Sen. Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, told state schools Supt. Tom Luna, "Any major reform like the one we're looking at today requires a lot of time. ... You have a task force, you might have a commission, you have all the stakeholders in. ... You've got…
Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, told state schools Supt. Tom Luna, "As you mention, the hot-button issues thus far have been class size, laptops and online classes." He said he's been hearing a "process question" raised: That there are lots of groups representing parents, educators and…
Senators are now questioning state schools Supt. Tom Luna on his school reform plan. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, noted this year's cuts in school funding, which totaled more than $128 million. "Does your plan include restoration of all those?" she asked. Luna responded, "Yes, but…
There's been "an organized attempt to get people riled up" over his school reform plan, state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna told the Senate Education Committee. He said people have focused on his proposals to require online courses, provide a laptop for every high school…
State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna told the Senate Education Committee that since he first proposed his school reform plan last month, "We know that our economic situation is worse." Schools now face a possible shortfall next year of up to $80 million, he said.…
The education hearing has begun, with Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, urging the crowd to be civil. "There'll be no applause or boos, and everyone show respect for each other's position," he said. Stakeholders each will have 10 minutes to present, he said.…
The Senate Education Committee will launch four days of hearings at 3 p.m. today on state schools Supt. Tom Luna's sweeping school-reform plan, which is contained in two giant bills, SB 1068 and SB 1069. Today's hearing will include Luna's presentation on the lengthy legislation.…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Some hunters who ride all-terrain vehicles to pursue their quarry have gone to the Idaho Legislature in a bid to expand where they can drive. They're getting assistance from Mountain Home Republican Sen.…
There have been repeated warnings in recent days from police and state officials that the new synthetic drug marketed as "bath salts" is not, in fact, bath salts; it's a particular, and dangerous, chemical that has been marketed online and in drug paraphernalia stores as…
Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, said he's now read HB 28, the legislation from Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, to amend Idaho's "conscience law" to protect living wills. "I have read it and read it again," Loertscher said. But he still hasn't decided whether to allow…
Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, has been named vice-chairman of the House transportation committee, replacing Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol. Hart stepped down from the post Friday to avoid a sanction from a special House Ethics Committee, which was on the verge of calling for his removal…
After much debate, the House has voted 49-20 to pass a non-binding memorial from Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, urging a new "parental rights amendment" to the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, was among the opponents. "It is a sovereignty issue, it's a 10th…
The Idaho House is now debating a resolution pushed by Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, backing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution promoting parental rights, and opposing the United States ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that already…
The House has suspended its rules this morning to take up HP 2, a proclamation honoring the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth and his accomplishments. Lawmakers said the move comes because today is the anniversary, to allow both the House and Senate to take…
Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, introduced a new version of his health care "nullification" bill this morning, and Barbieri said it's been toned down and made "kinder and gentler." "I think you could say it's no longer a nullification bill," he said. "We have removed…
State Appellate Public Defender Molly Huskey told legislative budget writers this morning that if her office had to take an additional 5 percent budget cut, "It would mean 20 to 23 furlough days, which is an entire month of work, for each of the people…
On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public TV, I join host Greg Hahn, Jim Weatherby, Anne Wallace Allen and David Adler to discuss the events of the week, from ethics to education reform. Greg also interviews Reps. Scott Bedke and Wendy Jaquet and Sen. Chuck…
Idaho State Schools Supt. Tom Luna wants to change state laws so that anyone who's at least 25 and has a bachelor's degree could be superintendent of an Idaho school district, the AP reports. "This will give local school boards the flexibility to hire the…
Idaho State Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, rose in the House yesterday to apologize to his colleagues for his ethics problems, a day before he was scheduled to go, once again, before the House Ethics Committee. This morning, that panel voted to drop an ethics complaint…
In letters sent to the House and Senate education committee chairs and Health & Welfare committee chairs, the co-chairs of the Legislature's joint budget committee are warning that much bigger budget cuts than have been anticipated could have to be made in public schools and…
The Senate has voted 25-8 in favor of SB 1007, an anti-union measure pushed by Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, sending the measure to the House. It's the second of two bills targeting unions, co-sponsored by nine GOP legislators, in part because lawmakers were upset…
Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, vice-chair of the House Ethics Committee, confirmed that the panel was about to send a recommendation to the full House to remove Hart from his committee vice-chairmanship, in response to an ethics complaint, when Hart offered to give up the vice-chairmanship…
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, said he's happy with the House Ethics Committee's work. Anderson filed the complaint against Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, charging that Hart violated his oath of office; after that, Hart supporter Larry Spencer, a North Idaho activist, filed an ethics complaint…
The Senate has voted unanimously to confirm its former president pro-tem, Bob Geddes, as the new chairman of the Idaho State Tax Commission. "Everyone in this body knows Bob Geddes," new Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said. "We know his leadership style, his management abilities, his…
Here's a link to our full story at spokesman.com on the House Ethics Committee action today, in which it dismissed an ethics complaint against Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, in exchange for Hart voluntarily giving up his vice-chairmanship of House committee. "I don't have a pristine…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Feb. 2011 | ||||
| 28 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
| 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
| 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
| 10 | 09 | 08 | 07 | 04 |
| 03 | 02 | 01 |
