the big six
Road construction/bonding
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne wants $1.6 billion in road construction around the state, including major upgrades for U.S. Highway 95, financed by bonds issued against future federal highway allocations.
Where things stand: The governor’s plan cleared the Senate State Affairs Committee on Friday with just one “no” vote, but that vote came from Senate President Pro-tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs. Testimony at the committee hearing was split, but most of the debate focused on the Indian Valley highway project in Southern Idaho, rather than on upgrades to segments of U.S. Highway 95 in North Idaho that also are included in the plan. It now goes to the Senate, where 14 of the 35 senators are co-sponsoring the measure.
Water
Idaho faces two huge water issues this legislative session: Approval of a water rights agreement settling claims by the Nez Perce Tribe to virtually all the water in the Snake River; and an effort to avoid a shutoff of thousands of water rights in Southern Idaho, where years of drought have pitted two competing groups of Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer water users against each other.
Where things stand: The Nez Perce water rights agreement passed the Senate State Affairs Committee with just one “no” vote Friday, from Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, after an all-day hearing Wednesday drew lots of testimony both for and against the pact. The agreement is now headed for a final vote in the full Senate. If it passes there, Kempthorne has pledged to sign it.
Secrecy
Both the Idaho Constitution and Idaho Open Meeting Law require open legislative meetings, but lawmakers have held several closed-door committee meetings in recent years and majority Republicans hold closed-door caucuses.
Where things stand: Senate Democrats held an open caucus meeting Friday and discussed tuition versus fees for state universities and the bill to limit sales of pseudoephedrine, commonly known as Sudafed and similar drugs, which passed the House last week. Senate Republicans scheduled a closed caucus meeting for Tuesday and said they plan to go behind closed doors to discuss the state budget.
Budget and taxes
Idaho is required to have a balanced budget, and its sales tax is scheduled to drop from 6 percent to 5 percent July 1, trimming close to $180 million a year from the state’s tax revenues.
Where things stand: Legislative budget writers set the major pieces of the state budget for next year this past week, including a tight public school budget that calls for just a 2.3 percent funding increase and a Medicaid budget that includes a 15 percent increase in state spending. Most budgets were set at or barely above a “maintenance” level designed to keep programs operating as-is, but not expand them.
Education
Education is the top issue in Idaho in virtually every poll. It’s also the single largest slice of the state’s general fund budget.
Where things stand: Idaho’s public schools would get $987 million in state general tax funds next year, under a budget set by the Joint Finance- Appropriations Committee last week.
That’s well below the governor’s recommendation of $999 million and just a 2.3 percent increase. Superintendent of Public Instruction Marilyn Howard had sought an 8 percent increase to $1.04 billion. Undecided is whether money will be budgeted for raises for teachers. If lawmakers give teachers a 1 percent raise, that would add $8 million to the public schools budget.
Medicaid
The federal-state program that provides health coverage for disabled and poor Idahoans has been growing faster than any other part of the state budget.
Where things stand: After months and months of intensive study and long hearings by a variety of committees and subcommittees, lawmakers set a budget for Medicaid on Friday that adds $10 million above the governor’s recommendation to cover expected increases in caseloads.
That brings next year’s Medicaid budget to $331.3 million in state general tax funds, a 15 percent increase, and $1.2 billion overall, including the federal funds that match the state dollars.