THE TIMBER.
WE'RE NOT MILLING THE TIMBER.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A
DIFFERENCE IN THAT TYPE OF
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE
COMPETING WITH PRIVATE
BUSINESSES IN THE MARKETPLACE
BECAUSE OF THE TAX ADVANTAGES
THAT THE STATE OF IDAHO HAS.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY.
WHEN I SAID IT WAS A -- I
SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED AND SAID
IF THE LAND BOARD WAS TO BUY
AND SELL LAND.
IT WAS -- TO THE MAXIMUM
BENEFIT.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE -- CHARGE
OF THE LAND BOARD.
>> A FOLLOW-UP.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY, IF
IT'S WRONG FOR THE STATE TO
COMPETE WITH PRIVATE BUSINESS,
HOW IS IT NOT COMPETING WITH
PRIVATE BUSINESS FOR US TO SELL
TIMBER OFF OF STATE LANDS WHEN
THERE ARE PRIVATE TIMBERLAND
OWNERS WHO ALSO SELL TIMBER
INTO THE SAME MARKET OR PERHAPS
MIGHT EVEN BE OTHER OWNERS OF
NATURAL RESOURCE LAND IN THE
SAME KIND OF BUSINESS?
>> WELL, IN THE -- IN THE
ECONOMIC MARKET, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE PERFECT COMPETITION,
CONCOURSE FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF
BUYERS AND SELLERS, AND I THINK
THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE
HAVE.
WHEN YOU'RE COMPETING ON A
SPECIFIC STORAGE UNIT OR OFFICE
BUILDING, I THINK THAT IS
DIFFERENT THAN HAVING -- THAN
HAVING TIMBER FROM A LARGE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS?
>> WELL, I JUST COMPLETELY
DISAGREE.
AGAIN, I WILL GO BACK TO OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DEFINITION
OF LAND.
AND THAT IS THE GROUND AND
ANYTHING BUILT ON TOP OF IT.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT
TIMBER, STILL COMPETING IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
GRAZING, COMPETING IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
I DON'T DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN
THESE THINGS.
>> BETSY, ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> YES, TALKING ABOUT
SELLING -- WE RECENTLY WENT
THROUGH A RATHER LARGE EXERCISE
IN SELLING STATE ENDOWMENT
LANDS WITH REGARD TO THE CABIN
SITE AT PRIEST LAKE.
I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT BOTH OF
YOU THINK OF THE ROUTE THAT THE
STATE TOOK ON THAT AND IT'S
BEEN VERY CONTROVERSIAL.
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RENTED
THOSE CABIN SITES FOR MANY
YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN
PARTICULARLY HAPPY.
BOTH OF YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF THAT PROCESS?
STARTING WITH REPRESENTATIVE --
>> I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.
I HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY FOR
THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE HAD THE
CABIN SITES FOR SOMETIMES
GENERATIONS, AND WE ALL HAVE
THOSE SPECIAL PLACES WHERE WE
GO AS A FAMILY.
IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY
CONTROVERSIAL.
THE PROBLEM IS, THOSE
PARTICULAR TYPES OF LAND, THE
PROCESS HAD BECOME POLITICAL.
AND THEY WEREN'T BEING MANAGED
TO THE MAXIMUM LONG-TERM
BENEFIT OF THE ENDOWMENT, WHICH
IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING EVERY TIME
WE WERE LEASING THOSE FOR A
SUB-MARKET RATE, WE WERE TAKING
MONEY OUT OF THE POCKETS OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THAT'S
SIMPLY NOT RIGHT.
I SUPPORT THE LAND BOARD'S
DECISION TO DIVEST OURSELVES OF
THOSE LANDS AND NOW WE WILL BE
ABLE TO USE THAT REVENUE FROM
THOSE AUCTIONS TO FIGURE OUT IF
WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT MONEY INTO
THE PERMANENT FUND OR IF WE
HAVE OTHER TYPES OF LAND
HOLDINGS THAT WILL IN, TURN,
PROVIDE THAT LONG-TERM BENEFIT
TO THE ENDOWMENT.
