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Eye On Boise archive for March 26, 2012

MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012











Cross-border students bill pulled

Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lawmakers set aside a plan to give school districts along Idaho's borders more bargaining power when sending students out of state. The legislation was proposed at the urging of the Bruneau-Grand View School…

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Energy efficiency bill goes to governor

HB 485a, expanding a tax deduction for energy-efficiency upgrades to existing Idaho residences, has passed the Senate on a 31-4 vote. The bill, which earlier passed the House unanimously, now heads to the governor's desk. Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, the bill's Senate sponsor, said the…

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Public school budget passes Senate, 31-4 

The Senate has voted 31-4 in favor of SB 1410, the single largest piece of the state budget: The public school budget for next year. The appropriation bill includes a 4.6 percent increase in state general funds, but just a 0.4 percent increase overall. Sen.…

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Senate backs new state parking garage

The Senate has voted 28-7 in favor of HCR 47 to authorize construction of a new multi-level parking garage on the Capitol Mall, using savings from refinancing other current state bonds. Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Meridian, the resolution's Senate sponsor, said, "This has been a project…

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Crowd at hearing Monday morning on bill regarding rules for use of Capitol Mall properties, including the site of the Occupy Boise vigil. (Betsy Russell)

Hearing on latest Occupy bill gets hot... 

The latest legislation dealing with the Capitol Mall, site of the Occupy Boise vigil, is up for a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee this morning. State Department of Administration Director Teresa Luna told the committee that HB 693 would "better define the Capitol…

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Senate convenes; 123 bills on calendar... 

The Senate has convened this morning with a whopping 123 pieces of legislation on its calendar. However, that figure includes measures that already have passed, and simply are awaiting a signature or transmittal. The actual number on the calendar today that are still up for…

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Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, pitches Senate-passed legislation to the House State Affairs Committee on Monday that she contends would protect dying patients who want care to continue even as they die. (Betsy Russell)

Death bill clears House committee

Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, pitched SB 1348, the death bill, to the House State Affairs Committee this morning, saying her measure, backed by pro-life groups, would ensure that treatment, food and fluids aren't denied to a dying patient if the patient wants them and if…

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Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.