Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how the bill to eliminate all of the Panhandle Health District's sewage and water-quality rules was scaled back today; the district includes the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, a huge underground lake that's the sole source of…
The House Environment, Energy & Technology Committee has voted unanimously to send HB 667 to the House's amending order with amendments attached, as worked out between the bill's sponsor, Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake; the state's public health districts; and the state DEQ.
Idaho DEQ Director Toni Hardesty, questioned by the House Environment Committee about the department's view of proposed amendments to HB 667, Hardesty said the bill's sponsor and the lobbyist for the state's health district ran the amendments by the department and made several changes the…
Mike Kane, lobbyist and attorney for the state's seven public health districts, told the House Environment Committee, "The bill that you have before you would actually delete all of the rules not only of the Panhandle Health District, but of all of the other districts…
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, opened his presentation of HB 667 to a House committee this afternoon by thanking the DEQ and the state's health districts for working with him on proposed amendments. "HB 667, in its original format, it would probably have done more…
The proposed amendments to HB 667, Rep. Eric Anderson's health district sewage rules bill that's up for a hearing this afternoon in the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, have changed slightly. As finalized, they wouldn't do away with an appeal fee that's now charged…
As the hearing nears this afternoon on legislation to restrict the Panhandle Health District's rules regarding sewage, Terry Harris, executive director of the Kootenai Environmental Alliance, said, "I think procedurally this is no way to legislate complicated problems. ... I do think the Panhandle Health…
In this afternoon's House session, HB 532a, legislation from Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, to require "conservation permits" for non-hunters or fishermen who use certain Fish and Game lands, was defeated on a 25-43 vote after much debate. Several House members objected to the idea of…
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, has legislation up for a hearing this afternoon that - as written - would eliminate all sewage- or water-quality-related rules of the Panhandle Health District at the end of next year's legislative session, force the district to start over from…
The House has voted 58-9 in favor of HB 573, legislation from Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, to restrict the use of full-body imaging for airport security in Idaho. Hart told the House, "It's my opinion that the use of these devices to screen every individual…
The Twin Falls Times-News reports today that longtime Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, is retiring from the state Legislature to focus on his recovery after battling brain cancer for the past two years, and his wife, Michelle, will run for his seat. Michelle Stennett is currently…
After an emotional hearing, the House State Affairs Committee has delayed a decision until Monday on HB 676, legislation from Rep. Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello, to require more education of high school coaches and others about the risk of concussion to young athletes, and to require…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has killed HB 658, the streamlined sales tax bill, on a tied, 9-9 vote. Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, who provided the tie-breaking vote to introduce the bill, switched this time, and voted against a motion from Rep. Dell Raybould,…
Rep. Steve Kren, R-Nampa, presented legislation to the House State Affairs Committee this morning to ban abortions for reasons of gender or race; the committee voted 12-5 along party lines to introduce the bill, though several members raised questions about the wording and legal implications…
Idaho's top elected officials would see a 4 percent pay cut in 2011, under legislation introduced in the House State Affairs Committee this morning, and then in 2012, their pay would return to this year's level. The following two years would see small increases. House…
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