At a joint hearing of the House and Senate Resources committees this afternoon on state-federal oversight and the sage grouse, there was lots of concern that efforts to improve habitat for the unique fowl in order to avoid endangered species listing might be as onerous…
Only one amendment was considered to HB 404, the anti-Occupy Boise bill: The one sponsored by Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, and seconded by Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, to exempt college and university property from the bill's new camping ban on certain state property. “Now this…
HB 404a, the bill to evict the Occupy Boise encampment from state land across from the Capitol by imposing a new camping ban on certain state property, has been referred back to the Senate's 14th Order for amendment by unanimous consent of the Senate. Sen.…
Former Idaho Sen. Joe Stegner of Lewiston, now the University of Idaho's chief lobbyist, said the U of I was fine with an amendment to the anti-Occupy bill proposed earlier by Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, to exempt state colleges and universities from the new camping…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) ― Lawmakers have stamped final approval on legislation to let out-of-state service members pay in-state tuition at Idaho's universities and colleges. The Idaho Senate voted 35-0 to approve the measure, HB 384, which allows…
Three bills making a series of mostly minor changes to all three of last year's “Students Come First” school reform laws have been introduced in the Senate Education Committee this afternoon at the request of Jason Hancock, aide to state schools Supt. Tom Luna. Meanwhile,…
After a smaller fee hike was killed in the House last year, the Idaho State Police persuaded the House Judiciary Committee to pass legislation today to shore up the dwindling budget for the Peace Officers Standard and Training (POST) Academy by increasing a current fee…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) ― Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has offered to send Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber 150 wolves, saying his own state has a few of the predators to spare. Monday's offer came in a tongue-in-cheek…
A second Democratic jobs bill was shot down today without even a public hearing, reports Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence at his Political Theater blog; you can read his full post here. Spence reports that the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning voted 11-6…
"Washington has not changed me," Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador declared today as he launched his bid for a second term in Congress. Here's evidence: The freshman congressman hasn't found himself a home to rent in Washington, D.C. while he's there - he's sleeping on his…
Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador announced his bid for a second term on the Statehouse steps today, flanked by more than 30 state lawmakers who served with him when he was a state representative and a bevy of the state's top GOP elected officials. Labrador said…
The Senate is now recessing until 4 p.m., the first time this session it's come back in for an afternoon session. "Remember, today is the last day for non-privileged committees to introduce legislation," Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, told the Senate. So the…
The Idaho House is holding its annual Lincoln Day commemorative program today; the Senate held its on Friday. Here, those portraying President and Mrs. Lincoln and their children make a presentation to the House; also part of the program are civil war re-enactors, former Idaho…
Senate Republicans have emerged from their closed-door caucus after 20 minutes; Caucus Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, would say only that the confab was to discuss "procedural issues." There were lots of discussions on Friday about amendments, rules and HB 404, the bill to evict the…
The Senate has gone on recess midway through its floor session this morning for a closed-door Republican caucus...
New Idaho state Commerce Director Jeff Sayer made his first budget pitch to lawmakers this morning, and he noted that he's reorganized the department, with the advice of former Commerce Director Jim Hawkins, to eliminate duplication and get staffers back out in communities working on…
Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, is pushing legislation to declare the blue heeler the official state dog of Idaho, but the House State Affairs Committee this morning rejected the bill on an 8-11 vote. "I'm bringing to you a piece of legislation this family had brought…
Idaho's state Tax Commission is giving its budget presentation to lawmakers this morning, and Commissioner David Langhorst said the initiative to step up collections of already-owed taxes has paid off in a big way for the state. In fiscal year 2012, the effort, which includes…
Laughing Dog microbrewery in North Idaho is "doing great business," with 16 employees now and nine more jobs expected to be added by the end of this year, Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, told the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning, but the business has run…
Under current state law, library districts that have recall elections are subject to the same signature-gathering requirements for petitions as counties, Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, told the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning. The problem with that: There are 54 library districts in Idaho, and…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