>> A PERSON WHO STARTS A
BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO
HAS TO WORK WITH THE -- GETS TO
WORK WITH THE SECRETARY OF
STATE OFFICE TO SET UP TAX
PAYMENTS, BECOME AN LLC,
WHATEVER IT IS THAT NECESSARY.
YOU BOTH SAY THAT STREAMLINING
THIS PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT
YOU WOULD MAKE A PRIORITY ONCE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
I'M CURIOUS, GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE
OF A SITUATION WHERE THIS IS
NOT GOING WELL.
PERHAPS SOMETHING YOU HEARD
FROM A VOTER, AND HOW YOU WOULD
WORK TO CHANGE THAT ONCE IN THE
SECRETARY OF STATE POSITION?
>> WELL, I CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK
TO THAT FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO
TO REGISTER A BUSINESS, YOU
CANNOT CURRENTLY DO THAT
ONLINE.
AND SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING
THAT I WOULD DO IS GET THAT
PROCESS ONLINE.
NEXT WE CAN OFFER RESOURCES TO
THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE STARTING
NEW BUSINESSES, BECAUSE WE'RE
SORT OF THEIR FIRST STOP.
AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY
KNOW WHERE THEIR LOCAL CHAPTER
OF THE SMALL BUSINESS -- WE
KNOW THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY AND
THE MORE SUCCESS WE CAN GET IN
THAT, THE BETTER OUR
COMMUNITIES WILL BE.
>> SAME QUESTION FOR
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND CERTAINLY I DON'T DISAGREE
WITH ANY OF THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN
A BUSINESS DOES COME IN AND
FILE THEIR PAPERWORK THAT WE
CAN GIVE THEM DIRECTION ON ALL
OF THE REGULATIONS AND ALL OF
THE PERMITS THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO HAVE TO GET STARTED
IN BUSINESS.
AND I THINK -- I THINK THIS IS
IMPORTANT.
I THINK THE SOONER THAT WE CAN
GET THEM ACTUALLY PRODUCING AND
PAYING TAXES, THE BETTER IT IS
FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO.
>> NEXT QUESTION FOR
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY.
>> IN THE RECENT IDAHO
STATESMAN VOTER GUIDE, YOU
CLAIM I HAVE HAD TO MAKE TOUGH
POLITICAL DECISIONS AND -- SO,
WHAT WOULD YOU FORESEE AS A
QUOTE TOUGH POLITICAL DECISION
YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE IN
OFFICE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE OVER
THE YEARS, I HAVE MADE MANY,
MANY TOUGH POLITICAL DECISIONS,
AND NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN
PARTISAN DECISIONS.
AS SECRETARY OF STATE, I THINK
THERE ARE TIMES, YOU KNOW, THAT
YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF
THOSE DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE
CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS.
ONE EXAMPLE I MIGHT GIVE YOU
OFF THE TOP IS THE CLOSED
PRIMARY LAW, WHICH SAYS THAT
THE PARTY CHAIRMAN HAS TO
DESIGNATE WHETHER OR NOT THE
UNAFFILIATEDS CAN VOTE IN THEIR
PRIMARY AND THEY HAVE TO DO
THAT 180 DAYS PRIOR TO THE
ELECTION.
ANOTHER SECTION OF CODE SAYS
THAT YOU CAN DECLARE YOUR PARTY
AFFILIATION ON ELECTION DAY.
THERE IS DEFINITELY A CONFLICT
IN THE CODE.
AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE
DECISIONS THAT COMES UPON THE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
OUR CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE
MR. YSURSA MADE THE CHOICE
THAT, YES, YOU CAN DECLARE YOUR
PARTY AFFILIATION ON ELECTION
DAY.
BUT I THINK HE WOULD HAVE BEEN
LEGALLY IN THE SAME TERRITORY
IF HE HAD SAID, NO,
UNAFFILIATED VOTERS CANNOT VOTE
IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.
>> DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO
THAT?
>> NO.
>> BETSY RUSSELL, A FOLLOW-UP
FOR YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, ABOUT
THE CABINS AND HEAR FROM
REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH
MY OPPONENT THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OF
IDAHO, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE
PROBLEMS SURROUNDING IT, I
THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
NEED TO DIVEST OURSELVES OF.
THE PRIEST LAKE PROPERTIES WERE
DIVESTED.
THERE WERE 60 PROPERTIES PUT ON
THE AUCTION BLOCK.
THERE WAS AN APPRAISAL VALUE
PUT ON THEM.
AND THAT WAS THE OPENING BID.
THERE WERE ONLY TWO CONTESTED
BIDS OUT OF THOSE 60 LOTS.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE
GOT THE HIGHEST RETURN,
HOWEVER, WE DID GET THE
APPRAISED VALUE, SO I THINK
THAT'S PROBABLY OKAY.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION FOR
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS.
>> THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE
QUESTION I ASKED REPRESENTATIVE
DENNEY, WHAT TOUGH POLITICAL
DECISIONS DO YOU FORESEE HAVING
TO MAKE?
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE WONDERFUL
THINGS ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S OFFICE.
IF YOU ARE DOING YOUR JOB
RIGHT, YOU'RE HOLDING EVERYONE
TO THE SAME LEVEL OF
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND SURE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
SOME PRESSURE PROBABLY FROM
YOUR OWN PARTY, AND YOU HAVE TO
BE ABOVE THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT BEN YSURSA HAS
DONE AND THAT IS WHAT PETE
CENARRUSA HAS DONE AND THAT IS
THE LEGACY I AM COMMITTED TO
PROTECT.
>>> REPRESENTATIVE, IN DECEMBER
OF 2012, YOU BECAME THE FIRST
IDAHO HOUSE SPEAKER TO BE
REMOVED FROM THAT POSITION BY
HIS CAUCUS.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU LEARNED AS
A SEASONED VETERAN OF POLITICS
AT THAT POINT IN YOUR CAREER
AND HOW YOU WILL USE WHAT YOU
LEARNED TO BE A BETTER
SECRETARY OF STATE?
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN REPORTS
THAT I WAS OUSTED AS SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS
NECESSARILY OUSTED IS WHAT I
WOULD CALL IT.
I THINK THERE WAS ONE ISSUE IN
THAT ELECTION THAT MADE A BIG
DIFFERENCE, AND THAT WAS THE
INSURANCE EXCHANGE.
AND I THINK THAT I HAD TO BE
REMOVED TO HAVE THAT MOVE
FORWARD, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF
EFFORT PUT INTO THAT AND I
THINK THAT THAT IS THE REASON
THAT I LOST THAT ELECTION.
>> I HAVE A -- DO YOU WANT TO
WEIGH IN?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO WEIGH IN ON
THAT.
BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THOSE
LEGISLATORS WHO WAS THERE WHEN
LAWERENCE WAS OUSTED FROM HIS
SPEAKERSHIP.
THERE IS A REASON WHY THAT
HAPPENED.
IT WAS BECAUSE HE USED CAUCUS
FUNDS AGAINST INCUMBENTS IN HIS
OWN CAUCUS.
IT WAS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T BRING
HART UP ON ETHICS CHARGES AND
INSTEAD TOOK THE VICE
CHAIRMANSHIP OF A LEGISLATOR IN
VERY GOOD STANDING.
IT WAS THAT EXTREME
PARTISANSHIP THAT LED TO THAT
OUSTING AND NOT ANY OTHER
ISSUE.
>> DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO
THAT?
>> YES, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU
CAN CALL THAT PARTISANSHIP
BECAUSE THESE WERE ALL WITHIN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAUCUS
FUNDS AS WELL.
THAT'S WRONG.
