Huckleberry pie rhubarb? Despite grumbling, committee serves up dessert bill

It wasn’t unanimous, and debate was crusty at times, but the House State Affairs Committee gave the initial go-ahead to a bill from a fourth-grade class, which would declare the huckleberry pie the state’s dessert.

Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, presented the bill on behalf of students at Iona Elementary School, with a heaping helping of wordplay a la mode.

“I’m hoping this bill gets pie-partisan support, because any way you slice it, the huckleberry pie gives you a good filling,” Nate said, according to Betsy Russell of the Spokane Spokesman-Review.

Nate’s sweet talk didn’t win over everybody, and skeptics said they had heartburn over the idea. Three committee members voted against printing the bill.

“I’m not going to be able to support the motion,” said Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, according to Russell. “We’re just encouraging further frivolousness.”

Opposition was not fully baked, however, and the huckleberry pie bill did get printed. That means, at some later date, the committee could chew over the idea at a full hearing.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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