A third finalist for president of the University of Idaho, Dr. David Dooley, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Montana State, has withdrawn his name from consideration, leaving just two of the original five finalists in the running. The two: UI College of…
The Senate Education Committee spent an hour debating HB 252, the consensus bill to allow cuts in school funding when school districts declare financial emergencies, before finally approving it this afternoon by a single vote. The measure passed the House last Tuesday on a 69-0…
When Idaho voters enacted the Sunshine Law by voter initiative in 1974, the ballot statement in favor (there wasn't one against) had this to say: "A serious threat to our country is the lack of confidence in our elected officials. The people's trust in politicians…
The House will take up amendments tomorrow morning to HB 135, House Transportation Chairwoman JoAn Wood's bill to raise Idaho's gas tax by just two cents next year. The word is there are now nine possible amendments pending on the bill. The bill, whatever it…
SB 1111, which would help permanently disabled law enforcement officers like Mike Kralicek of Coeur d'Alene with health insurance costs for their families, has passed the House unanimously and now heads to Gov. Butch Otter. Kralicek actually isn't covered by the bill - it's only…
Legislation placing new requirements on the state Tax Commission when it reaches large secret settlements with taxpayers has passed the House unanimously, and now goes to Gov. Butch Otter. The bill, SB 1128, earlier passed the Senate, also on a unanimous vote. "While it may…
Here's how the House voted on HB 216a, the pharmacist conscience bill that passed 48-21: All but two of the 18 House Democrats voted against the bill; the exceptions were Reps. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard, and Branden Durst, D-Boise. All but five of the 51…
The House has voted 48-21 in favor of HB 216a, the "pharmacist conscience" bill, after an hour-long debate. Rep. Sue Chew, D-Boise, who is a pharmacist, said, "This bill really makes things much more complicated for us in a world that's already much too complicated."…
The Senate State Affairs Committee has voted unanimously in favor of SB 1156, the Sunshine Law amendment to require Idaho's first-ever financial disclosure of income sources and assets for elected officials and candidates. Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, expressed some doubts. "I'm not convinced at…
Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, who is co-sponsoring legislation to give Idaho its first financial disclosure requirements for public office-holders and candidates, told the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning that not only was it a priority for both the minority and majority…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
