Rick Santorum's campaign rally in Boise drew an overflow crowd to the 1,300-seat Capital High School auditorium tonight. "The bigger the government is, the smaller you become," Santorum told the enthusiastic crowd. "It is a zero-sum game." Most of his remarks were aimed at President…
The EPA will unveil plans tomorrow to scale back its Coeur d'Alene Basin Superfund cleanup from a 100-year, $1.3 billion deal to more like about 30 years and $730-some million, in response to public comments from the state and local residents. Idaho DEQ Director Toni…
The Senate Transportation Committee has approved SB 1274, Sen. Jim Hammond's bill to ban texting while driving. The bill defines texting as, "Engaging in the review of, or manual preparation and transmission of, written communications via handheld wireless devices." Law enforcement, fire or emergency medical…
Seven more people have now testified in favor of SB 1274, the bill to ban texting while driving, including lobbyists for insurance companies and law enforcement, who were in favor; a Meridian police sergeant, in favor; several teens in favor; one teen against, who said…
Idaho State Police Capt. Ryan Zimmerman told the Senate Transportation Committee that SB 1274, the anti-texting while driving bill, is strongly supported by the ISP. "It is very cleanly written easy to understand, and easy for us to enforce," he said. Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur…
Shauna Sauer of Caldwell told the Senate Transportation Committee this afternoon that her 18-year-old daughter, Taylor, died on Jan. 14 of this year from a texting-while-driving accident. "Taylor slammed into the back of a tanker truck that was doing 15 mph on the freeway that…
There's a full house for this afternoon's hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on SB 1274, Sen. Jim Hammond's bill to ban texting while driving; seated in the front row are the parents and four surviving siblings of 18-year-old Taylor Sauer of Caldwell, who was…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — With the 2012 session half over, opposition from the Legislature's conservatives has all but ended Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's plan for using a $20.3 million federal grant for a state-run insurance exchange required…
On the very day that GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is campaigning at two rallies in Idaho - in Coeur d'Alene right now, and in Boise tonight - rival Mitt Romney's campaign has announced that Romney will appear at a rally Friday in Boise, at…
House Resources Chairman Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, has decided not to seek a ninth term in the Idaho Legislature, the Twin Falls Times-News reports today. Stevenson, 76, a semi-retired farmer and Army veteran, landed in a legislative district with two other House incumbents when legislative district…
The Senate has voted 26-9 in favor of HB 404a, the anti-Occupy Boise bill, which would evict the encampment from state property on an emergency basis. The bill now goes back to the House for a vote on it as amended in the Senate, which…
As senators debate HB 404a, the anti-Occupy Boise bill: Sen. John Tippets, R-Montpelier, said he stopped in at the Occupy Boise encampment one evening. "I sat down by the wood-burning stove for about an hour, and talked to them," he said. Tippets said it was…
As the Senate debate on the anti-Occupy bill, HB 404a, continues, here are some more of the comments: Senate Minority Leader Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, told the Senate, "Folks, this bill is aiming at a group of people who are just simply exercising their rights. That's…
Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, opening debate on HB 404a, the anti-Occupy bill, told the Senate, "Our goal is to maintain the highest esthetic standards for the Capitol Mall and have consistent public use guidelines." He said, "Good senators, in my view the Capitol Mall…
The Senate is now taking up HB 404a, the anti-Occupy Boise bill.
The Senate has put off consideration of an array of gubernatorial appointments and several bills today, for various reasons, making it more likely that it could get to HB 404a, the bill to evict the Occupy Boise encampment from state property across from the capitol…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Athletics school coaches and officials would be required to remove players from games who show signs of a concussion, according to a measure aimed at boosting protections for young athletes who suffer head…
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is giving his budget presentation to lawmakers this morning, but first, JFAC Co-Chair Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, noted that a special guest of his, wife Tracey, is in the audience. Wasden pulled out a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses, and…
Legislation making a third offense of intentional and malicious animal cruelty a felony punishable by a year in prison cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee this morning with just one "no" vote and headed to the full Senate; no one testified against the bill, SB 1303,…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