THAT IS -- THAT IS NOT TRUE.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE -- THERE IS
A CAUCUS FUND AND WHAT WE HAD
WAS A VICTORY FUND WHICH WAS
THE FUNDS THAT WAS CREATED BY
MY PREDECESSOR, AND I
REINSTITUTED IT WHEN I TOOK
OVER AND IT WAS TO BE USED TO
HELP OUR COLLEAGUES IN PRIMARY
ELECTIONS.
AND CERTAINLY WE DID NOT USE
ONE DIME OF CAUCUS MONEY TO DO
THAT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY, THE
ISSUE THAT YOU SEE AS
RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR LOSING THE
POSTED SPEAKER WAS THE HEALTH
INSURANCE EXCHANGE, HOW DID
THAT PLAY OUT?
WAS IT BECAUSE YOUR POSITION
WAS DIFFERENT FROM CURRENT
SPEAKER ON THE EXCHANGE?
>> MY POSITION ON THE EXCHANGE
WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT BE
BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR OR NOT BE
BROUGHT UP IN COMMITTEE UNTIL A
MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS WAS ON BOARD.
AND THAT NEVER DID HAPPEN.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION
FOR REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS.
COMPARED TO YOUR OPPONENT, YOU
DON'T HAVE AS MUCH LEADERSHIP
EXPERIENCE TO FALL BACK ON IN
THIS OFFICE.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DRAW ON
TO MAKE SOME OF THESE TOUGH
POLITICAL DECISIONS?
>> WELL, THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
ASK ME WHEN I WAS RUNNING MY
FIRST LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN,
WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO ONCE YOU
GET INTO OFFICE?
I THINK THEY EXPECTED ME TO
HAVE A THREE-POINT PLAN.
WHAT I TOLD THEM WAS I WANT TO
FORM THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT
WILL BE THE BASIS FOR GOOD
POLICY AND THE BASIS FOR THE
REST OF MY SERVICE AND THAT'S
PRECISELY WHAT I DID WHEN I GOT
INTO THE LEGISLATURE.
I HAVE WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIPS
IN THE LEGISLATURE ACROSS THE
AISLE AND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
HOUSE THAT WILL GIVE ME THE
ABILITY TO MAKE GOOD POLICY, TO
WORK WITH LEGISLATORS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE
ACCESS TO THE POLLS, THAT WE'RE
NOT LIMITING THAT ABILITY, AND
I HAVE EXTREME CONFIDENCE IN MY
ABILITY TO DO THAT.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION FROM BETSY
RUSSELL FOR REPRESENTATIVE
WOODINGS.
>> YESTERDAY AT THE BOISE CITY
CLUB DEBATE, YOU SAID YOU
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THIS
LAST YEAR TO END A RETIREMENT
PERK FOR LONG-TIME LEGISLATORS
WHO LATE IN THEIR CAREER HOLD A
HIGH-PAYING STATE JOB, A PERK
THAT OF COURSE WOULD BENEFIT
YOUR OPPONENT SHOULD HE BE
ELECTED.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR BILL?
YOU SAID IT DIDN'T PROCEED
BECAUSE IT WAS SEEN AS
POLITICAL.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT
DID YOU DO?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU
HAVE TO DO AS A MEMBER OF THE
MINORITY PARTY, OFTEN YOU HAVE
TO FIND A MEMBER OF THE
MAJORITY PARTY TO COSPONSOR A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION WITH YOU.
I SHOPPED THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AROUND THE
LEGISLATURE, MANY MEMBERS OF
THE MAJORITY PARTY THOUGHT IT
WAS A GREAT IDEA AND WERE VERY
MUCH ON BOARD BUT FELT IT
WASN'T THE YEAR TO BRING IT UP
BECAUSE IT WAS VERY POLITICAL.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT
WILL COME BACK IN SUBSEQUENT
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND I HAVE
BEEN ASSURED THAT THAT IS
LIKELY THE CASE.
>> YOU HAD A FOLLOW-UP FOR
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS, BETSY.
>> YES, LET'S SEE.
SORRY.
GETTING THINGS MIXED UP HERE.
IF YOU ARE ELECTED TO THIS
POSITION, WOULD YOU STILL
SUPPORT THAT CHANGE IN LAW?
