POCATELLO — A note of optimism punctuated an open forum with Democratic state legislators Elaine Smith and Roy Lacey held in Pocatello City Hall Saturday. Both are representing District 29; Smith in the house and Lacey in the senate.

    “This year I feel like I can make a difference,” Lacey said. “The Senate is less divisive.”

    Smith also thinks the Idaho Legislature has less friction between parties and credits a large crop of freshmen and a new speaker of the house for the change.

    “The new speaker is trying to be more open,” she said. “We need a few more weeks to see what happens.”

    Former speaker, Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, was replaced by Scott Bedke, R-Oakley.

    In fact, the pair of lawmakers said most of 2013 session to this point has been focused on rule changes and no real legislation has come out of committees yet. They are anticipating events will accelerate in the next couple of weeks.

    One of the issues sure to generate some debate is gun control, according to both Democrats. They said they have been receiving lots of email on the issue and a lot of it appears to be “canned” from special interest groups, mostly pro-gun.

    “We need to look at what the federal government does before we jump in,” Lacey said. “We need to be patient on this.”

    The state senator said he realizes other states are pushing to pass laws defying any federal action, but said that is a waste of time unless real legislation is passed at the federal level.

    “We can't give up our Second Amendment rights,” Lacey said. “But we lived through an assault weapons ban before. No one is going to come and take away our guns.”

    Smith said past efforts to nullify federal legislative action have always failed to pass constitutional tests so the Legislature shouldn't waste its time just making political hay.

    Lacey did share with those attending the Saturday forum that all state legislators are eligible to carry concealed weapons even without applying for a permit from the local sheriff.

    “As a legislator we can get a concealed carry permit just for being a legislator,” Lacey said.

    But gun rights took a backseat to issues like funding for schools and mental health services for those in attendance.

    Lacey said the more than $30 million approved by the Legislature last year for “Students Come First” legislative reforms defeated by voters in November remains unused and will likely not be disbursed to individual districts this year. As a result, he said there is no extra money for training teachers in technology or helping district adopt new Common Core standards.

    Pocatello School District board chairman Janie Gebhardt said most legislators have no understanding about the challenges of adopting new higher performance Common Core standards in Idaho schools. Idaho must adopt those standards starting in 2014 and Gebhardt said Pocatello has been working on the process for two years.

    “It's not an overnight thing,” Gebhardt said.

    Smith agreed that many legislators don't appreciate the work and funding necessary to adopt higher standards and she fears no additional state funding will be appropriated to handle it.

    Others attending the forum agreed that Idaho needs to get serious about funding education in the state and move it off the bottom nationally for per-pupil expenditures.

    “I don't understand how anyone can be happy with 50th,” Lacey said.

    Both legislators said there needs to be better political party balance on the State Board of Education and Pocatello deserves to have a board member. Gov. Butch Otter makes all appointments to the SBOE.

    Alluding to the gun control and school violence focus, Smith said she sees an opportunity for both parties in the Legislature to make solid progress on mental health care in is state.

    “I really think as legislators we have an outstanding opportunity to pull all of us together to address mental health funding,” Smith said. “That's an issue we can collaborate on.”

    Both legislators also shared the need for Eastern Idaho lawmakers to work together, regardless of party affiliation.

    Smith said she is one of two people on the 18-member business committee from this side of the state. It's her opinion that lawmakers in this region need to pool their resources and clout to protect the interests of Eastern Idaho given the influence of the Treasure Valley. She said she's made a special effort to build relationships with new legislators from this region.

    Both lawmakers said they are optimistic that language will be added to the state's civil rights laws to make discrimination based on sexual identity or relationship preferences illegal. They also expect legislation that could restrict “payday loan” operations in Idaho will be introduced.

    Democratic lawmakers will hold another town hall meeting in Pocatello March 2.

    “We believe in transparency,” Lacey said.