The Common Interest, a citizen group dedicated to reducing partisanship and special interest influence, has announced the results of its in-depth study of open legislative committee meetings, one of three issues it selected to examine over the past year. It found that after extensive briefing…
Carl Bianchi’s not-retiring-yet story is better than a certain senator’s. Bianchi, director of legislative services for the state, had announced plans to retire at the end of this month. But with a legislative session looming and no replacement for the director in sight, Bianchi was…
Back in 2003, Republican legislators who were angry at the state’s teacher’s union pushed through the “Voluntary Contributions Act,” outlawing unions from using dues for political activities, requiring them to pay for political activities out of separate, segregated funds, restricting how they can raise those…
House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley, issued a stern statement today to members of a legislative interim committee who held a closed-door Republican “caucus” meeting this morning to work out a deal on state employee pay legislation.“I would like to make it clear as speaker of…
Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch now says he’ll run for re-election as lieutenant governor – rather than running for governor next year. Risch had been widely expected to challenge U.S. Rep. Butch Otter in the Republican primary this spring – a campaign he’d long anticipated.…
State Sen. Bert Marley, D-McCammon, will announce his candidacy for state superintendent of schools tomorrow on the Statehouse steps at 1:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Coeur d’Alene High School Principal Steve Casey, a Republican, is making his formal announcement for the same position today.Already in the race…
The Idaho Falls Post-Register, in a recent editorial, says Eastern Idaho interests that are challenging the current legislative redistricting plan, claiming it favors North Idaho, “should be careful what they wish for.” Why? Because growth in the past five years, since the 2000 census, has…
Idaho Tax Commission tax policy manager Dan John attributed this riddle to Mark Twain today at the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho annual conference: “What’s the difference between a tax man and a taxidermist? The taxidermist leaves the skin.”And Chris Mooney of the Ada County Realtors…
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne was touting his Medicaid reform initiative to more than 400 folks at the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho conference today over lunch, when he had a few comments about the high health and financial costs of obesity. The average American gained 10 pounds…
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne is clearly excited about his Medicaid reform initiative, which he officially unveiled at a press conference in his office today. The plan, which depends on federal authorities issuing an unprecedented blanket waiver or super-waiver of dozens of federal rules, would vastly simplify…
What’s up in Preston, Idaho – the town where the popular Napoleon Dynamite movie was filmed? Just today, former Preston Police Chief C. Scott Shaw was sentenced to one to five years in prison for misuse of public money and perjury. And yesterday, the Idaho…
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig put out a news release declaring that he “drilled oil executives” in a hearing yesterday on gas prices. “When gas is cheaper on Capitol Hill than it is in Idaho, I’m frustrated,” Craig said. “Idaho consumers are paying through the nose…
The national debate that’s raging over the idea of teaching “intelligent design” in public schools comes to Idaho this week, as the Rev. Barry Lynn arrives in Boise to speak. Lynn’s in town to speak at an ACLU banquet, but on Friday morning, he’ll give…
Today is not a particularly big Election Day in Idaho, what with no statewide issues on the ballot and mostly just city elections going around the state. (Kootenai County is an exception, with a countywide ballot issue on a local-option sales tax.) But here in…
After six public hearings and lots of outcry, a state Board of Education committee has modified its plans for redesigning high school curriculum in Idaho. Gone are requirements for 6th through 8th graders to have at least a C average in all core courses in…
Members of the Legislature’s interim committee on property taxes found one idea they really liked this morning – because it would help vulnerable seniors pay their property taxes without costing the state, counties, or other taxpayers a penny. The idea, hatched by committee staffer Jason…