Idaho Gov. Butch Otter introduced GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney at Romney's Boise campaign rally this afternoon. "Folks, this election is about your and my liberty," Otter said. "We will turn out for that Idaho caucus. ... We will turn out for the man that…
Under legislation introduced in House Rev & Tax this morning, Idaho would cut $35 million in corporate and individual income taxes permanently, starting next year. "This is a start," said House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, reports the Associated Press. "This sends a good message…
Glenn Greenwald, a contributing writer at Salon.com, former constitutional law attorney in New York, author of three books and a widely known political commentator who was the featured speaker at the ACLU of Idaho's Bill of Rights dinner last week, has published an article today…
"This bill closes a loophole," House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, told the House of HB 404a, the bill to evict the Occupy Boise encampment from state property across from the Capitol by imposing a new emergency ban on camping on certain state property.…
Before the House suspended its rules to take up HB 404a, the bill to ban camping on state property, it voted 54-13 in favor of HB 464, the oil and gas pre-emption bill; that measure now moves to the Senate side.
The House has just suspended its rules to take up HB 404a, the anti-Occupy Boise bill.
Been wondering about the scruffy-looking gent who's been in the front row of the audience at JFAC each day for the last few weeks? He's Alfred Rogalsky, a 73-year-old from Alberta, Canada who says he's on a "capitol quest." Shown here at center, he's been…
Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, spoke out in favor of HB 464, the oil and gas pre-emption bill. He said two years ago, his daughter, a newly minted teacher, was offered $46,700 a year to teach in Wyoming, plus full benefits. "We have been…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A House committee has taken the first step toward providing tax relief for Idaho businesses. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted Friday to introduce legislation aimed at cutting the state's top individual…
The House is now debating HB 464, the controversial bill to ban any local restrictions on siting of oil and gas wells, reserving that regulation to the state Oil & Gas Commission. Rep. Bill Killen, D-Boise, asked sponsor Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, the House resources…
Rep. Marv Hagedorn's motion to block across-the-board raises for state workers and instead give agency directors full flexibility has failed on a 7-13 vote. The original motion for the 2 percent raises for all classified and non-classified permanent performing employees then passed unanimously, and JFAC…
Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron just told JFAC, "They're going to have a call of the Senate here in a few minutes if we don't get through this." A call of the Senate or House is an unusual move in which the doors are locked…
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, suggested a change in wording to note that salary savings could go to retention bonuses as well as merit raises, on top of the 2 percent ongoing raises. Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, who has been protesting all morning that he wanted…
JFAC is now discussing the details of how the 2 percent ongoing raises for state employees next year would work; under proposed language, all classified and non-classified permanent employees who are performing to standards would get 2 percent raises. That's different from the usual merit-based…
JFAC has voted to fund merit-based raises for state employees next year at just 2 percent, but to make that ongoing raises, rather than one-time bonuses. First, Rep. Wendy Jaquet's motion for ongoing 3 percent merit raises was defeated on a 4-16 party-line vote. Then,…
Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, moved for 2 percent, ongoing merit raises for state employees as outlined by the committee's co-chairs; Rep. Darrell Bolz seconded the motion. Sen. Dean Mortimer then moved for 2 percent one-time bonuses instead; the Legislature hasn't approved raises for state employees…
Legislative budget writers are now turning to the question of state employee raises; that has to be decided in advance of budget-setting so that the amounts can be built into each agency's budget when it's set. Legislative budget chief Cathy Holland-Smith said, "I was requested…
Urging support for her substitute motion to adopt the governor's revenue forecast, Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, said, "I'm not suggesting at all that we appropriate more money than we have." But the motion was rejected on a 4-16 party-line vote. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee then…
As JFAC members debate their budget target for next year, Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, offered a substitute motion, to adopt the GOP governor's forecast for state tax revenues for next year. "We think that the trends we see give us a reason for confidence in…
JFAC has voted to adopt the same revenue figures for this year's budget as Gov. Butch Otter recommended; the governor's revised recommendation, which estimated 4.43 percent growth in the current year, or $2.5527 billion, also was adopted earlier by the Joint Economic Outlook & Revenue…
Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning that his committee supports the Students Come First pay-for-performance bonus plan, and also supports "backfilling" the money that the law requires to come out of teacher salary funds to pay for…
Rep. Bob Nonini, the House education chairman, told legislative budget writers this morning, in response to a question, that the State Board of Education brought his committee legislation to lift the annual cap of six new charter schools in the state, but not the cap…
House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, told legislative budget writers this morning that his committee "supports the tenets of Supt. Luna's budget" for public schools, including fully funding the "Students Come First" reforms. "Students Come First is the law of the land," he said.…
JFAC is hearing from Senate Local Government & Taxation Chair Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home, this morning, and he'll be followed by Senate and House education chairmen John Goedde, left, and Bob Nonini, right, shown here visiting outside the JFAC chamber before their presentation. After those…
Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador had his first bill pass the U.S. House today, an amendment aimed at easing geothermal energy exploration. “My amendment establishes a common sense, streamlined policy for the development of clean geothermal resources that will create jobs and provide American families increased…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Feb. 2012 | ||||
| 29 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 23 |
| 22 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 16 |
| 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 09 |
| 08 | 07 | 06 | 03 | 02 |
| 01 |
