Retired Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocatello, who is filling in this week for Rep. Elaine Smith, also a Pocatello Democrat, told the House today that he’ll be back again next week. “She had her procedure yesterday, and it did not go well,” Lacey said. “She’s been…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Rep. Heather Scott being stripped of all her committee assignments today, and her defiant response, in which she said, “I call it like I see it.” She also set up a Facebook page, “We Stand…
After an hour and 10 minutes of public testimony, the Legislature’s joint CEC Committee has wrapped up today’s meeting on state employee pay; it’ll meet again tomorrow afternoon, and then again on Tuesday at 4 p.m. to make its recommendations. John Tippets, director of the…
In more testimony to the Legislature’s joint CEC Committee today: Megan Ronk, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce, spoke in favor Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation for 3 percent merit-based raises for state employees, and thanked lawmakers for the flexibility they’ve given state agency heads…
The Legislature’s joint CEC Committee – that stands for Change in Employee Compensation – is meeting today and is taking public testimony. First up to testify was Rob Pangaro, a faculty member from Boise State University with multiple degrees who is working on his Ph.D,…
Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, co-chairman of the joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee, said the committee’s recommendation will go to JFAC, which will make the final decisions on budgeting for next year. “The numbers are so close that it really doesn’t make any difference...
Sen. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, made the first motion at today’s joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment meeting, proposing that the panel adopt Gov. Butch Otter’s forecast. That’s actually lower than the committee members’ own estimates. “In historical terms, we’ve had some colorful and large deliberations…
The Legislature’s joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Projection Committee is meeting this afternoon to make its decision on a revenue forecast, for purposes of the state budget for next year. Gov. Butch Otter’s forecast came in at 5.4 percent general fund revenue growth for the…
Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, who was stripped of all her House committee assignments this morning, has posted this statement on Facebook: “GOOD TRY MEDIA & ESTABLISHMENT TO PIT CONSERVATIVES AGAINST CONSERVATIVES TO TRY TO HIDE THE GROWING FREEDOM FOR IDAHO LIBERTY AGENDA: The people of…
At the first portion of this afternoon’s House Energy, Environment & Technology Committee meeting, Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, who had been on that panel before she was stripped of all her committee assignments this morning, was sitting in the audience, agency rule book open on…
House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said after the House adjourned today, “I have no comment in regard to the action,” in which he stripped Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, of all her House committee assignments. “This is an internal matter and I consider it closed.” Bedke...
As the House convened today, it moved to the 13th order, and the clerk read the list of committee assignments, listing all members of three committees – Commerce, Environment and State Affairs. Missing from all three was the name of Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard. “Without…
The House has just begun its floor session, about 15 minutes late; Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, and all members of the House GOP leadership were gone until just now, when Scott hurriedly returned to the floor, along with Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg. Scott had been…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Rep. Heather Scott facing a possible formal reprimand after she claimed female members of the Idaho House only advance through sexual favors, in an outburst that shocked and upset her fellow lawmakers. “That’s not true,” said...
North Idaho Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, is under fire and facing a possible formal reprimand from House leadership and her caucus for telling another female lawmaker in a public outburst last month that women only rise to leadership posts in the Legislature through sexual favors,…
Idaho's Supreme Court will soon decide whether to revive an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against the state over its faulty public defense system, the AP reports. Attorneys on both sides told the high court today that they agree Idaho's public defense system has serious...
Idaho officials on Wednesday closed a section of westbound Interstate 84 between Nampa and Caldwell in southwest Idaho due to potholes. Idaho Transportation Department spokeswoman Jennifer Gonzalez says the agency is making emergency repairs and hopes to have at least one lane open by the evening commute. Gonzalez says multiple potholes...
A new federal report shows snowpack levels and water supply projections are above average in the mountains of eastern Idaho and across much of the state. The National Resource Conservation Service said recent wet weather must continue in order to keep healthy water supply levels, but Idaho's reservoirs are currently in good shape...
Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence reports today that new Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, who defeated three-term Sen. Dan Schmidt in November, says he plans to introduce a bill to classify abortion as murder and charge both the mother and the doctor, with the only exception…
Idaho’s state savings accounts are projected to grow to $388.3 million by the end of fiscal year 2018, under Gov. Butch Otter’s budget recommendation. That includes a $33.545 million transfer from the state general fund to the Budget Stabilization Fund, the state’s main savings account,…
Idaho’s state tax revenues in December came in 5.4 percent, or $16.3 million, above forecasts, and 13.5 percent above the previous December. That puts general fund revenues for the fiscal year to date at 1 percent over the revised forecast and 7.8 percent above this…
Idaho’s average pay for classified state employees is 24 percent behind the private sector market and 14 percent below the public sector, according to the latest official state study; total compensation, including benefits, is estimated at 8 percent below private-sector rates and 11 percent below public-sector rates. That's among the data that's...
The annual “Rainbow Report” about the state’s workforce is out, and once again, it shows that the highest-paid state employee is Boise State University’s head football coach. Coach Bryan Harsin’s salary of $1.1 million is among those of 338 state employees who pull down salaries…
The Idaho Department of Fish & Game’s proposal to raise fees for most resident licenses and tags between $1 and $6 is included in Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed budget, writes Idaho Statesman reporter Rocky Barker, but Otter has stopped short of supporting it, saying it’s…
Idaho lawmakers want to clarify language inside a newly adopted constitutional amendment to ease legal concerns raised by Idaho's top elected officials. The first bill introduced in the legislature's new session Tuesday would define a brief clause in the constitutional amendment that expanded the Idaho Legislature's power...
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