Legislature may scrap gambling law

BOISE - An Idaho legislator wants to drop a law that says police officers must go after office betting pools. An Idaho police officer who catches someone gambling and doesn't do something about it can be charged with a misdemeanor because of a decades-old law still on the books. Boise Democrat Grant Burgoyne says police officers should be able to exercise discretion when pursuing potential low-level gambling offenses. His bill would get rid of the law. The House State Affairs committee voted unanimously to send his measure to the House Wednesday. Burgoyne said he doesn't think police officers should spend their time pursuing "your mother-in-law's football betting pool" or other small-time offenses.