Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "Today's a very painful day. ... The motions that are before you are difficult choices." Both reduce teacher pay, he noted; they just do it in different ways. Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, urged support for the larger cuts. "We have…
Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, has made a substitute motion on the teachers division of the public school budget, seconded by Rep. Cliff Bayer. Keough's motion would freeze the salary grid for a year, use stimulus money to reduce a 5 percent base pay cut to…
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, has made the first motion on the teachers division of the public school budget. It preserves the early retirement incentive program; offsets the equivalent of three furlough days with federal stimulus money, so the furlough days wouldn't be necessary; cancels the…
The Republican motion has passed on a party-line vote, 16-4, to fund school administrators next year. That's the version that makes larger cuts from pay and staff allowance, compared to the competing motion from Democrats on JFAC.
Sen. Dean Mortimer has made the second motion for the division of administrators in public schools, competing with the first motion from the Democrats. His motion has a 5 percent base pay reduction for administrators, furloughs equivalent to three contract days, and a cut in…
Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, has made the first motion on public schools, seconded by Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow. The school budget is divided into five divisions; the first division is for administrators. Jaquet and Ringo set a base salary reduction for administrators of 3 percent…
JFAC has switched its agenda, after Sen. Jim Hammond requested it because he needs to fly out early due to a death in his family. "He felt very strongly that he wanted to vote on this particular budget," said JFAC Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome. So…
As legislative budget analyst Paul Headlee prepared to address lawmakers about the public school budget, Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "For those of you who don't know, Paul was here all night. So when he gets through, he may pass out." Headlee's been…
Idaho's budget outlook still is looking dim, but as legislative budget analyst Amy Castro began explaining the mechanics of the Medicaid budget to legislative budget writers this morning in the 5th floor library of the Capitol Annex, the sun still not up outside, suddenly things…
Today, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will set budgets including Medicaid and public schools. They make up the largest piece of Idaho's state budget, and debate has been building all session over the prospect of Idaho's first-ever cut in public school funding, which the joint committee…
Here’s a link to my full story on today’s nearly four-hour hearing on SB 1112a, the day care licensing bill. The bill’s fate is uncertain at this point; the House Health & Welfare Committee voted to hold it at the call of the chairwoman, with…
The House Health & Welfare Committee has voted to delay a decision on SB 1112, the day-care licensing bill, after an hours-long hearing at which testimony was overwhelmingly in favor of the bill. "Regulation by itself won't solve these problems," said Rep. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett.…
It's now after 5:30 p.m. in Boise, and the House Health & Welfare Committee hearing on the child-care licensing bill is still going. So far, 13 people have testified in favor of the bill, and one, former home day-care operator Kimberly Hoffman, testified against. Those…
A young mother from Twin Falls just shared a chilling story with the House Health & Welfare Committee. She interviewed an array of day-care operators before picking the one who seemed just right for her 5-month-old daughter, for summer day-care. The woman watched between four…
Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene, who has pushed for basic child care licensing legislation for the past five years, told the House Health & Welfare Committee this afternoon, "I think it's the state's responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for child care. It's…
The crowd fills the room and is spilling out the door at the House Health & Welfare Committee today, which is holding a hearing on SB 1112, the bill to set basic, minimum standards for all Idaho day care centers, including criminal background checks. The…
Every House Democrat voted against HB 262, the second controversial school funding cut bill to pass the House this week. They were joined by two House Republicans: Reps. Bob Schaefer, R-Nampa, and Tom Trail, R-Moscow. All other House Republicans voted in favor of the bill,…
The House has voted 49-20 for HB 262, to cut $8.1 million from school funding next year by freezing movement on the teacher salary schedule for increased experience for a year, and phasing out an early retirement incentive. "Tough issues call for tough votes, and…
Debate is going again in the House on HB 262. Reps. Branden Durst and Bill Killen, both Boise Democrats, went first, both opposing the bill. "Do you really think that cutting school funding will preserve programs and learning opportunities for our children and grandchildren?" Killen…
Gov. Butch Otter's legislation to do away with Idaho's 62-year-old quota system for liquor licenses cleared the state Senate today on a 23-12 vote, and now heads to the House. Among the concerns raised by opponents was that the measure would weaken penalties for those…
The House has recessed, mid-debate on HB 262, for a lunch break until 1:30. When Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, made the motion, there were a few groans. Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke quickly seconded the motion, and it passed, so the debate will resume…
House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, speaking in favor of HB 262, the bill to trim teacher pay and retirement incentives, told the House, "Let's keep in mind that none of us are enjoying this process - it's the economy. It's not mean-spiritedness. ...…
Rep. Liz Chavez, D-Lewiston, a retired teacher, told the House she experienced a pay freeze during her teaching career and it had a major impact on her retirement. "I don't mind sharing that my monthly retirement check, after teaching for 30 years, is $1,100," she…
After two procedural challenges to HB 262 failed, House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, drew laughter in the House when he said, "You might've guessed I don't like this bill." Rusche said the bill's provisions were rejected when all interests came together to negotiate consensus…
Now, House Democrats have moved, unsuccessfully, to send HB 262 to the House's amending order. Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said he wanted the "objectionable" parts removed. Several Democratic representatives spoke in favor of the motion; some said the bill's fiscal note was incorrect. Rep. Bob…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| March 2009 | ||||
| 31 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 26 |
| 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
| 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| 09 | 08 | 07 | 06 | 05 |
| 04 | 03 | 02 |
