Longtime Post Falls businessman Patrick Whalen announced today that he’ll challenge Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, in the May GOP primary. “The Senate seat is an important leadership position that should be at the forefront of North Idaho’s economic development effort,” Whalen said in a…
With no discussion or debate, a Senate committee today printed one of the more anticipated education bills of 2014, reports Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News. Dubbed the “Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act of 2014,” the bill sets guidelines for protecting student information,…
The House Health & Welfare Committee voted along party lines today against printing and introducing legislation from Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, to expand Medicaid in Idaho, something Rusche called “a missed opportunity.” All Democrats on the committee backed introducing the bill; all Republicans opposed the…
More than 500 people filled Idaho's state Capitol Wednesday to speak out against legislation designed to protect freedom of religion - by allowing Idahoans to refuse service to those they object to on religious grounds; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. In…
Idaho is moving to make "revenge porn" a felony, as the state's anti-video voyeurism law has proven unusable against this latest form of online crime. That's according to Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, who introduced his bill today. Times have changed since Idaho enacted the…
A new version of the $2 million wolf-control fund bill has been introduced this afternoon in the House Resources Committee, but there were still lots of “no” votes. Rep. Terry Gestrin, R-Donnelly, supported this one though he opposed the earlier version – which was introduced…
Idaho State Police say they didn't conduct an investigation following revelations that private prison company Corrections Corporation of America understaffed a prison and gave the state falsified documents to hide vacancies, the AP reports, and instead relied on a report from a forensic auditing firm.…
On a day when lawmakers heard hours of passionate testimony against a proposed religious-freedom bill, another House committee quietly introduced legislation from Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, to limit the “faith-healing” exemption in Idaho law if a child’s life is at risk. “It was just total…
Idaho Rep. Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, who is running for Idaho Secretary of State, called a Statehouse news conference today, where, joined by 10 backers, he announced that the Republican National Committee on Jan. 24 approved a resolution in support of “western states taking back public…
An Idaho Attorney General’s opinion, delivered to House State Affairs Committee members shortly before their vote today on HB 427, the religious freedom bill, concluded that the bill conflicts with the Idaho Tort Claims Act and could be vulnerable to a constitutional challenge. The bill,…
Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, proposed amending his bill. “I started thinking, as Rep. Gannon was asking some questions, about using this as a sword instead of a shield,” he said. “And Rep. Packer’s concern about how do we take care of the baker and still…
“I think this is what our system is all about,” Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, told the House State Affairs Committee, beginning his closing comments on HB 427. “This is my favorite part of the process, when people can come in and share their feelings and…
After nearly three and a half hours of testimony on HB 427, House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher announced that the committee will briefly go at ease. It has been in session from 9 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. so far.
Roughly 40 people have testified to the House State Affairs Committee this morning on HB 427, all opposing the bill, with just two exceptions, both representatives of the Cornerstone Family Institute. Peter Mundt told the lawmakers, “I wish you could have seen the faces that…
As this morning’s hearing on HB 427 stretches toward the end of its third hour, some of those being called to testify are no longer here. Among those testifying most recently, Grant Olsen told the House State Affairs Committee that his parents were of Russian…
As testimony continues in the House State Affairs Committee this morning on HB 427, the Senate has voted 29-6 in favor of HB 375, granting final passage to the bill that requires same-sex couples who are legally married in other states to file separately on…
In more testimony today on HB 427: Hannah Brass Greer of Planned Parenthood told the committee, “This bill would be bad for business and for the economy.” She said, “We cannot allow anti-civil rights legislation to move forward under the guise of religious freedom and…
Monica Hopkins of the ACLU of Idaho said hundreds of people concerned about HB 427 are filling two overflow rooms plus the Lincoln Auditorium in the Capitol, all “to vigorously oppose HB 427 as an unnecessary and costly bill that may jeopardize business in this…
House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher just announced, “They’re going to take up on the House floor shortly.” He told committee members, “You will be recorded as being present. They are not going to consider any legislation today, so we are going to stay here…
More testimony: Barry Peters, a board member of Cornerstone Family Council, spoke in favor of HB 427. “As you’re hearing this morning, discrimination is large on the minds of the people in opposition to this bill. My question is, this law, religious freedom restoration in…
More testimony from this morning’s HB 427 hearing: Scott Nicholson said he’s read the bill. “This is anything but clear,” he said. “It’s going to lead to a whole ‘nother body of legal actions, in my opinion.” Ben Earwicker, a professor at Northwest Nazarene University,…
In more testimony on HB 427: Julie Lynde, executive director of Cornerstone Family Council, was the first to speak in favor of HB 427 this morning. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you having this hearing, allowing this large crowd of people in…
In testimony on HB 427 this morning, all against the bill thus far: Diane Tipton, who said, “I’m simply a concerned citizen,” asked, “Would this bill, if it becomes law give me the right, if my religion was one that said I could attack or…
Rep Lynn Luker, R-Boise, presenting HB 407 this morning, said, “It corrects a defect in our religious freedom restoration act. … This bill makes the application consistent, regardless of the parties who are involved.” He said Idaho’s existing law allows people to use religion as…
HB 427, one of two bills sponsored by Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, aimed at enhancing state protections for free exercise of religion, is up for a hearing this morning at 9 in the House State Affairs Committee. HB 427 adds to Idaho’s existing 2000 religious…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
