Click here to take a look at the third week of the Idaho Legislature in photos, now that it's wound down and most lawmakers have hit the road back to their districts for the weekend. Tonight on Idaho Reports, which airs at 8 p.m. on…
Lt. Gov. Brad Little, who spoke out on statewide TV last week about how campaign fundraising during the legislative session is frowned upon and "generally" just doesn't happen, drew well over 300 people today to his campaign fundraiser, a lunch at the Rose Room that…
The Senate has voted unanimously, 33-0, to pass HCR 6, the resolution to reject the scheduled 5 percent raises and mileage reimbursement boosts for state lawmakers this year. The resolution earlier passed the House unanimously; the Senate's vote today was the final action, and the…
"We are about halfway through our hearing process, but we've gone through about 75 to 80 percent of the money, as far as what we've discussed," Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee at the close of its hearings today. "The…
Inside a live fire training simulator, which is the size of a semi-truck trailer but taller, it's smokey, it's slick, it's dark and it's ominous. It's also a crucial training tool for firefighters. A model of a couch smokes and catches fire; so does a…
Volunteer firefighters from throughout the state are out in front of the Capitol Annex today, for two days of live fire training (starting yesterday), using a fire simulator trailer borrowed from Wendover, Nev., and a chance to tell lawmakers their story. Greg Redden, executive director…
"Library services and programs are being rediscovered," Idaho Commission for Libraries Director Ann Joslin told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, citing "increased library use in the current economic downturn." She said, "In fact, this is a spike in the existing 10-year growth of library…
Idaho Historical Society head Janet Gallimore told lawmakers this morning that despite the governor's rejection of the agency's request to hire additional staff for fundraising, the agency felt it was so "vital" that it reorganized and reshuffled its staff to allow the appointment of a…
The numbers of students enrolling in post-secondary professional-technical education programs is up, right along with the economy going down, state PTE Administrator Ann Stephens told JFAC this morning. And, she said, “PTE programs are successful. Ninety-six percent of students who completed a PTE post-secondary program…
Here's a link to my full story in today’s Spokesman-Review on the school budget cuts proposed Thursday by state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna. Lawmakers were mostly receptive to Luna’s proposals; even local school officials said they don’t see any way to avoid some cuts.…
Eight fifth-graders from Post Falls are taking the state Legislature by storm today, making presentations to the education committees in both houses, greeting state Supt. Tom Luna after his budget pitch, and generally livening up the Capitol Annex in their white lab coats and laboratory…
At a press conference after his budget hearing, state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna, asked how he thought his proposed public school cuts were received by lawmakers this morning, said, "I think they were as somber, I think, as I am. I didn't enjoy putting…
Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, told state schools Supt. Tom Luna he's got a "nagging feeling" that Idaho's state tax revenues still will fall further this year. "The $80 million hole may actually be a $130 million hole," he said. "My gut tells me…
Wayne Hammon, budget chief for Gov. Butch Otter, said the Otter Administration is closely watching the federal stimulus legislation. "We've been following it very closely, and there's a lot of education money in both versions of the bill," he said. Otter and Luna have been…
State schools Supt. Tom Luna noted that other states are looking at far more drastic cuts in public education. Florida is looking at a 16 percent cut, he said. Oregon closed an elementary school and furloughed all the teachers, and is cutting P.E. and music…
JFAC members are now asking Supt. Tom Luna questions about his proposed cuts for the public school budget. The first came from JFAC Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, who wondered if Luna has worked with the House and Senate education committees on changes in state law…
Supt. Tom Luna said he hopes the cuts he's outlined won't all be necessary. "I hope during the coming weeks we can work together to find ways to reduce the cuts I've laid out." He said, "No one will agree with these ideas." But, he…
Here are Supt. Tom Luna's proposed budget cuts for public schools: 1 - $20.8 million - Reduce discretionary funds to school districts by the amount of lottery payments and state maintenance matching funds, temporarily relieve state from match requirement for two years, and allow discretionary…
"Let me make it clear - I do not want to cut education funding," state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna told JFAC this morning. "I didn't run for this office to cut funding on public education." Nevertheless, he said, "As superintendent, I will outline prudent…
Legislative budget analyst Paul Headlee started things off by reviewing the budget. "The public schools request was a 5.4 percent increase, and the governor's recommendation is a 5.3 percent decrease, so that really indicates how fast the financial situation has changed," Headlee told the Joint…
This morning is the budget hearing on public schools - the single largest piece of the state budget, and the area where controversial, unprecedented cuts are proposed next year. Gov. Butch Otter, in his budget proposal, called for cutting about $75 million, 5.34 percent, but…
Idaho Public Television was braced for extra costs of $9,000 a month if federal authorities delayed the digital TV changeover, and no source for the funds - and then the U.S. House voted Wednesday to reject the delay. "I suspect it is not the final…
A rule favored by the mining industry to allow groundwater pollution to remain after mining activity has won the approval of both the House Environment Committee and the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, while a rule opposed by Realtors that would have stiffened septic system…
Rep. Steven Thayn's bill to pay Idaho parents for not sending their children to public kindergarten, HB 25, has been dumped unceremoniously into the House Ways & Means Committee, where it's unlikely to get a hearing. House Speaker Lawerence Denney said he made the move…
Three hours into a second day of hearings, the House Health & Welfare Committee is still hearing difficult and wrenching stories about the impact on disabled kids and others when their treatment is reduced or cut off. This as the panel has before it rules…