Legislative leaders from both parties say improvements to how Idaho funds maintenance of its transportation system are likely to get attention this year. “The citizens of Idaho have invested billions of dollars in to this transportation system,” said House Speaker Scott Bedke. “I think we…
Legislative leaders from both houses and both parties, addressing reporters today at the AP Legislative Preview, all agreed that education funding will be a top priority in this year’s legislative session. But they differed on an array of other issues, including the prospects for Medicaid…
Other comments from Gov. Butch Otter at this morning’s AP Legislative Preview: On the Idaho Education Network: “The only problem that we’ve had with the IEN was the contracting process.” He said a recent survey of school districts gave the broadband network high marks; however,…
Gov. Butch Otter is addressing reporters this morning at the Idaho AP Legislative Preview. “Financially speaking, the state is in great shape,” he said. “So my budget is going to reflect that.” He’ll still stick to his promise to try to grow state government at...
The Idaho Legislature’s Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee meets all day today and all morning tomorrow, to hear from an array of business representatives, state officials, university economics professors and more; at issue is the figure on which to base next year's state budget, as some push for tax cuts.
Robin Sandy, chair of the Idaho Board of Correction, will retire Jan. 12, she announced today, after 18 years of state service. Sandy served as the Corrections board chair under both Govs. Butch Otter and Jim Risch, and served on the Idaho Commission of Pardons…
Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, has been named co-chair of the Council of State Governments’ International Committee for 2015, along with Alaska Sen. Gary Stevens. Davis was CSG’s national chair in 2009. The organization’s International Committee tracks international trends of importance to state…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — New rules seeking to tighten oversight on Idaho's multi-million dollar contracts have yet to be approved by state lawmakers but officials have already set up an opt-out process to exempt agencies from the...
Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador joined in the majority vote for Rep. John Boehner to continue as speaker of the House, as did Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson; but two years ago, Labrador voted against Boehner for speaker "The votes were simply not there to defeat the...
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo has been named chief deputy majority whip in the Senate for its upcoming session, a position similar to one he held in the last Congress, except that this time, his Republican Party is in the majority. Crapo said in a statement…
The chairmen of four Idaho Indian tribes are calling on the state’s governor and Attorney General to end the spread of so-called “instant racing” betting machines – like those at the Greyhound Park in Post Falls and Les Bois Park near Boise – saying they…
Will Goodman, state Superintendent of Schools Sherri Ybarra’s new technology director, asked about the Idaho Education Network mess, said, “Right now we’re waiting to see the outcome of the lawsuit, and the last appeal the governor’s office has made. … We’re here to support the…
New state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra is holding her first press conference today, at which she introduced her executive staff. In addition to interim Chief Deputy Pete Koehler, Special Assistant to the Superintendent Tim Corder, and Special Education Director Charlotte “Charlie” Silva, she introduced Will...
A federal judge has cleared the way for dredging on the lower Snake River to start as planned next week, the Lewiston Tribune reports today. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle ruled Monday against a request from the Nez Perce Tribe and a coalition…
Former longtime Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde of Coeur d’Alene has been hired by Gov. Butch Otter to work on the Idaho Education Network project through this year’s legislative session, the Coeur d’Alene Press reports today. Goedde has a flat-fee $4,000-a-month contract with the…
Ninety-three of Idaho's 115 school districts are now collecting supplemental levies – voter-approved property tax increases designed to supplement thin school budgets – up from 91 districts a year ago, reports Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News. It’s a trend that’s been growing since Idaho’s…
AP Photo Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: SALMON, Idaho (AP) — Hunters participating in a wolf- and coyote-shooting contest in east-central Idaho killed 30 coyotes but no wolves. Idaho for Wildlife's Steve Alder says the Predator Hunting Contest and Fur Rendezvous that...
Retired longtime Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa is joining Gallatin Public Affairs, where he will be “of counsel.” That’s similar to positions other longtime former elected officials have taken with the regional firm, from former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus to the late former Idaho...
A new poll by Utah pollster Dan Jones & Associates shows that two-thirds of Idahoans believe it should be against state law to discriminate against gays, lesbians and transgender people in housing, employment and business. The poll, which queried 520 Idaho adults in late December…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service is taking public comments on its approval of a gold mining company's plan to reopen a road in a central Idaho wilderness and drill core samples to find out…
A Boise State University assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, Vishal Saxena, has been awarded a five-year, $500,000 National Science Foundation grant aimed at furthering his research into a more sustainable “cloud” for Internet data. The problem is that the cloud currently relies on...
Idaho is one of seven states that have opted out of compliance with a 2003 law aimed at eliminating prison rape, and could face financial penalties, the AP reports. Now, a Texas senator is pushing legislation to eliminate the penalties from the law, prompting national…
The state’s new official Report to the Governor on state employee compensation and benefits is out, and it recommends merit-based raises averaging 3 percent for state employees next year. If approved, that’d be the biggest raise targeted toward state employees since 2008. Idaho state employees…
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has now also filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in Idaho’s same-sex marriage case, along with Gov. Butch Otter. “This case presents the Court with the opportunity to resolve a divisive split on a question of nationwide importance:…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has filed a petition appealing the legalization of same-sex marriage in Idaho to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying the state’s case is the “ideal vehicle” to resolve the issue for the nation; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com....
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Dec. 2015 | Nov. 2015 | Oct. 2015 | Sept. 2015 |
| Aug. 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 |
| April 2015 | March 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Jan. 2015 |
