Though the Idaho Republican Party state convention was derailed last week by hours of infighting, the hours before the bickering were spent debating and refining resolutions that were to be reviewed by the general session.
Andrew Jenson | Argonaut
Rep. Raul Labrador addresses Republican county delegates at the General Session
Idaho Republican Party Resolution Committee members sat in the Kibbie Dome for three hours last Friday listening to 16 resolutions brought forth by Republicans throughout the state. None were considered for adoption after the events of Saturday and are tabled until the 2016 state convention.
Of the 16 resolutions proposed, nine were passed to be discussed among the general assembly June 14, including resolutions regarding parents rights in public education, eliminating funding for the common core and opposing Medicaid expansion.
One of the heavily debated resolutions called for an amendment to the Idaho Constitution to incorporate biblical literary and historical text into public education.
The resolution, presented by Mary Adler of Ada County, cited a 1782 recommendation by the U.S. Congress that approved the Bible for use in all schools. Adler said that Christian bibles were used in schools until 1965. Her resolution is for public schools in Idaho to incorporate the Bible for its literary content and historical value.
Adler said she wants to only incorporate “non-denominational” Bibles in public schools.
Gene Tyler, from Valley County, said that making Bibles mandatory in schools is dangerous.
“There is no such thing as a non-denominational Bible,” Tyler said. “I’m a devout Christian, and a substitute teacher, and I support having Bibles in school.”
Tyler feels making it mandatory for schools to have a “Christian Bible” is going to require people to use other books of religious significance, not just the Bible.
The resolution was supposed to be discussed in front of the general assembly for potential passage.
Andrew Jenson | Argonaut
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) delivers his keynote speech during the banquet Friday.
Of the proposals that failed to pass committee, one of the most discussed was sponsored by state Senator Sheryl Nuxoll, from Idaho County, stating that: “every child has a right to a male father and a female mother.”
Part of Nuxoll’s proposal stated that children are the ones with rights, and they are not property to be owned. Her proposal also states that every child has a right to a family in the “natural order.”
“Same sex couples do not have a right to children,” Nuxoll said.
Committee members raised questions about single parents and adoption. They believed that this resolution, as stated, said that single mothers would be required to be married, and a man cannot adopt even if he could afford to raise a child by himself.
The proposed resolution failed to pass committee.
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected]