OK, let’s try this again: Associated Taxpayers of Idaho has released an analysis of HB 311, the sweeping tax bill that passed the House today, and how it affects average Idaho taxpayers. Taking into account the changes in sales, income and gas taxes, ATI found...
Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed his first bill of the 2015 legislative session, taking his red VETO stamp to HB 126, a measure sponsored by Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, to change the way support units are calculated in the school funding formula. “This legislation seeks...
A divided House has voted in favor of two piecemeal transportation funding bills: HB 310 from Rep. Jason Monks, R-Meridian, to shift the $16 million in gas tax fund that now goes to underwrite the Idaho State Police to road work, forcing the state general...
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Senate has killed a plan to make a new process to accredit naturopaths in Idaho. The Senate voted 25-10 Monday to defeat the bill, which had faced substantial changes over the…
The House has voted 53-17 in favor of HB 311, the tax bill sponsored by House GOP leaders that would lower top income tax rates, remove the sales tax from groceries while eliminating the grocery tax credit, and raise the fuel tax by 7 cents…
More from this morning’s House debate on HB 311: House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, was the ninth straight House Democrat to speak out against HB 311, the GOP tax bill. “At its heart, it’s a tax hike for middle-class Idahoans,” he said. “It’s dressed...
From today’s House debate on HB 311, the tax bill, which so far has all come from minority Democrats: Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, said, “This will be a disastrous tax hike for middle income families. It will also decrease our revenues.” She said the tax…
“It removes the sales tax off of groceries in the state of Idaho,” House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, told the House, opening debate on HB 311. “That’s a big step. ... To help pay for that it removes the grocery tax credit.” He then…
House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, has moved to suspend the rules of the House and take up HB 311, the GOP leadership tax bill, immediately. The motion passed 58-9 with three absent. All the “no” votes came from members of the House’s Democratic minority.…
The Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy has released an analysis of the effect of HB 311, the GOP leadership’s tax bill, on Idahoans of various income levels. The conclusion: People in the middle 20 percent, with incomes ranging from $38,900 to $61,000 a year, would...
Both the majority and minority parties in the House have gone into closed-door caucuses, an hour before the House is scheduled to convene and possibly suspend rules and take up a big, GOP leadership-backed tax bill, HB 311. Meanwhile, the Senate is locked in extended…
After a little under an hour, Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, announced that he’d have to cut off this morning’s hearing on SB 1146a, the cannabidiol oil bill, and continue it this afternoon. “We do have a meeting that we are due to right now,” Loertscher…
Lt. Gov. Brad Little has broken a 17-17 tie in the Senate on HB 152a, regarding licensing of sign-language interpreters; Little voted yes, so the bill will go to Gov. Butch Otter’s desk. It earlier passed the House on a 43-22 vote.
Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, told the House State Affairs Committee this morning that he put SB 1146a together “to provide hope to some Idaho families with children suffering from intractable epilepsy.” He told of watching a video of a young child suffering severe, life-threatening seizures....
A roomful of people, some with youngsters in tow, waited more than 35 minutes for the House State Affairs Committee that was scheduled to start at 8:30 this morning; it just now started a bit after 9 a.m. The committee’s agenda includes SB 1146a, allowing…
House Minority Leader John Rusche of Lewiston has asked that Cindy Agidius be removed as communications director for the House Republican Caucus, reporter Bill Spence of the Lewiston Tribune reports, saying she's using the position to “hound” and “spy” on a Democratic caucus member. Rusche…
After gathering more than a dozen lawmakers for lunch in a Statehouse meeting room last week to hear a presentation titled “The True Face of Islam in Idaho,” Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, says it didn’t turn out to be a very effective presentation. Barbieri…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports,” I join Jim Weatherby, Bill Dentzer, and co-hosts Aaron Kunz and Melissa Davlin to discuss the events of the 11th week of the legislative session, and to analyze Davlin’s timely interview with Gov. Butch Otter this week, which is featured on…
Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador cast one of just 37 “no” votes in the House this week on a measure that included funding for reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides millions to rural, timber-dependent Idaho counties for schools and roads. The bill passed,…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the public school budget set in JFAC today, which, at $1.48 billion in state funds, matches Gov. Butch Otter’s call for a 7.4 percent increase and fully funds the first year of a five-year plan…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho would have the ability to enter into an interstate compact to pursue transferring control of federal lands under a proposal making its way through the Statehouse. House lawmakers voted 45-23 on Friday…
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected claims from attorneys for multiple murderer Joseph Duncan that the killer was incompetent to waive appeals of his death sentence, and dismissed the appeal that defense attorneys filed on his behalf. The attorneys still could seek...
Idaho schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra is praising the budget for public schools set by JFAC today, saying she has “deep appreciation” for it; the budget matches Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation for a 7.4 percent increase in school funding next year. Ybarra had requested just 6.4…
Artists from Treefort are performing in the first-floor rotunda of the Capitol right now, as part of an offshoot of the indie-rock music festival dubbed “Treefort.” Here, Alicia Murphy performs, filling the rotunda, all the way up, with sound; people are gathered here and there...
The Senate has confirmed Col. Ralph Powell for another four-year term as director of the Idaho State Police, on a unanimous voice vote with no debate. Senate Judiciary Chair Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, praised Powell’s service and qualifications; that was followed by a quick voice…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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