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Eye On Boise archive for Feb. 2006

TUESDAY, FEB. 28, 2006


MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2006


Second verse - a lot like the first

GOP leaders introduced a new school facilities bill today – on a 4-3 party-line vote in a hastily-called meeting of the House Ways & Means Committee. Notice of the meeting was posted inside the House chambers – while the House was in session and the…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 24, 2006

Eminent domain bill applauded

The House just voted unanimously in favor of HB 555, legislation sponsored by a group of legislators headed by House Speaker Bruce Newcomb plus the governor’s and attorney general’s offices, that puts limitations on the use of the power of eminent domain for private parties,…

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Idaho AFL-CIO endorses Larry Grant in 1st CD

The Idaho AFL-CIO, the state’s largest organized labor group, has endorsed Democrat Larry Grant in the 1st District congressional race. Grant, a retired Micron executive from Fruitland, faces Coeur d’Alene businessman Cecil Kelly in the Democratic primary – though most of the focus thus far…

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THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2006

Former governor warns against GARVEE, lawmakers react

Top legislative leaders Bruce Newcomb and Bob Geddes were asked today about former Gov. Phil Batt coming out against the “Connecting Idaho” project building major highway improvements by borrowing against future federal highway funds through GARVEE bonds. Batt wrote a guest opinion that appeared in…

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'Let's kiss the guy with the gun'

It’s tax-exemption time. The House yesterday passed a sales tax exemption for the film industry, and today, House Rev & Tax held hearings on a couple more – including one proposed by Rep. Bill Sali, R-Kuna, to exempt shooting range fees from sales tax.According to…

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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22, 2006

Morty mucks around in the milfoil milieu

House Agriculture Chairwoman Rep. Frances Field, R-Grand View, charms those who attend her committee meetings with her courteous welcome and her friendly insistence that everyone stand and introduce themselves at the start of the meeting. On Wednesday, when she got to Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest…

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Forget lawmaking - this is football

S-R reporter Meghann Cuniff reports that Vandal football fever spread through the Idaho Statehouse today, as the Senate and House took breaks from their regularly scheduled lawmaking to recognize newly hired University of Idaho football coach Dennis Erickson, who was visiting the Capitol with UI…

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Applicant secrecy bill withdrawn

HB 570, which would have added a public records exemption to Idaho state law to cover the identities of applicants for public employment – including all public jobs, paid or volunteer, other than elective offices – has been withdrawn. House State Affairs Committee Chairman Bill…

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High marks for all but penmanship

Longtime state Rep. Jack Barraclough, R-Idaho Falls, had high praise for U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo as he introduced him to the House chamber this morning, where Crapo spoke to lawmakers on what’s going on in Washington, D.C. – but Barraclough also had one small criticism:…

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TUESDAY, FEB. 21, 2006

They fixed it back in the '60s

Would you believe that current Idaho law authorizes mayors to call on “every male inhabitant in the city over 21 years of age to aid in enforcing the laws”? A newly elected Idaho mayor who was reviewing the statutes that describe her duties found that…

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MONDAY, FEB. 20, 2006

It’s the most secure file server around

North Idaho College President Michael Burke was describing how NIC moved into the former Kellogg City Hall to set up an outreach campus for the Silver Valley, during a Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee special hearing on community colleges this morning, and he noted that NIC is…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 17, 2006

THURSDAY, FEB. 16, 2006

Anti-tribal gaming bill killed in committee, 13-4

After two and a half hours of testimony, the House State Affairs Committee today killed a proposal from top GOP leaders in the House and Senate to mount a taxpayer-funded challenge of the voter-approved Indian gaming initiative.Former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Robert Bakes warned that…

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That must be a fine and pleasant district

Former state Rep. Gary Ingram, R-Post Falls, had this response to current Rep. Jim Clark’s legacy of “fine pleasures” legislation: “Did it all begin when I carried the liquor by the drink on Sunday legislation back in the ‘70s? No one thought it could be…

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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15, 2006

They're talkin' rewards and punishments

GOP legislative leaders introduced their school facilities proposal in the House Education Committee today, calling for earmarking $25 million from the state surplus, plus an additional $8 million to $9 million a year in aid for school repairs and bond levies in poorer districts. “We…

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The debate is on

The Senate has been debating the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment for the last hour and a half, and is well into the lunch hour. So when Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, got up just now to start his debate, he said, “I guess everybody thought they…

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TUESDAY, FEB. 14, 2006

Brady pays Kempthorne's tax bill

Jerry Brady, the Democratic candidate for governor, sent an “open letter” to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne today saying he’s sent Valley County a check for $9.73, the amount of property taxes overdue on Kempthorne’s 14 acres there. Brady said he did so to make two points…

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'We're not done yet'

It wasn’t about property taxes – Rep. George Sayler’s proposal in House Rev & Tax this morning was to give people who donate to Project Safe Place’s teen crisis programs an income tax credit. The committee agreed to introduce the bill, which Sayler said should…

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MONDAY, FEB. 13, 2006

That's definitely not Rep. Hart

I’m laid up this week after knee surgery this morning, but S-R reporter Erica Curless, who’s filling in for me over at the Statehouse, sent over this note: Rathdrum resident Tina Jacobsen is filling in for Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, this week. Hart, who owns…

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Eye On Boise

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



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