More from today’s hearing on HCR 32, calling for an Article V constitutional convention: McKay Cunningham, an attorney and a law professor at Concordia University, told lawmakers, “Idahoans are not clamoring for you to revise the Constitution.” Rep. Randy Armstrong, R-Inkom, asked him, “The question...
Among those testifying at this morning’s hearing on HCR 32, regarding calling for an Article V convention of the states to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution: Walt Donovan, a retired Marine Corps brigadier general and attorney, said, “Sixty-two years ago, along with others, I...
Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, told the House State Affairs Committee this morning, as he presented HCR 32, a call for an Article V constitutional convention, “I think it’s very important that we consider this at this time, because I think we all agree that we’re...
There’s a line of folks signing up to testify at this morning’s hearing in the Lincoln Auditorium on HCR 32, the measure from Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, calling for an Article V convention of the states for the purpose of proposing amendments to the U.S....
Idaho Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, is working on an alternative to the governor's $202 million tax cut bill that could actually provide more net tax relief for Idaho families, the Lewiston Tribune reports. It would change the way the state conforms with the federal tax reforms and how income tax rates are handled...
An Idaho Senate committee has introduced two bills that would broaden the definition of some sex crimes to include crimes committed with the intent of degrading or humiliating someone. Idaho Deputy Attorney General Paul Panther told the Senate Judiciary and Rules committee on Monday that both the state's current statute on sexual battery...
Idaho Republican lawmakers on Monday delayed the confirmation of Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's Democratic nominee for a water board position over what were described as politically charged Facebook posts. Sen. Clifford Bayer, a Republican from Meridian, said he wanted more time to talk to former House Minority Leader John Rusche — a Democrat from...
An Idaho House panel has introduced a proposal requiring the heads of three state agencies to serve at the pleasure of the governor rather than their respective boards of directors. Currently, the directors for the Idaho Department of Correction, Department of Parks and Recreation and Idaho Transportation Department...
More than a dozen GOP lawmakers, including two senators, held a news conference today in the Capitol to announce that they’re forming a “Regulatory Reform Joint Subcommittee” to examine the rules and regulations of state licensing boards and look for ways to streamline them. The…
Idaho’s state Liquor Division is again requesting to add two new state liquor stores in the Treasure Valley – a request the division made and Gov. Butch Otter recommended last year, but lawmakers rejected. “Idaho is the fastest growing state in the country,” division Director...
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has voted along party lines to approve HB 463, the governor's tax-cut bill; just the panel's two minority Democrats, Reps. Mat Erpelding and John Gannon, both of Boise, voted against the motion. The bill now moves to the full...
Public testimony has concluded, and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, the lead sponsor of HB 463, the governor’s tax-cut bill, told the House Revenue & Taxation Committee, “I’m hoping that we can focus on this bill. .. This bill lowers taxes for everybody that pays...
Here’s more of this morning’s testimony on HB 463, the tax-cut bill: Julia Page, a board member of the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, spoke against the bill. “It uses the leverage of the must-pass conformity bill to introduce several tax cuts that we believe...
Here’s some of the testimony thus far from this morning’s hearing on HB 463, the governor’s tax-cut bill: Darcy James of the Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger, said, “We are in opposition to the bill as it stands. We respectfully suggest that it has too…
“You’re going to hear grousing,” House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, told the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning as he presented HB 463, the governor and GOP legislative leaders’ tax-cut bill. The committee is hearing testimony for and against the bill this morning;...
The budget request for the Idaho Transportation Department for next year includes a request to replace one of the airplanes in the state’s three-plane fleet, a 45-year-old Cessna 182, “replacing an aging 45-year-old single prop airplane with a modern aircraft that will be safer for...
Idaho has caught national attention as health care experts try to make sense of the state’s rogue move – letting health insurance companies sell plans that don’t follow federal law. The executive order signed in early January by Gov. Butch Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little would let insurers bring new plans to market that break the rules of the...
My Sunday column this week looks at Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney’s request for a budget increase next year of more than 70 percent, with most of the increase coming in a major upgrade to the state’s election software system to allow more transparent...
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television, host Melissa Davlin interviews Senate Majority Leader Chuck Winder, R-Boise; and producer Seth Ogilvie reports on mining, Midas Gold and the Stibnite Mine site. On the pundits panel, I join Davlin, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News,…
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House Judiciary Committee this week would allow a first-time offender charged with possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana to get the charge reduced from a misdemeanor to an infraction, if the offender voluntarily completes four hours of…
The Legislature’s joint budget committee voted unanimously today in favor of legislation to set up a funding mechanism for a $102 million, five-year modernization of the state’s business systems, including statewide accounting, payroll and procurement systems. As proposed by state Controller Brandon Woolf and recommended...
The Idaho House ended its week on a somber note today, with the news that Bill Molitor, husband of Mary Lou Molitor, the executive assistant to the speaker, passed away last night in his sleep. Molitor, 68, had undergone heart surgery on Sunday and had…
An Idaho candidate for governor, who would ban political candidates from paying campaign funds to family members, gave his son-in-law $20,000 last month for campaign-related services. A campaign finance report this week for Boise businessman Tommy Ahlquist listed the payment as an official campaign expense. Thursday, after questions from...
The House Education Committee adjourned its hearing this morning after hearing from 22 people, all supporting new, revised science standards for Idaho. The seven people who testified yesterday also all backed the new standards. Chair Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, didn’t say when the committee would make...
Among the testimony to the House Education Committee this morning on proposed new science standards: Lisa Hecht, who worked for Hewlett Packard for 30 years as an electrical engineer and program manager, told the committee, “One thing I learned is that you can’t BS an...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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