Election Center
Related Coverage, Page 24
New Idaho redistricting challenge calls for return of 1st commission
Seven northern Idaho counties have filed their challenge to Idaho’s new legislative redistricting plan, and it includes criticism of the bipartisan citizen panel that wrote the plan this year and calls for the previous panel, which failed to agree on a plan by its deadline, to return.
Idaho legislators hope for less pain in ’12
BOISE – Idaho’s headed for a different kind of legislative session in January, one marked less by painful budget cuts and more by political and philosophical battles, key lawmakers said Thursday. “Actually we have 105 game plans, folks,” Idaho Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill told the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho annual conference on Thursday, which traditionally serves as something of a warmup for Idaho’s legislative session.
Lawsuit challenges Idaho’s new legislative map
BOISE – Seven northern Idaho counties are planning a lawsuit to challenge Idaho’s new legislative redistricting plan, which already faces one legal challenge. “These northern counties want to make sure that their interests are represented, and their interests may diverge somewhat from the Twin Falls petition,” said Eagle, Idaho, attorney Christ Troupis.
Second lawsuit could challenge Idaho district plan
Seven North Idaho counties are planning a second lawsuit to challenge Idaho’s new legislative redistricting plan.
Eye on Boise: 4 counties in lawsuit offer own district map
BOISE – The four Idaho counties that are suing to challenge Idaho’s new legislative redistricting plan – which include Kootenai County – have drawn up and submitted to the Idaho Supreme Court their own version of a new legislative district plan, dividing just six counties. Led by Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs, the group maintains that L-87, the plan that was adopted, impermissibly splits 11 counties. “Plan L-87 disenfranchises these counties’ citizens by gerrymandering these districts to eliminate the impact of the county electorate,” the petition to the Idaho Supreme Court declares.
County votes to join redistricting lawsuit
Kootenai County commissioners plan to sue over Idaho’s new legislative district plan, saying they object to a proposed large district that would take in a 5,000-person chunk of the county and pair it with others to the south and east. “We just didn’t think that was right,” said Commission Chairman Todd Tondee. “Our county can be kept whole, and we would like it to be kept whole for our citizens.”
Kootenai County decides to sue over redistricting
Kootenai County commissioners have decided to sue over Idaho’s proposed new legislative district plan, saying they object to a proposed large new district that would take in a 5,000-person chunk of the county and pair it with others to the south and east.
Eye on Boise: State revenues fall just shy of predictions
BOISE – Idaho’s general fund revenues for October are in, and they’re almost exactly on target, missing state economists’ forecast by just 0.7 percent. At $209.9 million, the month’s tax take is $1.6 million below the $211.4 million forecast. Sales taxes came in $4.1 million below the expected level, but all other categories came in ahead of the forecast. Individual income tax revenues for October were 5.9 percent above October of the previous year; the forecast was for 4.9 percent growth. Sales taxes were up 1.6 percent over the previous October; the forecast had called for 6.3 percent.