Keep in touch with the Idaho Legislature

Even from 400 miles away, North Idaho residents can follow legislation, listen to legislative debates, and have their say on new laws that could affect everything from the taxes they pay to the education their children receive.

Here are some ways to stay in touch:

• For up-to-the-minute news from Boise, go to The Spokesman-Review’s Eye on Boise blog at www.spokesman.com/boise.

• The Idaho Legislature’s website, www.legislature.idaho.gov, includes the full text of all legislation, votes, committee agendas, House and Senate calendars, and the status of each bill or resolution.

• Idaho Public Television broadcasts over the Internet live video of proceedings in the full House and Senate, budget debates in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, and legislative hearings held in the Capitol Auditorium, plus live audio of all legislative committee meetings. To listen live, go to www.idahoptv.org/leglive/.

• To call toll-free and leave a message for any legislator, call (800) 626-0471. The line is staffed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday.

• To send e-mail to any legislator, include your name, address and phone number and the name of the legislator you want to reach, and send it to idleginfo@lso.idaho.gov.

• To send a fax to a legislator, dial (208) 334-5397.

• Letters to legislators can be mailed to: P.O. Box 83702, Boise, ID. For the House, use ZIP code 83720-0038; for the Senate, 83720-0081.

• If a bill you’re interested in is up for a committee hearing, you can look on the Legislature’s website to find the name of the committee’s chairperson and members and send messages to those legislators. Committees also take testimony during public hearings on legislation. If you’re not able to attend, contact the committee secretary or chairperson well in advance to see if you can submit written testimony.

• The weekly “Idaho Reports” program on Idaho Public TV reviews the legislative events of the week and includes interviews and analysis. The show airs at 8 p.m. Fridays, then re-airs Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time; it also can be seen online at www.idahoptv.org.

District 1

(Bonner and Boundary counties)

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint

skeough@ senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1349 Boise

(208) 263-1839 Sandpoint

Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake

eanderson@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 443-1201 Priest Lake

Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover

geskridge@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 265-0123 Dover

District 2

(Benewah, Bonner, Kootenai and Shoshone counties)

Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle

jbroadsword@ senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1338 Boise

(208) 263-7735 Sagle

Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton

smcmillan@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 752-1800 Wallace

Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries

dharwood@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 582-0171 St. Maries

District 3

(Kootenai County)

Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens

sjvick@ senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1345 Boise

(208) 819-4189 Dalton Gardens

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens

vbar@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 762-3737 Dalton Gardens

Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol

plhart@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 772-2522 Coeur d’Alene

District 4

(Kootenai County)

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene

jgoedde@ senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1322 Boise

(208) 664-4652 Coeur d’Alene

Rep. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d’Alene

mchadderdon@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 769-9309 Coeur d’Alene

Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene

ksims@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 640-1154 Coeur d’Alene

District 5

(Kootenai County)

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d’Alene

jhammond@ senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1344 Boise

(208) 666-1122 Coeur d’Alene

Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene

bnonini@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 765-1904 Coeur d’Alene

Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls

fhenderson@ house.idaho.gov

(800) 626-0471 Boise

(208) 773-2269 Post Falls