On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television, I join Jim Weatherby, John Miller and host Greg Hahn to discuss the events of the week, and Greg interviews Sens. John McGee, R-Caldwell, and Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, and Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston. The show airs tonight…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the new version of school reform legislation unveiled today, and how it's a lot like the old version that stalled in the state Senate - it calls for phasing in new laptop computers for every…
A group of parents and representatives of the Idaho Education Association has filed paperwork with the state to launch a referendum on SB 1108 and 1110, the two bills signed into law this week on teacher contracts and teacher merit pay as part of state…
A read through the new school-reform bill introduced today, SB 1184, yields some surprises: It still seeks to provide a laptop computer to every Idaho high school student. It just pushes the plan back a year, providing laptops and training to teachers in 2012-13, then…
The House has voted 55-10 in favor of HCR 25, the measure to keep the grocery tax credit as-is for the next year rather than have it increase as scheduled. "I really think it's the prudent thing to do in our budget situation," said Rep.…
Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, opening debate on HCR 25, the measure to freeze the grocery tax credit for the next year rather than have it rise by $10 as scheduled, told the House, "I want to state clearly that the grocery tax credit will not…
The House has moved HCR 25, the measure to hold off on the next scheduled bump-up in the grocery tax credit, to the top of its calendar, and has gone at ease for 5 minutes to allow time for House Democrats to hold a brief…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the Medicaid budget approved along party lines today in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee; it reflects all the cuts called for in HB 260, a measure that passed the House yesterday and now awaits consideration in…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After more than three hours of testimony, an Idaho House committee decided to delay its vote on whether Idaho should take a breather on wind energy. The House State Affairs Committee members decided…
More education legislation is in the works, reports Idaho Statesman reporter Brian Murphy, and the new bill introduced this morning already has opposition from one legislative leader, Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, who said it shifts money to technology from salaries. Murphy has…
JFAC is now hurrying through the rest of the divisions of the Health & Welfare budget, as the House had been scheduled to go into session at 10 a.m, 10 minutes ago. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, after being cut off from asking a question because a…
Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, led a move to spend $2.2 million of the Millenium Fund payments that will come in to the state over the course of fiscal year 2012 on a backstop for people cut off from mental health services by the state -…
Fridays typically are slow days in the Idaho Legislature, but not this morning. JFAC is debating and setting the complex Health & Welfare budget this morning, and after that, is scheduled to set the budget for the state Tax Commission for next year - including…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press on this morning's action by the Senate State Affairs Committee to introduce a revised education reform bill: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lawmakers have unveiled the third piece of a plan to reform Idaho's public schools and boost…
Legislative budget writers have approved the budget for statewide substance abuse services on a unanimous, 19-0 vote, but not without some concerns being expressed. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, asked about waiting lists for the services. Kathy Skippen, program manager, told JFAC that the state has…
JFAC has voted 15-4, along party lines, in favor of a budget for Medicaid for next year that makes all the cuts called for in HB 260, the Medicaid cuts bill that passed the House yesterday. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, asked to have the service…
Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, made his presentation to JFAC this morning on how to deal with the public school budget, and in the end, there essentially was no recommendation. "We couldn't get consensus," Goedde said. He told JFAC, "We had no consensus…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
