On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television, I join Dr. Jim Weatherby and Idaho Press-Tribune Editor Vickie Holbrook, along with host Greg Hahn, to discuss the events of the week, and Greg interviews Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill and House Speaker Lawerence Denney, along…
That hastily called meeting of the House Ways & Means Committee today? It was to introduce two bills: One on wind turbine siting restrictions (see item below), and one declaring a wolf disaster. Here's what AP reporter John Miller reports on the wolf emergency bill:…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Wind farms would be forbidden within two miles of a residential property without the owner's permission, according to a measure that proposes strict new limits on where the tall turbines could be built.…
Perhaps I should explain. There's a long tradition among the Statehouse press corps that when they deem the session has gone on long enough, they begin donning ugly ties in an effort to so shock and horrify the legislators that they'll wrap up their business…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho senators are raising concerns about the constitutionality of a measure to extend the alternative energy rebate to wind and other alternative energy developers. The House approved the bill, but Senate Local Government…
Here's a link to our full story at spokesman.com on how Idaho lawmakers today sent the final piece of a plan to reform the state's public schools to the governor's desk, following three months of fierce debate that dominated the 2011 session.
Gov. Butch Otter and state schools Supt. Tom Luna have issued a news release applauding the passage of SB 1184 in the House, with Otter calling the school reform bill "necessary and appropriate" and saying it "underwent extraordinarily thorough public and legislative vetting." Click below…
The crowds have come and gone From auditorium, steps and lawn Their tears all shed Their emails read But still the session goes on...
Here's how House members voted in the 44-26 passage today of SB 1184, the final bill in state schools Supt. Tom Luna's three-bill school reform plan: Voting in favor: Reps. Anderson, Barbieri, Barrett, Bayer, Bedke, Bilbao, Black, Block, Boyle, Chadderdon, Collins, Crane, DeMordaunt, Gibbs(Wheeler), Guthrie,…
House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said after the vote on SB 1184, on which debate was abruptly cut off, "There were a number of people who hadn't had a chance to talk." The bill was perhaps the most controversial one of the session, and…
The House has passed SB 1184 on a 44-26 vote. Now, it's adjourning until Monday. Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, then announced that the House Ways & Means Committee will meet after the scheduled meeting of the Resources Committee, which is meeting on adjournment.
"We can make the choice to reinvest or we can make the choice to just cut for another year," Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, told the House in his closing debate. He was interrupted, however, by House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, who asked to…
Rep. Jim Marriott, R-Blackfoot, has just moved to cut off the debate on SB 1184, saying the debate has gone on long enough after four hours and people are just telling personal stories now. His motion passed, 44-20. That's two-thirds of those present. The move…
Rep. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, told the House, "One of the things I find really appealing about this bill is it gives power and choices to parents and students to choose classes that will benefit them personally." Rep. Carlos Bilbao, R-Emmett, said, "Technology - that's where…
You may talk as quickly as Moyle Or favor the Ruschean pause If you've got ideas that can fix things Then you can come here and make laws. Don't think that change will come easy Or you'll think the outcome is right But if you…
House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, debating in favor of SB 1184, passed out a report showing how school districts have spent the $51.6 million in federal jobs money they got last August; districts were given flexibility to spend the money to offset cuts…
"Technology has become an agent of change," Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, told the House, debating in favor of SB 1184. "This is really about personalized education for our kids." He said modern online courses involve students and teach collaboration. "It is not the electronic version…
With all apologies: The voters might want to weigh in And that would be, oh, such a sin We'll burden the laws With emergency clause And then we'll be sure that we win.
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, said in response to comments from SB 1184's sponsor, Rep. Bob Nonini, about how the budget set for schools by JFAC this year is based on this bill, that she'd "gladly skip back to that Joint Finance-Appropriations room and make the…
Rep. Brian Cronin, D-Boise, debating against SB 1184 in the House, said stakeholders' concerns weren't addressed, and that's why they don't support the bill. Rather than back away from providing a laptop computer to every high school student, Cronin said, "We're now spending $2.3 million…
Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, said he supported the two earlier school reform bills proposed by state schools Supt. Tom Luna, but he can't support this SB 1184. Bateman said the bill isn't supported by school administrators, teachers, principals, school boards or students. "Ladies and…
Out of the entire school budget, Rep. Bob Nonini said the question posed by SB 1184 is about just a small fraction. "Out of that $2 billion, are we wiling to spend a fraction, 1 percent of the overall budget ... now and in the…
"This bill is spurred by the budget we find ourselves in today," House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, told the House, but he said "in reality the policy changes ... are ideas whose time has come." He said, "Technology can't be an add-on in…
Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, has opened debate on SB 1184, after more than an hour of bill-reading. "Today is a landmark day for the students of Idaho," Nonini told the House. "We have to decide how to deal with the new normal in public…
The reading of SB 1184 is now up to page 23 of the 24-page bill. As it's read, some lawmakers are talking on the phone or chatting with one another; others are following along on their laptop computers.
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
