Tonight's "Dialogue" program on Idaho Public Television will look at the upcoming legislative session; I'll be among those joining host Marcia Franklin for the discussion, along with John Miller of the Associated Press, Clark Corbin of the Idaho Falls Post Register and Greg Hahn of…
Click below for a full report from AP reporter John Miller on today's clash over a state health insurance exchange, which promises to be among the hottest issues in the Idaho legislative session that starts Monday. Miller reports that Ideological objections to federal health care…
Idaho's state Board of Education has named Marilyn Whitney its new chief communications and legislative affairs officer, replacing Mark Browning, who left for a position as a vice president at North Idaho College. Whitney was formerly the statewide community outreach coordinator for the Idaho National…
Idaho's Supreme Court justices were very energetic in their questioning of Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane over the discretion of the state's redistricting commission. At one point, Justice Daniel Eismann asked Kane what the maximum number of counties is that could be divided. When Kane…
Brian Kane, deputy attorney general, defending Idaho's new legislative district map, told Idaho's Supreme Court justices, "I think what the court has before it now is a plan that is not constitutionally suspect." Justices questioned him closely about the commission's discretion and when it can…
Idaho Supreme Court Justice Warren Jones said the court's job is just to decide if a redistricting plan is constitutional. "It's not our job to decide which is the better plan, is it?" he asked Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs. Loebs agreed.
Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs, who submitted his own proposed redistricting plan as part of a challenge to the Idaho's new legislative district plan, L-87, said, "I don't think you can adopt my plan, and I'm not asking the court to do that." He…
Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs told the Idaho Supreme Court this afternoon, "You may not divide counties unless you must do so to satisfy the United States Constitution." Twin Falls is leading a group of counties that's challenging the state's new legislative redistricting plan,…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how Idaho legislative leaders, from both parties, now say they're ready to strengthen the state's ethics laws. Among the proposals: Creating an independent state ethics commission, something 41 states have, but Idaho lacks.
Alex LaBeau, head of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, said it's difficult for private businesses involved in different aspects of health care to agree on many issues, but they agree that "yes, the state should have a state-run exchange." He said, "We have…
Idaho Rep. Vito Barbieri declared, "This health care mandate is not good for the nation. It's socialism. ... A socialist America is a broken America." Speaking on a panel about a proposed state health insurance exchange at the AP Legislative Preview today, Barbieri said, "It's…
Idaho state Insurance Director Bill Deal says even if the U.S. Supreme Court rules the federal health care reform legislation unconstitutional, the state health insurance exchange that Idaho has in the works still could serve Idaho citizens and help them shop for the most affordable…
Senate Minority Leader Edgar Malepeai said, "This is not a time for us to play the politics, it's a time for us to look at what's best for Idahoans." Yet, it's also a year in which every seat in the Legislature is up for election,…
If Idaho's going to consider raising its cigarette tax, which is among the lowest in the nation, House Speaker Lawerence Denney said, the state also should address sales on Indian reservations in the state and sales over the Internet. House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston,…
Both Senate Minority Leader Edgar Malepeai and House Minority Leader John Rusche are calling for new ethics laws this year, and House Speaker Lawerence Denney indicated he's interested, too. "Throughout the year we've seen behavior that is unbecoming of public servants," Malepeai declared, saying Democratic…
Idaho Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill told reporters at the AP Legislative Preview today, "I think it's going to be a good session, for several reasons - one, the economy is improving." Second, he said, in this second year of the electoral cycle, lawmakers know…
Asked about possible legislation regarding the state Land Board and endowment investments that compete with private business, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter said, "If the effort is to limit, then I think you've got to change the Constitution." The Constitution requires endowment lands to be managed…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter says it's his "obligation" to inform lawmakers of the consequences if they don't move to set up a state-run health insurance exchange - including the possibility that the state could lose $300 million in Medicaid funds. "This is a big deal,"…
Gov. Butch Otter reaffirmed his support today for the "Students Come First" school reforms, which shift funds from salaries to technology boosts and make other changes, including removing many of teachers' collective bargaining rights. "I know they're going to be on the ballot this year,…
Gov. Butch Otter, responding to questions from reporters at today's AP Legislative Preview, was asked about proposed legislation to ban cities and counties from regulating gas well production. "We do see that as a state resource," he said. "But I don't think we want to…
Asked about why he spoke, in his opening comments today, about tax relief but didn't mention restoring cuts to education - something he's long said would be top priority when state revenues improve - Idaho Gov. Butch Otter said he'll address that in his State…
Asked why he chose to announce at a North Idaho fundraiser last month that he'll run for a third term as governor in 2014 - just one year into his current second term - Gov. Butch Otter said, "I didn't choose to make the announcement…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter just told reporters that if Idaho fails to set up a state health insurance exchange, its Medicaid matching rate could switch from the current 70-30 federal-state match to 50-50. The cost of that, he said, would be "upwards of $300 million."
Asked by reporters about proposals for a cigarette tax increase, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter told reporters at the AP Legislative Preview this morning that he doesn't favor general tax increases, and would look only at those that are tied to a specific need. "We didn't…
Gov. Butch Otter is addressing the AP Legislative Preview now, and he started off with a warning that he doesn't view the state budget picture as being as "robust" as he'd hoped. "Less income has been realized in the sales tax area, which is the…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