WOULD YOU WANT TO REMOVE THAT
FROM IDAHO LAW?
>> WHAT THAT LAW REALLY COMES
DOWN TO IS AN ISSUE OF
FAIRNESS.
MANY PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE THAT A
SITTING LEGISLATOR CAN TAKE ALL
OF THE YEARS THAT THEY SERVED
IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEN IF
THEY GET A HIGHER POSITION AT A
HIGHER PAY, ALL OF THOSE YEARS
THAT THEY SERVED IN THE
LEGISLATURE ARE NOW COUNTED AT
THE HIGHER PAY LEVEL FOR
PURPOSES OF THEIR RETIREMENT.
SO, IN THE CASE OF MY OPPONENT,
LAWERENCE, HIS RETIREMENT WOULD
BE BOOSTED FROM $400 A MONTH
SHOULD HE RETIRE TODAY, TO
$3,600 A MONTH SHOULD HE RETIRE
AT THE END OF A FOUR-YEAR TERM
AS SECRETARY OF STATE.
LEGISLATORS ARE THE ONLY ONES
WHO HAVE THIS PARTICULAR
LOOPHOLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHY IS THAT FAIR?
WHY IS THAT FAIR TO THE
TAXPAYERS OF IDAHO --
>> DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO
THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, AS I SAID BEFORE,
THAT -- THAT BILL WAS HEARD IN
THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE.
IT CAME BEFORE THE STATE
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
IT HAD A FULL HEARING AND IT
WAS HELD BECAUSE THERE WERE
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT THAT NEEDED
TO BE ANSWERED AND THOSE
ANSWERS WERE NOT FORTHCOMING.
CONSEQUENTLY THE BILL WAS THEN
HELD.
I TOLD THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,
IT'S TOO LATE IN THE SESSION.
DON'T DO IT.
I THINK THE REAL QUESTION THAT
WE OUGHT TO BE ASKING IS NOT
WHETHER REPRESENTATIVES AND
SENATORS SHOULD BE ON THE --
SHOULD BE CREDITED A YEAR OF
SERVICE FOR A YEAR OF TIME, I
THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS
SHOULD ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL BE
ON THE PERCY SYSTEM AS ALL?
AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE BETTER ADDRESSED,
I THINK IT IS ALSO SOMETHING
THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
ON COMPENSATION SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT AND NOT THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> YOU HAD A FOLLOW-UP.
>> AS YOUR OPPONENT POINTED OUT
THAT YOUR RETIREMENT PENSION
WOULD JUMP I THINK FROM -- I'M
CURIOUS, HOW MUCH DID THAT
WEIGH IN WHEN YOU WERE
CONSIDERING MAKING A RUN FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE --
>> ABSOLUTELY NONE.
I WAS CERTAINLY NOT LOOKING AT
THE RETIREMENT AS SOMETHING
THAT WAS A -- THAT WAS PERKING
MY INTEREST TO RUN FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE.
AND CERTAINLY, I WOULD ALSO SAY
THAT WHILE, YES, MY RETIREMENT
WOULD BE BUMPED UP, BUT THE
SAME COULD BE SAID FOR ANY
STATE EMPLOYEE THAT WENT FROM A
$16,000 A YEAR JOB TO $100,000,
THEIR RETIREMENT WOULD BE
BUMPED IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF
TIME.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE
ARE CREDITED OUR TIME IN
SERVICE IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE
SAME AS IF WE WERE FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES, AND I DON'T KNOW
THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT WE ARE
FULL-TIME OR NOT FULL-TIME, BUT
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU
KNOW, THAT I THINK THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON
COMPENSATION SHOULD LOOK AT.
>> YOU WANTED TO RESPOND.
>> YES, THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
STATE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT TREATED
THE SAME WAY.
