The Idaho Senate just heard that there's only one place in state law where it's a crime for a prosecutor or a law enforcement officer not to go after a crime that they know about - when they don't "diligently prosecute and investigate any act…
The Senate has agreed unanimously to put off its debate on HB 391a, the "Idaho Health Freedom Act," for a day. "With the consent of the sponsor and other individuals," Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis told the Senate, a delay is sought "as everybody gathers…
Here's a link to my full story from November on the payment of more than $125,000 in retirement boosts in six months to three employees at three different state agencies in exchange for their earlier-than-planned retirements; at the time, the move prompted comments from top…
JFAC is now going over the entire plan that its co-chairs, staff and others have been working on for weeks to make the fiscal year 2011 budget balance and all its pieces fit together, from shifts of reserve funds, to tapping benefit reserves to fund…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted unanimously to introduce legislation to ban purchases of additional retirement service for state employees to get them to retire early - a practice that resulted in $125,000 in such state expenditures in 2009, including $72,781 for a single…
JFAC this morning came very close to passing a new restriction on the state Department of Agriculture to stop it from issuing unlimited deficiency warrants to fund the invasive species program, which is seeking to avoid the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels into Idaho…
Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Keith Roark says the state's conflict of interest laws need strengthening, citing yesterday's vote-change that killed a tobacco bill, by a senator whose husband is a tobacco lobbyist. The senator, Melinda Smyser, said her vote had nothing to do with her…
After a long hearing this afternoon, the House Environment Committee has voted 6-5 to kill HB 591, a proposal from Rep. Steve Kren, R-Nampa, that opponents said would "gut" the legislation passed two years ago to address the Treasure Valley's air quality. Rep. Eric Anderson,…
Idaho spent $7 million to house offenders in prison from Jan. 1, 2007 to Sept. 14, 2009 who actually could have been out on parole, according to a new report from the Legislature's Office of Performance Evaluations, which found that delays - some linked to…
HJR 5, the second constitutional amendment regarding governmental indebtedness, has passed the House on a 57-12 vote, well above the two-thirds mark needed. This measure deals with indebtedness of public airports; it now moves to the Senate. Constitutional amendments require two-thirds votes in each house…
The House has voted unanimously, 69-0, in favor HB 544, the measure from House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, to set up a "higher education stabilization fund" to ease state colleges and universities through future economic downturns. There's not much to go in the…
Here are some more highlights of Gov. Butch Otter's talk this morning to the Idaho Press Club:AIR QUALITY: The governor said he opposes Rep. Steve Kren's legislation - which is up for a committee hearing this afternoon - to gut air quality legislation requiring vehicle…
Gov. Butch Otter said he was prompted to write his recent guest opinion slamming press coverage of his budget proposals because "I would like to see some compassion, maybe that's the word I'm looking for," he said. "This is a tough, tough position to be…
Gov. Butch Otter says the $71.3 million in Millenium Fund money that's now being squirreled away as a hedge against future drops in the federal match for Medicaid is something he'd like the flexibility to spend starting in June, if it's not needed for Medicaid.…
Gov. Butch Otter says he supports the 1 percent COLA for state retirees, which the House tried to block before its move was halted by the Senate yesterday. "Let me say that Don Drum and Jody Olson and that entire board I think are very…
Gov. Butch Otter is giving his annual talk to the Idaho Press Club this morning, and his first focus has been on the budget. "Obviously it's been difficult, obviously with the moving target that we've had on the budget numbers, it's been an uncertain process…
Urban renewal agencies in Idaho could face sweeping changes under the seven bills now being reviewed by a legislative subcomittee, reports Ben Botkin of the Twin Falls Times-News; his article today takes a look at the potential changes, many of which are aimed at boosting…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The State Historical Society has abandoned a plan to transfer oversight of discoveries of woolly mammoths and other ancient creatures on state land to an Idaho State University museum, at least for now.…
With Idaho's child immunization rate among the worst in the nation, lawmakers are revamping the state's immunization reminder system to try to cover more people. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted unanimously this afternoon in favor of SB 1335 - a measure sponsored by…
Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, has asked the House Resources Committee to let him withdraw his road-kill bill, HB 562, and the committee agreed unanimously. "My intention with this bill was just to make it real simple, if you see a dead furbearer out on…
The House Resources Committee debated killing HB 533, the bill to raise non-motorized boat invasive species stickers from $5 to $7, after hearing from advocates for non-motorized boaters that they're bearing too much of the cost of the invasive species program, and they'd be glad…
The AARP of Idaho has released a statement lauding the state Senate for killing HCR 42, the measure to block a scheduled 1 percent cost-of-living increase next month for state retirees. “Without this COLA, state retirees living on the brink would see tougher times ahead,”…
The House Resources Committee has agreed to send HB 531 to the House's amending order with committee amendments attached, to clear up a wording problem in the bill. The measure, from Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, would make all hunting licenses and tags secret, plus add…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate voted overwhelmingly to let rural Idaho residents build homes that don't conform to some fire safety rules. Under the measure that passed 33-1, single-family homes built on five-acre parcels outside cities…
There was a long debate, but in the end, HJR 4, a constitutional amendment to allow indebtedness for hospital districts without voter approval, easily gained the two-thirds vote it needed to pass the House today. The measure passed 65-5, with just four Republicans and one…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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