Idaho Legislature in photos this week 1/26-1/30

The Idaho Legislature in photos, third week of 2009 session

Section:Gallery

Fri., Jan. 30, 2009

Milford Terrell, president of the state Board of Education, addresses the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, telling them education is the key to the state's economic recovery.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Steven Daley-Laursen, interim president of the University of Idaho, addresses legislative budget writers as the UI faces budget cuts.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Reps. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, left, and Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, right, watch as the House votes on HB 4, a one-word change in state law to allow for the fact that housing prices go down, as well as up, 1/26/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Mike Rush, executive director of the Idaho State Board of Education, responds to questions from lawmakers at a budget hearing, at which one representative asked if the state should cut faculty salaries to make college more affordable, 1/27/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Vern Newby, left, Coeur d'Alene school board member, and Larry Brown, right, chairman of the Lakeland School District board, are at the state Capitol Annex to talk with legislators as part of the Idaho School Boards Association's annual "day on the hill," 1/27/09. The trustees are concerned about looming budget cuts.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes asks a Senate committee to reject legislative raises; they agreed unanimously. At left are Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, and Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls; at right is Senate State Affairs committee secretary Deborah Riddle, 1/28/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
John Martin, vice president for community relations at North Idaho College, tells legislative budget writers the college recognizes the tough economic climate and its impact on NIC's state funding.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
The House Health & Welfare Committee, three hours into a second day of hearings, hears from people concerned about rule changes to implement budget cuts that reduce treatment hours for the disabled and mentally ill, 1/28/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Paul Headlee, legislative budget analyst, addresses the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee as it begins to consider the public school budget.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
State Supt of Schools Tom Luna outlines proposed budget cuts.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
lawmakers question supt luna about proposed school budget cuts

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
State Schools Supt. Tom Luna answers questions from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee about proposed cuts to public schools, 1/29/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Tom Luna, Idaho state superintendent of schools, speaks at a press conference after the public school budget hearing. Luna said his proposal for cuts in schools was "not a speech I ever wanted to make."

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
The "Panic-Stricken Brainy Chickens," a robotics team consisting of eight fifth-graders from Post Falls, is at the Capitol Annex today as part of a presentation to lawmakers that stresses the value of math and science education.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Volunteer firefighters from across Idaho are out in front of the Capitol Annex for two days of live fire training, using a training simulator trailer borrowed from Wendover, Nev. that simulates conditions during a house fire, and to bring their story to state lawmakers. They're backing legislation they hope will attract more Idahoans to volunteer as emergency responders, 1/30/09.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
A live fire training simulator can get up to 1200 degrees in side, simulating conditions in an actual house fire. This simulator, borrowed from Wendover, Nev., was being used to train volunteer firefighters in Boise, 1/30/09. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has rejected a budget request for Idaho to buy its own training simulator.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, asks senators to approve a resolution rejecting a scheduled pay raise for state legislators. They agreed unanimously, 33-0.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review