THEIR PENSIONS ARE BROKEN OUT
BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
THEY MADE FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER
OF YEARS OF SERVICE AND IF THEY
MAKE A HIGHER AMOUNT IN LATTER
YEARS, THOSE ARE BROKEN OUT IN
THE PERCY SYSTEM AND
COMPENSATED IN THEIR RETIREMENT
ACCORDINGLY.
LEGISLATORS ARE THE ONLY STATE
EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVE THIS
TREATMENT, AND I STILL BELIEVE
THAT IS EXTREMELY UNFAIR.
>> BETSY, YOU HAD A FOLLOW-UP.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNEY, YOU
SAID A MOMENT AGO, TO YOU THE
REAL QUESTION IS SHOULD ELECTED
OFFICIALS EVEN BE PART OF OUR
STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM?
DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD?
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT
ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL IS ELECTED
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ON THE
RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
AND I THINK THAT IF YOU REMOVE
THE RETIREMENT PORTION TOTALLY
FROM ALL LEGISLATORS, IF YOU
REMOVE THAT RETIREMENT PORTION
FROM ALL ELECTED OFFICERS, AND
GIVE THEM THE COMPENSATION SO
THAT THEY COULD PUT IT IN THEIR
OWN 401-K OR WHATEVER, I THINK
WE COULD DO THAT AND DO IT VERY
PAINLESSLY.
>> I'M CURIOUS --
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS
RESPONSE TO THAT.
>> WELL, THE PERCY SYSTEM WORKS
INCREDIBLY WELL AND MY STEPMOM
WORKED FOR THE CITY OF BOISE
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IS
NOW ENJOYING HER PERCY
RETIREMENT WHICH SHE EARNED
VERY MUCH.
TO ME AS A LEGISLATOR, IF I
RETIRED TOMORROW, I WOULD
PROBABLY GET $80 A MONTH.
WHO REALLY CARES.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF
LEGISLATORS OUT THERE WHO, YOU
KNOW, IT IS A PERK OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, AND IT IS A VERY SMALL
PERK FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T
GO INTO A HIGHER POSITION AFTER
MANY YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE,
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE TO
TALK TO THE MANY LEGISLATORS
WHO HAVE SERVED MANY, MANY
YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THIS
STATE BEFORE I TOOK A STANCE ON
THAT.
>> DID YOU WANT IT RESPOND TO
THAT?
>> AGAIN, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
THERE ARE ANY LEGISLATORS THAT
TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
RUNNING FOR OFFICE WITH THE
RETIREMENT IN MIND.
YOU KNOW, AND, AGAIN, I THINK
THAT IF TOMORROW WE SAID THERE
IS NO RETIREMENT FOR
LEGISLATORS, NEW LEGISLATORS,
SO THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS, I
THINK THAT YOU WOULD STILL HAVE
THE EXACT SAME CANDIDATES THAT
YOU HAVE NOW.
I DON'T THINK THERE WOULD BE A
BIT OF DIFFERENCE.
AND I THINK THE PERCY SYSTEM IS
WELL-RUN, AND I -- BUT I DON'T
THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO
WITH WHETHER ELECTED OFFICIALS
SHOULD BE ON THE RETIREMENT
SYSTEM.
>> WE HAVE GOT A LITTLE LESS
THAN A MINUTE LEFT.
>> WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR WHAT
YOU HAVE OUTLINED, DOING AWAY
WITH PERCY COVERAGE FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS?
>> YOU KNOW, AS SECRETARY OF
STATE, I PROBABLY WON'T BE
ADVOCATING FOR THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT IS A GOOD
IDEA TO TAKE ALL ELECTED
OFFICIALS OFF OF THE PERCY
SYSTEM.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS
WOULD YOU LIKE IT RESPOND?
>> THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> WELL, WE ARE -- WE'RE ABOUT
OUT OF TIME.
REPRESENTATIVE WOODINGS, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THANK YOU TO IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION, BOISE STATE
UNIVERSITY, LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS, IDAHO PRESS CLUB AND
MANY PEOPLE WHO TUNED IN
TONIGHT EITHER OVER THE AIR, OR
ONLINE.
