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Eye On Boise archive for Aug. 2005

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31, 2005

Another property tax initiative

A retired physician and former state epidemiologist filed his own property tax limiting initiative on Tuesday, seeking to cap taxes and values just for the primary homes of Idaho residents – whether they’re homeowners or renters. “We’re not talking about rich people and second homes…

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MONDAY, AUG. 29, 2005

Must be the rain?

Every state but Oregon saw its residents get fatter last year, according to a report from the University of Baltimore Obesity Initiative, with obesity rates on the rise across the nation. To add insult to injury, the initiative gave Idaho an “F” for its state…

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THURSDAY, AUG. 25, 2005

He felt the bumps

It seems a little odd that President Bush acknowledged two mayors during his speech in Nampa this week – Nampa Mayor Tom Dale and Boise Mayor David Bieter – but he only criticized Dale, who happens to be the Republican (Bieter is a former Democratic…

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WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2005

Reactions to the Prez

Here are two different reactions to the president’s speech in Nampa, one from a Republican congressional candidate, the other from a Democratic state legislator:Former state Sen. Sheila Sorensen, R-Boise, who is among a half-dozen Republicans seeking the 1st District congressional seat, said, “The President was…

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TUESDAY, AUG. 23, 2005

Everything he said under the trees

The White House has posted a complete transcript on the Internet of President Bush’s 12-minute press conference this morning at Tamarack Resort, in which he talked about how glad he is to be in Idaho and about his speech on the war on terror tomorrow,…

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'Desperately seeking friendly ground'

Idaho’s Democratic Party is accusing President Bush of “desperately seeking friendly ground” in his current visit to Idaho, what with his approval ratings down and concern over the nation’s war deaths in Iraq getting widespread attention, sparked by grieving mom and protester Cindy Sheehan.The president…

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President is 'hanging loose'

President Bush told reporters, “I’m kind of hanging loose, as they say,” before he took off this afternoon on a mountain bike ride around a loop at Tamarack Resort. The very-fit Bush reportedly outstripped Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, who couldn’t always keep up. Then, around…

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MONDAY, AUG. 22, 2005

Said in Salt Lake

President Bush’s speech today in Salt Lake City sounded themes we’re likely to hear again on Wednesday when he speaks on the war on terror at the Idaho Center in Nampa. Here’s an AP account of his remarks this morning at the Veterans of Foreign…

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Getting into the act

What with President Bush in Idaho, folks of all political stripes are getting into the act – from a “Potatoes for Peace” performance at an anti-war rally planned for Tuesday evening across from the state capitol, to an announcement from Trout Unlimited that the president…

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SATURDAY, AUG. 20, 2005

He knows how to bring 'em in here

Carl Wilgus, Idaho's tourism chief at the state Dept. of Commerce & Labor, has been named state tourism director of the year by the Travel Industry Association of America - surprising no one. Idaho's tourism growth recently picked up to pre-Sept. 11 levels, and tourism…

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TUESDAY, AUG. 16, 2005

No giggling in the gaggle

Following are excerpts from the transcript of today’s White House “press gaggle,” which apparently is when a gaggle of press types gather around a White House spokesperson for a few announcements and a little Q & A, or at least I’m guessing that’s what it…

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They're not sayin'

The IRS, through a press spokeswoman in Seattle, declined to comment on whether the agency received Idaho Demo Chair Richard Stallings’ letter requesting an inquiry into campaign spending practices in Idaho like Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s, or to give any response. The reason? They don’t comment…

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MONDAY, AUG. 15, 2005

Could it be taxable?

Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings has written a formal letter to the IRS asking whether, if a public official spends campaign money for personal expenses, that money becomes taxable income.Attached to his Aug. 12 letter were copies of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s latest campaign finance…

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THURSDAY, AUG. 11, 2005

Bogert to head EPA region

L. Michael Bogert, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s top lawyer for five years who also made an unsuccessful run for Idaho Attorney General, has been named the new administrator of the EPA’s Region 10, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.Bogert will take over from acting regional…

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Presidential visit

About the oddest thing about President George W. Bush’s plans to visit Idaho later this month is that he hasn’t come sooner. Never, once, has this two-term Republican president visited the state with an all-Republican congressional delegation that’s given him more than two-thirds of its…

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TUESDAY, AUG. 9, 2005

Slush funds 'the norm'

You can see Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s latest campaign finance report for yourself here; the governor, who is not running for re-election, has drawn criticism for using his campaign account, in part, for lunches out, flowers, candy, travel and gifts. But University of Virginia political scientist…

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SUNDAY, AUG. 7, 2005

Major change in Boise media scene

Wow, I only left town for a week – to enjoy my vacation windsurfing in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge – and when I returned, the Boise news media world had been shaken to its core. The big news: The sale of the Idaho Statesman…

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Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.



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