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Eye On Boise archive for Feb. 2011

MONDAY, FEB. 28, 2011





Kane: 'A new tool in the shed' 

Mike Kane, lobbyist for both the Property and Casualty Insurance Association of America and the Idaho Sheriffs Association, said it's rare that he's on the other side of an issue from the AAA, but his clients are supporting HB 141, the new "lite" version of…

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AAA: 'Is this all we can do?'

Dave Carlson, lobbyist for the AAA of Idaho, told the House Transportation Committee that texting "is on its way to becoming the new drunk driving." Distracted driving now is responsible for a quarter of traffic fatalities nationwide, he said. "We've been looking at the legislation…

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High school students protest outside the Idaho state capitol on Monday against state schools Supt. Tom Luna's school reform plan. (Betsy Russell)

Teen protesters chant 'Kill the bill' 

The crowd of high school students protesting the school reform package at the state Capitol today has swelled and moved out onto the capitol steps during the noon hour, where some are holding signs and periodically the group is chanting, "Kill the bill." Meanwhile, in…

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Senators call for 'Madison Amendment' 

Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After the failure of nullification last Friday in the Senate, Idaho is pushing for a new way to take on the federal government. Lawmakers want a so-called "Madison Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution.…

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Vander Woude: 'I just sell beer and wine' 

Among the most outspoken opponents in JFAC today of later liquor store hours was Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, who operates a convenience store that sells beer and wine and is open until 11 p.m. He argued in the JFAC debate, "By extending the hours,…

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Sen. Joyce Broadsword, back row center, spoke in JFAC on Monday morning against a move to block the state Liquor Division from opening more stores until 9 p.m. on temperance grounds; Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, front row right, spoke in favor of the move, which failed; the committee then put off setting the Liquor Division budget until Tuesday. (Betsy Russell)

'Gettin'-in-trouble time' 

Here's an odd twist on this morning's debate in JFAC over the evils of opening state liquor stores later: About a dozen state liquor stores already are open until 9 p.m., though standard hours statewide are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The proposal in the…

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Both motions fail on later liquor hours

Rep. Joyce Broadsword's's motion fund the state Liquor Division budget for next year without Rep. George Eskridge's move to leave out funds to open later hours - a $455,000 expenditure expected to bring in a $2 million return - has failed on a 10-10 tied…

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Divided vote in JFAC...

The substitute motion to cut more deeply into the budget for the Office of Species Conservation has been defeated on a 6-14 vote, with just Reps. Hagedorn, Vander Woude, Thompson, Patrick, Bell and Eskridge voting in favor. The original motion then passed 19-1, with just…

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Debating cutting further...

JFAC has approved the governor's recommendation for the Fish & Game budget, with one "no" vote from Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow. The department receives no state general funds; the budget approved for next year shows a reduction of 0.9 percent. Now, the joint committee is…

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SUNDAY, FEB. 27, 2011

Bogus Basin ski resort shimmers under a cold, partly cloudy sky on Sunday. The non-profit ski resort 16 miles north of Boise is once again selling season ski passes for $199. (Betsy Russell)

Above it all...

Thank you, Bogus Basin, for keeping me sane this winter. The politics may be hot and heavy in town, but up on the mountain, when I get to sneak up there on weekends, it's cold, clear and crisp. Not only that, it's cheap, it's non-profit,…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 25, 2011

Betsy Russell, Jim Weatherby, Brian Murphy and host Greg Hahn discuss the events of the seventh week of Idaho's legislative session Friday on Idaho Public Television's "Idaho Reports." (Idaho Public Television / Kevin Rank)

The week that was... 

On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public TV, I join host Jim Weatherby, Brian Murphy, and host Greg Hahn to discuss the events of the week, and Greg interviews House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot; UI political scientist David Adler; and BSU sociologist Martin Orr.…

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Nullification bill's demise... 18 

Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how an Idaho Senate committee killed legislation seeking to nullify the federal health-care reform bill on a voice vote today after a nearly three-hour hearing, angering a crowd of close to 200 that grew restive…

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News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.



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