Legislative budget writers overwhelmingly backed a budget for public health services under the state Department of Health & Welfare this morning that includes $971,100 in state funds and 4 new positions to carry out the state’s suicide prevention plan. It’s a long-sought move that includes…
A unanimous, 16-0 vote in JFAC this morning set the budget for Medicaid for next year, which reflects a 3.4 percent increase in state general funds; 6.2 percent in total funds. The budget, proposed by Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene; and…
There was a major fight over the Fish & Game budget in JFAC this morning after Rep. Jason Monks and Sens. Jim Guthrie and Dean Mortimer tried to derail a $2 million line item to purchase sportsman access to the Clagstone Meadows project in North...
After a two-hour debate – nearly an hour of which consisted of Sen. Jeff Siddoway’s opening debate – the Idaho Senate has voted 31-4 in favor of SB 1339, a controversial proposal to streamline the process for issuing permits for oil and gas wells. The...
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is drafting a public school budget with a 7.4 percent increase in state general funds, reports Clark Corbin of Idaho Education News. That’s slightly below the 7.9 percent boost Gov. Butch Otter recommended, and state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra’s proposed 7.6…
Idaho had the 9th highest suicide rate in the country in 2014, 46 percent higher than the national average. A stunning 320 Idahoans completed suicide attempts that year, up slightly from the year before – an average of almost one a day. An array of…
More on Idaho’s proposed new medical school, the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine: The school will break ground in 2017 and plans to open to its first class of 150 students in 2018. Said Dr. Robert Hasty, founding dean and chief academic officer, “It’s a...
Gov. Butch Otter called this “an exciting day for the entire state of Idaho,” saying, “We are pleased to announce that the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine has made a commitment to locate on the Idaho State University Meridian Health Care Center campus. And the…
The State Board of Education will consider approving an agreement to build Idaho's first private medical school during its Thursday meeting. According to the board's agenda, an investor group out of New Mexico...
Idaho lawmakers ratcheted up the abortion debate today, as one state representative said he believes rape and incest are unlikely to result in pregnancy, and a party-line vote backed one of two bills being championed in the Idaho Legislature this year by anti-abortion groups. The…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted along party lines in favor of HB 516, the bill to require women seeking abortions to be provided with a state-compiled list of providers who could provide them with free ultrasounds, and told they have a right to…
During today’s ultrasound bill hearing, Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, had a question for Angela Dwyer of Stanton Healthcare. He said issues of rape and incest hadn’t been addressed. “Now, I’m of the understanding that in many cases of rape it does not involve any…
The budget for the Office of the State Board of Education was set by JFAC this morning without addressing the governor’s recommendation for $5 million in startup funds for a new community college in eastern Idaho, should voters there approve one. That’s because the bill…
The House State Affairs Committee is holding a hearing this morning on HB 516, Rep. Ron Nate’s bill to require women seeking abortions to be provided with a state-compiled list of providers who could provide them with free ultrasounds, and told they have a right...
There were three competing motions in JFAC on funding for scholarships, focusing on Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation to increase funding for the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship next year by $5 million. Reps. Phylis King and John Gannon, both Boise Democrats, proposed doubling that to $10 million.…
The vote was 19-1 in JFAC this morning for boosts to Idaho’s Health Education Programs budget, including five new seats for first-year Idaho students in the WWAMI program, two in the University of Utah medical school program, and six additional first-year residents at the Kootenai…
The Idaho Democratic Party announced late this afternoon that Secretary of State Lawerence Denney has agreed to make changes to 22 billboards posted statewide to advertise the upcoming March 8 GOP and Constitution Party presidential primary election, in response to the Dems’ complaint and threat...
Idaho Sen. Mary Souza has brought back her “parental rights” bill, with one change: An added paragraph defining “reasonable accommodation.” The bill still permits parents to withdraw their child from any program or activity to which they object; requires schools to develop parental involvement plans…
The first campaign finance report from Gov. Butch Otter’s new political action committee, OtterPAC, shows the PAC raised $44,490 from 19 donors in 2015, and spent $2,479, according to Melissa Davlin and Seth Ogilvie of Idaho Public TV’s “Idaho Reports.” Donations ranged from $100 to…
The House Local Government & Taxation Committee has split along party lines to approve a minimum-wage pre-emption bill, HB 463, barring any local ballot measures or ordinances aimed at raising the minimum wage. Idaho’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, mirroring the federal minimum. Pam…
An array of agriculture groups, from the Food Producers to the Idaho Cattle Association to the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, testified in favor of new animal-cruelty legislation in a House committee this afternoon, as did veterinarians and animal advocates. The bill, HB 524, defines “companion animals”…
After an emotional hearing marked by wrenching stories about a vicious dog attack on a little girl, including comments from the child’s father and grandparents, the House Agriculture Committee has voted to send HB 525, Rep. Mike Moyle’s dangerous dog bill, to the House’s amending...
Asked about the proposed constitutional amendment to remove the Attorney General from the state Land Board and replace him with the state treasurer, Idaho state Treasurer Ron Crane was surprised. “I would defer to the wisdom of the Legislature. I’m willing to serve in that...
The Idaho Senate has voted 27-7 in favor of repealing the new $75 annual extra registration fee for hybrid vehicles, but only after a lengthy debate in which numerous senators discussed the type of vehicles they drive, from a Mustang to a Jeep Rubicon to…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president and joined Kasich’s campaign as a national co-chair. "There's simply no substitute for executive experience,” Otter said in a statement. “Gov. Kasich has proven himself to be a leader who can effectively balance…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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