State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna today explained why his figures on looming cuts in school budgets are different from those in the governor's budget presentation: He's not counting just state general funds, but all funds. Luna, who held a round-table with reporters today to…
The Legislature's Health Care Task Force just split 7-5 in favor of a resolution by co-chairman Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, opposing congressional health care reform legislation and backing Gov. Butch Otter in his fight against it. Cameron said he was "appalled" at what he said…
Members of the House and Senate education committees raised questions about state Schools Supt. Tom Luna's application for federal "Race to the Top" grant funds at a joint hearing this morning. "I see a flaw in this process - at no point were legislators involved,"…
The early, preliminary estimate of a $13 million shortfall in December's state tax revenues has now shrunk to $12.6 million, according to Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief, Wayne Hammon. "That's why we don't release it, because it always changes," he said. Yesterday, under questioning by…
State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna told a joint meeting of the House and Senate education committees this morning that the federal "Race to the Top" grants - which are offering $4.35 billion in stimulus funds through competitive grants - may be "the only way…
In the last two fiscal years, the state has laid off 295 employees, according to a report legislative budget analyst Keith Bybee just presented to JFAC. That was 149 in fiscal year 2009, and 146 so far in the current year, fy 2010. (Bybee cautioned…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
