The Senate is assembled and ready to go this morning, but is awaiting the amendments to HB 372, the new election consolidation bill, before starting. Amending that bill is among the items on senators' agenda for their morning session today. "We're continuing to try and…
Here is a link to the 16th week of Idaho's 2009 legislative session as a slide show, from angry standoff, to an attemped unilateral adjournment by the House midweek, and back to angry standoff. Because the Senate didn't follow suit and adjourn sine die -…
On tonight's "Idaho Reports" show on Idaho Public TV, I join House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley; House Minority Caucus Chairman Bill Killen, D-Boise; Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston; BSU political scientist emeritus Jim Weatherby; and host Thanh Tan to discuss the…
Also among the bills that Gov. Butch Otter signed into law today was SB 1227, the omnibus budget bill, which includes a series of final budget decisions including the final word on state employee pay for next year. "I particularly am proud to be able…
A frustrated Gov. Butch Otter said today that he doesn't know what he could have done differently to persuade lawmakers to pass his transportation plan. "We started two years ago," he said. "I've exhausted myself. ... We've tried just everything we possibly can." He still…
Gov. Butch Otter said he still wants a gas tax increase, but he's also willing to accept the interim committee to study transportation funding that House GOP leaders have proposed. He said his "counter offer" to House leaders is a delayed, 3-cent per gallon increase…
Gov. Butch Otter just told reporters, "I am pleased to report to you that the state's tax revenues, although short of our official forecast, are much better than we had expected." Otter said sales taxes, for example, were expected to be down 9 percent for…
Gov. Otter also is signing HB 311 today, the Idaho Transportation Department budget. "I appreciate the Legislature's action yesterday" in passing the bill, he said. "We got these bills this morning. ... We can begin these shovel-ready projects within 30 days."
Gov. Butch Otter is signing the five bills that make up Idaho's public school budget, "which provide very crucial resources to public schools," he said. Otter said he's received calls from several rural school districts anxious to get the budgets in place so they can…
The Senate has wrapped up its business for the morning, with many senators headed to Allyn Dingel's funeral at 10 a.m. Among this morning's announcements were the appointments of three more substitute senators for next week, including Sen. Joyce Broadsword's husband, John, and Sen. Lee…
Gov. Butch Otter has invited the media to see him "act on legislation" at noon. The last two times he issued such invitations, it was to watch him use his big, red VETO stamp.
HB 372, the new election consolidation bill, is going to the Senate's amending order. Senate State Affairs Committee members expressed support for the bill, but said a few items still need correcting, including changing the number of months required between school bond elections from five…
When Sen. Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, began presenting the new version of the 98-page election consolidation bill to the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning, committee Chairman Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, stopped him with a question: "Are we missing a y in county?" Hill looked closely, and…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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