The run of the Nov. 15 show

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Come Monday morning, Idaho lawmakers will be back in Boise to address vaccination mandates and the censure of White Bird Rep. Priscilla Giddings.

Idaho House of Representatives Speaker Scott Bedke tried to keep a tight lip during a sit down with the Coeur d'Alene Press on Thursday afternoon. But, here's his predicted run of show for the November session:

7:30 a.m. Nov. 15: the House Ways and Means Committee will introduce legislation submitted by Idaho lawmakers on vaccination mandates

9 a.m. Nov. 15: Representatives will convene on the statehouse floor to discuss Giddings' censure and assign the introduced legislation to their corresponding House committees

A lot of "hurry up and wait"

Bedke hopes to wrap up come Wednesday night.

"We are not trying to be a full-time legislature here. Let's get that cleared out," Bedke said. "Anything that can be pushed into January will be pushed into January."

With an unknown amount of bills to introduce and 72 hours to get them passed, Bedke assured, "We'll stay late if we have to."

To pass, bills must receive House, Senate and executive approval.

"We're very aware of the taxpayer dollars here," he continued. "We're aware that we're going to be there in eight weeks, so things that can be taken up then will be."

A House Ethics Committee's recommendation to censure Giddings and take away one of her committee assignments requires a majority vote from House lawmakers. If it is not done in this session, the punishment expires.

The censure comes from an ethics complaint filed against Giddings in May for posting the name and identity of a 19-year-old legislative staffer who accused former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston, of rape.

When asked about his involvement in the ethics proceedings, Bedke said a firm "zero." Giddings has frequently tried to paint the ethics complaint as a political move by Bedke, one of her opponents in the 2022 lieutenant governor race. However, Majority Caucus Chair and Hammett Rep. Megan Blanksma said that's not the case.

She explained that members of leadership like Bedke are "banned from even sitting on" the House Ethics Committee.

"So this narrative that somehow in any way leadership controls the Ethics Committee is patently false," Blanksma said.

Through House Resolution 4, representatives voted to recess — instead of officially ending — the legislative session May 12. Blanksma put forth HR 4 to allow lawmakers to reconvene and address federal COVID-19 dollars, she said.

Six months later, HR 4 has a different purpose — the Biden administration's vaccination mandate. Idaho is already engaged in two federal lawsuits in the 5th and 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Saturday, the 5th Circuit Court granted an emergency stay on the requirement for employers with more than 100 workers. Bedke hoped to see similar action in the 11th Circuit regarding federal contractors.

The speaker believes it is "prudent" that legislators "hold fire pending the U.S. Supreme Court's decision." But the likelihood of that occurring was dependent on an individual basis, he said.

"We've joined 25 other states in this effort," he said. "We're actively participating there."

Bedke couldn't provide the exact number of bills that will be introduced Monday but implied it was "a good amount."

"I think that many Idahoans are offended by the federal mandates, and they expect the state to do something about that," he said. "They're rightly upset about the issue, but when you're working with federal mandates, you rectify them through the courts. We've got to make our case, and I believe our case is good."