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…
Today's hearings by the Legislature's Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee are being streamed live online, courtesy of Idaho Public Television; you can watch live here. Also today, the 2 p.m. hearing at the Idaho Supreme Court on Twin Falls County's challenge to the new…
With Idaho's 2012 legislative session looming, lawmakers on the joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee convened this morning for a day and a half of hearings on the economy and likely tax revenues for the state and the nation. "The bottom line is that…
Idaho Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, who unsuccessfully pushed legislation last year to "nullify" the federal health care reform law, now says he's leaning toward holding off on another similar push this year. Barbieri said he's being encouraged to propose the legislation again to take…
The Associated Press today reports a new wrinkle in the controversy over state Treasurer Ron Crane using a state gas card to gas up his personal vehicle for his commutes from Canyon County to the state Capitol: Other state employees who are reimbursed for commuting…
With Bogus Basin still closed and its skiers out of luck, Brundage Mountain is reaching out: The McCall ski resort is offering a special deal to Bogus season passholders, starting Thursday: $25 weekday lift tickets (non-holiday), down from the usual $55, and $35 on weekends…
Two longtime Hayden-area businessmen have announced their candidacies against Idaho Reps. Phil Hart and Vito Barbieri in the GOP primary. Ed Morse, who is challenging Hart, is a real estate appraiser and consultant and board member of the Reagan Republicans group; Mark Fisher, challenging Barbieri,…
Idaho's state Board of Education has voted unanimously to grant Boise State University's request to boost the base pay for its head football coach, Chris Petersen, to $2 million. In a special meeting, the board voted to bump up Petersen's base pay to $2 million…
As part of its series "Grading the Digital School," the New York Times has taken a look at Idaho's school technology reforms, in an article headlined "Teachers Resist High-Tech Push in Idaho Schools." Reports the Times, "This change is part of a broader shift that…
Tonight on David Letterman's "Top 10" list, he featured the "Top 10 signs it might be time to end your presidential campaign." Among them, at No. 5: "Instead of Iowa, you've been campaigning in Idaho." On that note, the Idaho Republican Party today announced detailed…
A southwestern Idaho prosecutor is scrutinizing whether state Treasurer Ron Crane broke the law by using a state credit card to fuel up a personal vehicle he drives to and from the Capitol, and on short excursions to grocery stores or church, the Associated Press…
A federal judge has invalidated both the new anti-union laws pushed through by Idaho GOP lawmakers last session, saying they violate federal law. The two measures, SB 1007 and 1006, both expansions of Idaho's Right-to-Work law, sought to ban "job targeting programs" and "project labor…
After two weeks off, it's time to catch up on the news, and though the holidays aren't generally a time for lots of Idaho political news, there's been plenty. Among the highlights: Gov. Butch Otter is working on a state-backed investment fund for startups dubbed…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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