Idaho lawmaker targets daylight saving time

The Legislature has printed a bill to exempt Idaho from observing daylight saving time.

Democratic Rep. Wendy Jaquet of Ketchum said the bill has no chance of passing but she hopes the legislation will help start a national discourse to do away with the time change.

"This is a way to get the conversation started again," Jaquet told The Times-News of Twin Falls.

She said she receives comments from constituents and others around the state asking her to end Idaho's participation in daylight saving time. The bill has seven Republican co-sponsors.

Arizona, as an example, doesn't take part in daylight saving time. John Hargraves, marketing and membership director for the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber Of Commerce in Sierra Vista, Ariz., said not having daylight saving time works fine.

"In fact, there's hardly any impact," Hargraves said, noting it can help in communicating with clients on the East Coast. "It's actually an advantage for us because they've already started their day."

Leah Barnes, administrative assistant at the Sierra Vista Chamber, said Arizona workers with outdoor jobs can get started much earlier and finish before it gets too hot.

But Jaquet said one problem Idaho faces is that it has two time zones. Options include having one time zone take part in daylight saving time and one not take part so all of Idaho could be on the same time six months of the year. Or both time zones could opt out.

However, both options could cause problems with cross-border communities such as Coeur d'Alene and Spokane.

Jaquet said that's why the bill she sponsored is meant to generate a national discussion, because action would have to come beyond the state level.