The Idaho Department of Correction has decided against pursuing privatization of the state prison at Orofino, a controversial move opposed by the local community, where the state prison is among the major employers. "The department identified several key services provided at the Orofino prison that…
Jon Hanian, press secretary for Gov. Butch Otter, declined to comment on the transportation funding deal this afternoon, but said, "I can tell you that it's been a very productive day. It's been a busy day. ... We feel like we've been able to make…
The Senate reconvened, amended HB 338, the ethanol bill, as planned, and adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow. The House also has adjourned until the same time. Meanwhile, the House minority and majority caucuses have concluded, and House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said, "There…
The House Education Committee has met and passed out HB 211, a bill that adjusts legislation that passed last year to standardize residency rules for higher education. The change, which isn't controversial, accommodates Idahoans who go elsewhere for their undergraduate education, then return to their…
Legislation to raise $13.1 million a year more from DMV fees also has cleared the Senate Transportation Committee and is on its way to the full Senate, as part of a tentative end-of-session transportation funding deal. Meanwhile, House Republicans are headed into a closed-door caucus…
HB 226, the bill from Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, to attempt to make Idaho a truck trailer logo license-plate Mecca, passed the House unanimously on March 20, but has languished ever since. Now it's being heard in the Senate Transportation Committee, as one small piece…
The Senate Transportation Committee has voted unanimously to add an amendment to HB 338, the bill eliminating the ethanol exemption from fuel tax, to direct the distribution of the funds to ITD for road maintenance. "We decided this about an hour ago," Senate Transportation Chairman…
A tentative agreement has emerged on transportation funding, and the Senate Transportation Committee will meet momentarily. There are three bills on its agenda: HB 226, Rep. Marv Hagedorn's bill regarding truck license plates; HB 334, the DMV fee bill; and HB 338, the ethanol bill.…
House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, had this to say about the House GOP leadership's meeting with the governor this morning: "We're still talking, and that's good." Denney said, "I think we will caucus - I've told people to be back around 2."Of the ongoing talks…
The Senate has convened, just briefly, and then the majority went back into a closed-door caucus meeting. Senate GOP leaders said when they arrived at Gov. Butch Otter's office, the House GOP leaders already had left. They met separately with the governor for about an…
Gov. Butch Otter has signed HB 256 and HB 262 into law. The bills, as amended in the Senate, make changes in the formula for reimbursing school districts for student busing costs, and freeze teachers' movement on the salary grid for experience for one year.…
If lawmakers do as they shouldAnd it's all for the public goodThen some middle groundMust be there to be foundUnless you ask Rep. JoAn Wood.
Senate Republicans emerged from their closed-door caucus, and their leadership, plus the Senate finance and transportation committee chairmen, headed straight over to meet with Gov. Butch Otter, who's already been meeting with House GOP leaders. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis said the governor's office called…
Here's a news item from AP: "Lawmakers and Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter are discussing ways to end the impasse keeping the 2009 Legislature in Boise. In the mix: A plan to levy new fees for traffic infractions and registrations, to wean roughly $16 million in…
The House has convened and recessed indefinitely, as the entire House GOP leadership team headed off to meet with Gov. Butch Otter again. The Senate convened, did some formal business, and then recessed until 2 p.m. for caucuses for both parties. Senate Majority Leader Bart…
In honor of the legislative session's 115th day, I humbly offer this legislative haiku:What price leadership?Endless waves of strident wordsHurry up and wait.
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