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
SHOULD BE A NONPARTISAN
POSITION.
AS YOUR SECRETARY OF STATE, I
WILL RUN A FAIR AND HONEST
OFFICE AND I WILL DO SO
IMPARTIALLY.
I WILL UPDATE THE OFFICE OF
TECHNOLOGY, CONTINUE SAME-DAY
VOTER REGISTRATION, PUSH FOR
VOTER REGISTRATION AT THE DMV,
AND WORK PROACTIVELY TO GIVE
ALL IDAHO CITIZENS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
OUR DEMOCRACY.
ASSURING YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS
HAVE ACCESS TO THE VOTE DOES
NOT HAPPEN ON ITS OWN.
IT TAKES HARD WORK AND
DEDICATION TO A FAIR AND HONEST
ELECTORAL SYSTEM.
LET ME MAKE CLEAR.
WE CAN HAVE ELECTORAL ACCESS
AND ELECTORAL INTEGRITY.
THE TWO ARE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE.
FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, IDAHOANS
HAVE RELIED ON TWO SECRETARY OF
STATE TO RUN OUR ELECTIONS IN A
FAIRWAY.
I PLAN TO CONTINUE THAT
TRADITION.
IT IS WHAT YOU HAVE COME TO
EXPECT, WHAT YOU DESERVE AND MY
COMMITMENT TO YOU AS SECRETARY
OF STATE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING AN
INTEREST IN THIS RACE.
MY NAME IS HOLLI WOODINGS, I
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MELISSA,
AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR
THE GREAT QUESTIONS.
I WAS ASKED THE OTHER DAY WHY
DO YOU LIKE DOING THIS
POLITICAL THING?
AND IT KIND OF SET ME BACK AND
I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
IT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
AND THE ANSWER IS I REALLY
DON'T LIKE DOING THIS POLITICAL
THING.
AND WHO WOULD LIKE HAVING THEIR
NAME PUT OUT THERE AND DRUG
THROUGH THE MUD AND HAVE YOUR
MOTIVES NOT ONLY QUESTIONED,
BUT ALSO TOLD WHAT YOUR MOTIVES
ARE IN THE WORST POSSIBLE
LIGHT.
AND WHO WOULD LIKE HAVING THEIR
CHARACTER AND THEIR INTEGRITY
QUESTIONED?
CERTAINLY THE ANSWER IS NO ONE.
SO, WHY DO I DO THIS?
WELL, I STARTED SEVERAL YEARS
AGO WITH THE IDEA THAT I COULD
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE.
I FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT MY KIDS, MY
GRANDKIDS, AND THE FUTURE
GENERATIONS CAN TASTE THE
FREEDOM THAT I HAVE ENJOYED IN
MY LIFE.
AS RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID,
FREEDOM IS ONLY ONE GENERATION
AWAY FROM EXTINCTION.
WE DON'T PASS IT ON IN THE
BLOODSTREAM, WE HAVE TO -- WE
MUST FIGHT FOR IT AND PASS IT
ON SO THAT THE NEXT GENERATION
CAN DO THE SAME.
FOLKS, THAT'S MY MOTIVATION.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE TIME.
THANKS AGAIN TO THE CANDIDATES
FOR THEIR TIME TONIGHT.
THANKS TO THE REPORTERS FOR
THEIR GREAT QUESTIONS AND TO
OUR VIEWERS AT HOME FOR
WATCHING.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE
AND OTHER CANDIDATES ON OUR WEB
SITE, idahoptv.org
idahoptv.org/ELECTIONS/2014.
WHILE THERE, CHECK OUT ANY
DEBATES THAT YOU MISSED.
THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.,
TWO CANDIDATES FOR IDAHO'S 5th
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN THE U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL
TAKE THE STAGE.
FOLLOWED BY THE TREASURERS
DEBATE.
MORE DEBATES COMING UP THIS
MONTH.
THANKS SO MUCH.
GOOD NIGHT.
WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE POLLS.
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>> THE IDAHO DEBATES MADE
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IDAHO
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