The House has voted near-unanimously in favor of HB 698, the bipartisan budget bill for the state Tax Commission which calls for adding both temporary and permanent auditors to bring in an additional $16 million in taxes already owed. It was sponsored by Reps. Darrell…
Rep. Dick Harwood's "Idaho Firearms Freedom Act" is headed for the Senate's amending order, the 14th Order, after senators raised an array of questions this morning about the bill's wording. They ranged from an "or" that needs to be changed to "and" - to clarify…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The father of a man on probation for having sex with an underage girl when he was 19 years old helped convince a House panel to approve a bill that would ease the…
The education "mastery" bill, HB 493a, which would set up a pilot project to give incentives to students to move through school more quickly - including scholarships for those who graduate at least a year early - has passed the Senate on a 27-7 vote.…
After lots of questions, the Senate has voted 30-5 in favor of SJR 102 and 32-3 in favor of SJR 103, giving more than the required two-thirds passage to a pair of proposed constitutional amendments to give the state Land Board more flexibility to sell…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate approved revamping laws governing big swine and poultry farms, a bill prompted by concern more chicken and egg producers will relocate to Idaho as states like California pass tougher animal-cruelty restrictions.…
Gov. Butch Otter, flanked by Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and a large group of GOP legislators, spoke out against the newly signed national health care reform bill at a press conference in his office today. "If it is a proper role for government to mandate…
The Senate has voted 19-16 in favor of HCR 55, a resolution from Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, requiring the state Department of Health & Welfare to look into whether the state could save money by drug-testing recipients of welfare and other public benefits, and…
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden says he'd have joined the lawsuit by 13 state attorneys general challenging the constitutionality of federal health care reform legislation even if lawmakers hadn't passed HB 391a, which required him to go to court to challenge the law. "There is…
Gov. Butch Otter just went on Fox News to talk about how Idaho has joined 12 other states in a lawsuit filed this morning in federal district court in Florida, challenging federal health care reform. Otter called it "an unconstitutional mandate that it forces on…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee had urban renewal legislation, HB 672, back on its agenda this morning, but the discussion focused on what should happen next - including possibly more study in an informal interim task force. Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, said the…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the debate and passage in the Senate today of a public school budget that includes historic cuts. Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, told Eye on Boise he's still holding out hope that Congress…
After two hours of debate, the Idaho Senate has voted 27-8 in favor of SB 1418, the proposed public school budget for next year, which cuts $128.5 million in total funds to schools from this year's level. Just one Republican, Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, joined…
In his closing debate, Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "This is a painful decision and a painful process, so I want to thank my friends in the minority." He said, "Public schools is and always will be our highest priority. ... Every teacher…
Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, a former school principal who has a son and two daughters-in-law who currently are teachers, spoke in favor of SB 1418, the public school budget bill. "I have taught and run schools in Idaho and in Washington for over 30…
Sen. Kate Kelly, D-Boise, the Senate minority leader who is retiring after this year's session, debating against SB 1418, the public school budget bill, told the Senate, "I think that this bill before us comes perilously close to abdicating our constitutional obligation towards the school…
Senate Democrats' move to send the public school budget bill to the Senate's amending order has failed on a voice vote that sounded to be divided along party lines. Democrats hold just seven of the Senate's 35 seats, and one senator, Sen. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello,…
Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, has moved to send SB 1418, the public school budget bill, to the Senate's 14th Order for amendment. Sen. Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, seconded the motion. LeFavour said she wanted to remove a section declaring a statewide financial emergency, enabling school districts…
Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, said this year's school budget marks many firsts, including the first time, he said, that education stakeholders were brought in to help legislative budget writers craft the budget, and the first time that public testimony was taken on…
Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, is the first to speak against SB 1418, the public school budget, in this afternoon's Senate debate. "I do feel we had alternatives," she said. "I very much appreciate that there was a process used in creating this budget, I don't…
Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, noted that all but one of the sections of the school budget bill were agreed to by a group of stakeholders including the state's teachers association, its school administrators association, its school boards association and more. The lone exception: A section…
The proposed budget for schools for next year cuts state funding for salaries for teachers and classified staff by 4 percent, and for school administrators by 6.5 percent. It also saves another $10 million by cutting raises that certificated staff - teachers and administrators -…
Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, is opening the debate on SB 1418, the public schools budget. "I never thought that I would stand in front of you this day and suggest that you vote for a budget bill that's actually less than what public…
The Idaho Senate is back in session, and is moving through its orders of business in order to take up the public school budget, SB 1418.
Lt. Gov. Brad Little today signed HB 544, the "higher education stabilization fund" bill, into law. He was serving as acting governor while Gov. Butch Otter is out of state for a Republican Governors Association meeting in Utah. Little called the bill a "financial safety…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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