Idaho taxpayers have paid private attorneys more than $18 million in the past three years to do the state's legal work, in large part because the Idaho Attorney General's office doesn't have the staff to handle the caseload, the AP reports. The Associated Press obtained…
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, has decided not to seek re-election, so he can spend more time working to keep invasive quagga and zebra mussels out of Idaho waterways. Anderson said he’s already working on that issue “pretty much full-time,” and needs to focus on…
After two and a half hours of impassioned testimony on both sides, the House Resources Committee has voted 14-4 in favor of HB 470, the $2 million wolf control fund bill. Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, said she wasn’t so sure about setting up another board,…
Idaho Teacher of the Year Jamie Esler, a science teacher at Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene, strongly urged lawmakers today to restore the operational funding that was cut from the state’s public schools through the recession. “As the 2014 Idaho Teacher of the…
A overflow room has been set up for this afternoon's packed House Resources Committee hearing on HB 470, the $2 million wolf control fund bill, with many waiting to testify. Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, told the committee, “The federal money continues to go down every…
The House Business Committee has approved HB 498, to extend Idaho’s law allowing for a tax incentive for movie productions so it will expire in 2020 instead of in 2014. The incentive has never been funded, so it’s not been used yet. But Idaho Commerce…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Beer enthusiasts could soon have a reason - and a way - to celebrate, thanks to a fledgling bill that aims to clear Idaho breweries to hold beer tastings. The legislation could open…
With hundreds of cheerful “Add the Words” protesters filling all four levels of the state Capitol today, plus a crowd of 4-H students visiting the Capitol, the annual Idaho Cattle Association lunch for legislators on the fourth floor, and a school-choice rally with Gov. Butch…
Hundreds of cheerful, chatting "Add the Words" protesters are now ringing the Idaho state Capitol rotunda on all four floors. Many are carrying small, hand-lettered signs saying, "Add the Words," or other hand-lettered signs decrying discrimination; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com.…
Both the House and Senate are holding their annual memorial services today for members who died in the past year. The Senate has just two: former Sens. Stan Kress, of Bingham County, and Herb Carlson, of Ada County. The House has 10: Former Reps. Cyril…
The House Health & Welfare Committee has voted unanimously in favor of HB 476, to restore employment supports for disabled people that were cut in HB 260 in 2011. As a result of the cut, the number of disabled people getting on-the-job training and support…
The Idaho Department of Lands says its lease with Texas daredevil "Big Ed" Beckley is still good despite Beckley's problems securing a launch site for his plan to jump the Snake River Canyon in south-central Idaho, according to the Twin Falls Times-News. "As long as…
Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, introduced legislation this morning to amend the Idaho Constitution to allow the speaker of the House and the president pro-tem of the Senate to order the governor to call a special session of the Legislature to allow for a veto…
Yes, today is a holiday – President’s Day – on which most state offices are closed. But the Legislature doesn’t take holidays, and it’s in session today. It is the day on which both houses commemorate past lawmakers who have died during the last year…
Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, has named a substitute legislator to fill in for him for the week: Dan Johnson, a real estate agent from Kuna and the Idaho GOP District 22 chairman. “He needed some personal time,” Johnson said this morning. One complication the appointment…
Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson has sent out a guest opinion, entitled, "Why a police leader feels compelled to take his message directly to the people," urging Idaho citizens to contact their legislators about SB 1254, the bill to allow guns on Idaho's public college…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports” program on Idaho Public Television, I join Jim Weatherby, Bill Roberts, and co-hosts Melissa Davlin and Aaron Kunz for a discussion of the events of the legislative session’s sixth week, focusing on the debate over the guns-on-campus bill. Also, Davlin interviews…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — With Idaho's $120 million Capitol renovation nearly paid off, there's a scramble for $11 million in annual tobacco tax revenue that come 2015 will no longer be needed to finance the improvements. Gov.…
The Senate has voted 23-10 in favor of SB 1337, the so-called “ag-gag” bill, which would create a new crime of interfering with agricultural production, and specifically targets anyone who takes and distributes surreptitious video. The new crime would carry up to a year in…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — The Times-News has filed a lawsuit against the Gooding County School District after officials denied two public records request. The newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/1jF5z2x) that the lawsuit filed Monday involves requests for copies…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gun-rights advocates and Idaho law enforcement have resolved differences over a bill that would punish Idaho police and sheriffs who help confiscate federally banned firearms. The measure, which allows lawmakers to trumpet their…
As the Senate debates SB 1337, the so-called “ag-gag bill,” Sen. Jim Rice, R-Caldwell, said, “It’s an anti-attack the innocent bill. We want incidents of abuse of production animals reported immediately. That’s why we have policies where we will have an investigator there within 24…
Sen. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, in his opening debate on SB 1337, the so-called “ag-gag bill,” said, “We’ve seen farm families … intimidated by activists who misrepresent themselves.” Patrick said, “We have many things we do in agriculture that are not agreed upon by all.…
It’s rare that a call of the Senate is issued – which requires that the doors be locked, roll be taken, and any missing, unexcused senators rounded up, even if that requires sending the Idaho State Police or the National Guard to find and arrest…
The JFAC public hearing has wrapped up, after just over two hours of public testimony; everyone who signed up to testify got a chance to speak, with a three-minute limit. By my rough count, 44 people testified, with the highest number - 15 - calling…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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