Idaho State Tax Commission Chairman Royce Chigbrow has resigned. In a hand-delivered resignation letter sent to Gov. Butch Otter, Chigbrow wrote, "Our system of taxation is not perfect, but I tried to do my best on behalf of every Idahoan during my tenure, while treating…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Gov. Butch Otter's second inauguration today, which came amid hoopla, booming cannons and an A-10 jet flyover on the state Capitol steps. Otter pledged to turn the emergency measures the state has taken to cope…
Speaking of the EPA, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, newly named chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA, said of the agency: “The EPA is the scariest agency in the federal government, an agency run amok. Its…
Gov. Butch Otter, who made a point of criticizing the reach and growth of the federal government throughout his inaugural speech today, also made a reference before he began to his own run-ins with the EPA regarding Clean Water Act violations at his ranch in…
A handful of protesters held signs at the back of the crowd at today's inauguration; most of them were family members of Pro-Life, the frequent election candidate who changed his name to the slogan and today held a large sign saying, "Abortion is murder." His…
Here, Gov. Butch Otter waves to the crowd after taking the oath of office for his second term. He and all the state constitutional officers took oaths today administered by the chief justice of the Idaho Supreme Court. One of them, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden,…
In his second inaugural address, Gov. Butch Otter had this message: The steps Idaho has taken to cope with an unprecedented economic downturn are going to become the new normal and "standard operating practices" for his administration. "Over the next four years you can expect…
Here, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and First Lady Lori Otter are escorted in to today's inaugural festivities on the state Capitol steps. Four former governors are attending the ceremony: former Govs. Risch, Kempthorne, Batt and Andrus.
The stage is set, the 25th Army Band is playing, and a giant American flag has been strung up on the front of the state capitol for today's inaugural festivities. At noon Boise time, Idaho's 46th inauguration will begin. Gov. Butch Otter and all other…
Yet another ethics complaint has been filed against Idaho Rep. Phil Hart, this one by the write-in candidate who unsuccessfully ran against him in November. Hayden businessman Howard Griffiths, who garnered 25 percent of the vote for his write-in bid, sent in an ethics complaint…
Key lawmakers are splashing cold water on a tea party-backed proposal to extend Idaho's sales tax to cover most services, while also lowering the rate from 6 percent to 4 percent. "I don't know whether that particular piece of legislation will ever materialize," House Tax…
House Speaker Lawerence Denney said today that he supports an investigation into the actions of state Tax Commission Chairman Royce Chigbrow, amid allegations that he used his official position to help clients of his son's accounting firm and to help a friend in a business…
The first question for Idaho Department of Labor official Bob Fick after he presented data about jobs to the Legislature's economic outlook committee came from Rep. Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, who didn't ask about the economy - she related the case of an employee her…
Bob Fick of the Idaho Department of Labor told the Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee, "Idaho's job loss since the recession began was among the worst nationally and regionally." Idaho ranked sixth nationally for job loss, second only to Nevada in the region. From…
The first presentation to the Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee is from state Division of Financial Management economist Derek Santos, who told the panel, "The good news is the recession is over." The bad new, however, he said, is "the recovery has been slow.…
The Legislature's Economic Outlook & Revenue Projection Committee has convened, with Co-Chair Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, saying the group has a "formidable challenge before us." Co-Chair Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, told Eye on Boise, "I would hope that the tone of the presentations is…
When an as-yet unnamed person bought a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket in Post Falls, that winner not only hit a $190 million jackpot - he or she triggered a jackpot for the state, too, House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake noted. That's because lottery winnings…
House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, will sponsor legislation this year backed by an array of health groups to raise Idaho's cigarette tax by $1.25 a pack. If approved, the increase is expected to bring about a big drop in smoking, particularly among young people…
The final panel at today's AP Legislative Preview is addressing revenue and budgeting. House Rev & Tax Chairman Dennis Lake said the question of taxation of online sales will come up again. "This is not a new tax - this tax is owed," he said,…
Asked about the state's contribution to unemployment through the 2,800 state jobs eliminated since 2006, legislative leaders had a variety of responses. House Speaker Lawerence Denney said, "I just have to just add one thing. It takes 11 private-sector jobs to provide the funds for…
Mentioning issues that will come up in this year's Legislature, Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill said, "You might see some changes in the state Tax Commission and how it's organized." Hill said he didn't think that would come as a surprise to anyone. Other issues…
Legislative leaders, who are now addressing reporters at the AP Legislative Preview, say a tough legislative session lies ahead. "If you've got a price tag, we've told our legislators, please leave it in your drawer until a better time," new Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill…
In the second four-year term that he's now beginning, Gov. Butch Otter says he plans no changes in his approach to the job. "The changes that we've made now have to be institutionalized, they have to become the standard operating procedure," he said. "That's going…
In his remarks to reporters today at the AP's legislative preview, Gov. Butch Otter answered "no comment" when asked if he's asked his current state Tax Commission chairman, Royce Chigbrow, to resign. Otter also said, in response to a reporter's question, that the state is…
Gov. Butch Otter, speaking to reporters at the Associated Press Legislative Preview today, suggested he'll take a tight-fisted approach to the coming year's state budget when he unveils his plans to lawmakers on Monday. "What Idaho has done over the last couple of years has…
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