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Eye On Boise archive for Jan. 1, 2006

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25, 2006

Debate: Segregation, same-sex marriage and schools

The two candidates for Idaho superintendent of schools debated some hot topics during their live debate tonight on Idaho Public Television. Among the highlights: Republican Tom Luna called for separate charter elementary schools for children who are struggling to learn English. “In my district in…

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Otter won't release his own polls

Republican candidate for governor Butch Otter won’t release his own campaign polls, but he says they differ from Democratic opponent Jerry Brady’s newly released poll showing Brady taking the lead in the race. “The numbers are different, and we feel very confident that on Election…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 24, 2006

SUNDAY, OCT. 22, 2006

Saturday surprise makes it three

Having checked the FEC independent expenditure reports daily for the past week, I was darn surprised to see a new anti-Larry Grant TV ad yesterday – this one sponsored by the Club for Growth PAC. That group hadn’t reported any spending against Grant. But on…

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THURSDAY, OCT. 19, 2006

Idaho attorneys raise concerns about HJR 2

Forty-one attorneys from throughout the state have signed a statement opposing HJR 2, the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships in Idaho. Among the concerns cited are that the measure, as written, could hamper legal protections for some battered women…

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Idaho a sign of national political trends?

Interesting story in the LA Times today suggests that Idaho’s a glaring example of national political swings that are making this a fast-changing and very interesting election season. “America does not get much more Republican than Idaho,” wrote Times reporter Janet Hook. “President Bush pulled…

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They're both ready to move against meth

Today, the Idaho Statesman newspaper endorsed Larry LaRocco for lieutenant governor, saying it liked the plan LaRocco outlined to use the lieutenant governor’s office to lead a fight against methamphetamine use and its effects throughout the state. Republican Jim Risch, the newspaper said, lists his…

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18, 2006

History tells story of legalized discrimination

In researching my article in today’s paper on HJR 2, the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment that’s on the November ballot, I ran across some startling history. Here it is: The Idaho Constitution prohibited people of Asian ancestry from voting, serving as jurors or holding office…

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MONDAY, OCT. 16, 2006

Sali’s two biggest donors not fond of one another

Here’s an odd note: GOP congressional candidate Bill Sali’s biggest contributions on his latest campaign finance report were from two PACs: The Association of Trial Lawyers of America PAC (Sali is a lawyer, as is Democratic opponent Larry Grant), and the Washington, D.C.-based Freedom Project,…

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Grant campaign says 'It's not us'

Automated phone calls have gone out across the 1st Congressional District, and folks whose dinners are interrupted, when they first pick up the phone, are getting the impression the pesky, aggressive calls are coming from Larry Grant’s campaign. But they’re not – they’re from the…

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FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 2006

Of campaign donations and debts

Idaho Gov. Jim Risch has collected nearly $130,000 in campaign contributions for his run for lieutenant governor this year but has spent little of it campaigning, so he has $119,953 in campaign cash – and a $360,000 campaign debt to himself that he's carried over…

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THURSDAY, OCT. 12, 2006

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11, 2006


'It isn't us'

The fact that the Washington Farm Bureau is a main sponsor of that state’s regulatory takings initiative has sparked rumors that the Idaho Farm Bureau has something to do with Idaho’s Proposition 2 – but the farm bureau says the rumors are false.“That rumor’s been…

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Now Butch is against it

Butch Otter was still undecided on Proposition 2 on Monday, at which time he said in a debate, “I’ve listened time and time again to both sides, and quite frankly I’m still confused because I don’t know exactly what it says.”On Tuesday morning, when I…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 10, 2006

Putting the numbers together

OK, it makes a little more sense now that Butch Otter’s campaign says he’s hit the $2 million mark since the close of the last campaign finance filing period on Sept. 30. It’s not that Otter has made up the entire half-million-dollar difference between the…

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Among the tidbits

Little gems among the campaign finance reports just filed today in the governor’s race include a $2,000 contribution to Butch Otter from none other than Jim Risch, the current governor. Risch had been widely expected to run against Otter in last spring’s GOP primary, but…

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MONDAY, OCT. 9, 2006

Brady’s against Prop. 2, Otter’s still undecided

At today’s City Club of Boise debate between Republican candidate for governor Butch Otter and Democratic opponent Jerry Brady, both candidates were asked their position on Proposition 2, the “regulatory takings” initiative. Brady said he opposed it, while Otter said he’s still undecided. Here are…

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Guv raises money for Realtors PAC

Idaho Gov. Jim Risch is the keynote speaker for a fundraiser for RPAC, the Idaho Realtors PAC, this Thursday morning in Nampa. The $25-a-head event runs from 8-10 a.m. at the Nampa Civic Center, and is being billed as a “Breakfast with the Governor.” The…

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FRIDAY, OCT. 6, 2006

Of Mehlman, Sali, Grant, and 'Bill Risch'

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman flew into Boise yesterday to boost GOP congressional candidate Bill Sali at a rally at state GOP headquarters, but the timing wasn’t the greatest. When Mehlman met with reporters, much of the questioning was about the national scandal involving…

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4, 2006

Did so! Did not! I'm telling!

Things are getting hot between Idaho’s Democratic and Republican leaders, with dueling press releases out regarding a GOP congressman from Florida and his pedophilia scandal, who knew what when, who should or shouldn’t apologize, who’s politicizing what, and a bit of name-calling.First, Idaho Democratic Chairman…

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Political lines for the ages

It’s hard to imagine anyone ever topping that great comment from former state Rep. John Campbell, R-Sandpoint, back in 1999, when he said, “I don’t always make the brightest statements in the Legislature, but I feel I’m representative of my district.”But each year, people try.…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 3, 2006

‘Constitutional crisis’ facing Idaho

If the state’s interpretation of the Idaho Supreme Court’s latest decisions on the long-running school lawsuit is correct, then Idaho is facing a “constitutional crisis,” 4th District Judge Deborah Bail said today.But Judge Bail laid out a different theory – she doesn’t think the Supreme…

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THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2006

OK, who You calling a Tube?

It’s a video extravaganza! Perhaps inspired by those hilarious political satires from the JibJab.com guys, people from all edges of Idaho’s political spectrum have been turning to online video humor to get their political points across, complete with snappy music and lots of attitude, and…

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