Gov. Butch Otter's chief economist, Mike Ferguson, says there's nothing in the January revenue figures that would persuade him to adjust his forecast for state revenue for the current year or next year - as he did both last year and the year before. "You…
Chief Allan, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, was sitting in the audience as the House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously today to introduce legislation proposed by the tribe regarding cooperation with tribal law enforcement agencies. "I know there has been a lot of misinformation out…
The House Judiciary Committee has voted unanimously to introduce legislation proposed by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe regarding cooperative agreements between tribal police and local sheriffs. "I'm in the dark here on how all this works, and I would like to know more about that," said…
The Idaho AARP has released a strongly worded statement condemning today's House vote in favor of HB 391, the "Idaho Health Freedom Act," headed, "Idaho House moves state closer to health care disaster." In its statement, the group said the bill could cost Idaho millions…
House Speaker Lawerence Denney said after today's stormy House debate on health care reform, "I've been expecting something to come up. There's a lot of stress, and tempers are getting shorter. ... I hope that that's the hardest one that we have to do." Denney…
HB 391, the Idaho Health Freedom Act, has passed the House on a 52-18 vote - a straight party-line vote, with all Republicans voting in favor, and all Democrats voting against. Shortly before the vote, Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, began her debate for the bill…
Rep. Elfreda Higgins, D-Garden City, spoke against HB 391. "This bill fails to look at unintended and possibly long-term consequences," she said, and would require the state to spend thousands to go to court to fight health care reform requirements. "How can we justify that,…
Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, co-sponsor of the "Idaho Health Freedom Act," told the House, "As Idahoans we are a freedom-loving people and this particular bill deals with that freedom. This bill is very narrowly drafted, it deals with one issue and that is mandatory health…
Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, told the House, "The Idaho Health Freedom Act is not saying 'no' to health care reform. In fact ... it's the first step to saying yes," because it sets the state up to do health care reform only on its…
HJM 10, a non-binding memorial supporting the basing of F-35 Strike Fighter planes in Idaho, has won unanimous support in the House. Next up: The Idaho Health Freedom Act.
The Idaho AARP has sent a letter to legislators notifying them that the senior citizens' group will be watching the expected vote today on HB 391, the "Idaho Health Freedom Act," which the AARP opposes. The bill seeks to set the state up for a…
Here's an oddity: Sen. Kate Kelly, D-Boise, says experts say neutering and releasing feral cats is actually a better way to get rid of colonies of feral cats than killing individual cats from the colonies, because they reproduce so quickly and the colonies persist. When…
House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, persuaded a unanimous House State Affairs Committee this morning to introduce his bill to require voters to present photo ID's before they can vote. Here's a report from the Associated Press:BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho voters could have to…
Here's a news item from the AP: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The third bill of the 2010 session to take on employers who knowingly hire illegal workers emerged in the Idaho Legislature. This measure, introduced by Reps. Raul Labrador and Phil Hart on Tuesday in…
Pam Parks, director of the Idaho Human Rights Commission, and Roger Madsen, director of the state Department of Labor, say they're gearing up for a July 1 merger, if lawmakers approve. Gov. Butch Otter already has endorsed the plan, Madsen said, and legislation is in…
"In the nearly 34 years I have worked with or for the Idaho Department of Labor, the past year has been the most challenging for Idaho's economy, its 50,000 businesses, its three-quarters of a million workers and for our agency," state Labor Director Roger Madsen…
Roger Madsen, head of the Idaho Department of Labor, said Labor has had a challenging year, but he's honored to provide a new home for the Idaho Human Rights Commission, which is tentatively scheduled to move into the department as the state cuts back its…
The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee this morning refused to introduce invasive species amendments proposed by the state Department of Agriculture after senators noted that the bill, as written, would authorize pulling over any vehicle for simply having a container - say, a cooler in the…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
