When ITD first came up with the list of eight major highway projects around the state to recommend for stimulus funding, it added up to $182 million - the total amount Idaho's going to receive, including money for local highway district projects. But now the…
The list is now final: The Idaho Transportation Board has approved $28 million in local highway projects to be targeted with federal economic stimulus funds, and $149.9 million in state highway projects, including the Dover Bridge, the Vista Interchange, and six other projects around the…
The Idaho Transportation Board has just begun a special meeting to decide what to recommend as far as applying for stimulus funds for transportation in Idaho, now that the final information is available as to what will qualify. Dave Amick, manager of ITD's office of…
The Senate had earlier amended HB 64, the IRS conformity bill for 2008, to take out a clause that would cost the state $2 million, to match up Idaho's state income tax code to a one-year change Congress imposed last year to grant a tax…
For more than a century, the University of Idaho hasn't been able to charge "tuition" to its students - but like other Idaho institutions of higher learning, it's increasingly charged "fees" instead. In 2005, the Legislature cleared other state universities to charge tuition - fees…
Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, had a unique reason for opposing the election consolidation bill in the House State Affairs Committee this morning: He doesn't want more people to vote. "Having run in two school board trustee elections," he said, "I don't want somebody…
HB 201 has passed the House State Affairs Committee on a 14-4 vote, and now moves to the full House. Here's the vote:Voting in favor: Reps. Loertscher, Anderson, Stevenson, Black, Bilbao, Labrador, Luker, Crane, Mathews, Kren, Palmer, Simpson, M. Shepherd, and King.Voting against: Reps. Andrus,…
Karen Echeverria, executive director of the Idaho School Boards Association, said school boards have agreed to the four consolidated election dates in HB 201, but they're concerned that the funding in the bill isn't adequate. If school boards opted to hold bond or levy elections…
Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa told lawmakers, "Public policy needs to be set by the most participation - call me a turnout guy. ... I think this bill will accomplish it." Ysursa was testifying to the House State Affairs Committee in favor of HB…
Major election consolidation legislation is up before the House State Affairs Committee this morning, and the crowd, mostly in support, includes Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, who long has advocated the move. The 98-page bill, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, would consolidate all…
Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, wants Idaho to declare its sovereignty from the federal government. He persuaded the House State Affairs Committee, on a 13-4 vote, to introduce his resolution this morning, though some members objected to his contention that it could save the state…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
