Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, today issued a press release objecting to Congressman Walt Minnick's negative campaign ad targeting GOP challenger Raul Labrador over immigration, though it takes a similar approach to a press release Jorgenson himself sent out in December of 2009 calling on…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the flap over Congressman Walt Minnick's new negative ad targeting GOP challenger Raul Labrador. Here's a link to an article today by Dan Popkey of the Idaho Statesman on how Minnick is in a quarter-million-dollar…
GOP congressional hopeful Raul Labrador issued a statement tonight calling Congressman Walt Minnick's new campaign ad "disgusting," "disgraceful" and "shameful," and saying it "succeeds in only twisting and editing my words into quotes that are blatantly untrue." He also demands that Minnick immediately remove "this…
Idaho 1st District Congressman Walt Minnick has put out a new campaign ad, and this one is a negative ad targeting his GOP challenger, Raul Labrador, for his work as an immigration lawyer. The ad just began airing this evening throughout the 1st Congressional District,…
Another rabid bat has been found in Idaho, this time in Canyon County, where it flew into a home and was being played with by a cat. The bat tested positive for rabies, and the cat hadn't been vaccinated. "That's why it's so important to…
The Idaho AARP is launching a statewide voter-education effort complete with voter guides for every legislative race in the state along with statewide and congressional races, meetings and discussions with its members throughout the state to bring them up to speed on issues before they…
The special House Ethics Committee that's investigating ethics complaints against state Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, has set its next meeting for Sept. 22, when the panel will meet at 2:30 p.m. via conference call. A live audio stream of the meeting will be available to…
Has Gov. Butch Otter changed his stand on repeal of the 17th Amendment? Today during a campaign debate before an audience of more than 400, Otter was asked by moderator Jim Weatherby, posing an audience-submitted question, "Governor, where do you stand on the 17th Amendment?…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A panel appointed to set pay for state lawmakers has decided against salary cuts, recommending that legislators keep their current salaries at $16,116 a year. The Legislative Compensation Committee approved the recommendation Wednesday…
In their closing statements at today's City Club of Boise debate, the two major-party candidates for governor sounded the themes of their campaigns. "In these tough times, it's not enough to just talk about the founding fathers," said challenger Keith Allred. "Today we need a…
Asked about possible repeal of the 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution - the amendment that established popular election of U.S. senators - Gov. Butch Otter said, "I want Idahoans to elect our U.S. senators. I have said time and time again, and I'll say…
Asked about which tax exemptions he'd eliminate, gubernatorial challenger Keith Allred said ski resorts get a sales tax exemption that golf courses don't, and there's no reason other than this: "The ski resorts had a better lobbyist than the golf courses." That got a laugh…
Butch Otter and Keith Allred have been quickly and directly addressing lots of questions: Road funding, parks funding, what their opponent does better than them, the Boulder-White Clouds wilderness (Otter against, Allred for), and education cuts. "Obviously it was painful for us to do," Otter…
The first question in today's Boise City Club debate was on whether the two major-party candidates for governor support a "proper investigation" into allegations of special deals at the state Tax Commission for influential taxpayers. "I do support a proper investigation of it, in fact…
Democratic challenger Keith Allred, in his opening statement, said his goal is to "advance our priorities, not the priorities of political parties and special interests." As for those priorities, he said, "Two rise above the rest - first keep the tax burden on Idaho families…
The two candidates for governor each have a five-minute opening statement. By coin toss, Gov. Butch otter went first. "Four years ago, I was honored and humbled to become your governor, and since that time the economic landscape ... has changed very dramatically," he said.…
There's a very full house for the Boise City Club debate today between Gov. Butch Otter and Democratic challenger Keith Allred. It's the biggest crowd the city club ever has had, with more than 400 reservations for lunch and an additional 70-plus listening in. The…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's chief economist Mike Ferguson is retiring at month's end. Ferguson has been the state's top economic forecaster since 1984, surviving five governors starting with John Evans even as the office changed hands…
Idaho stands to lose more than $75 million just from tax compromises that are now in the works, according to a group of whistleblowers who are current and former employees of the state Tax Commission - including one $203,000 tax break about to be handed…
Idaho Sen. Jim Risch won his bet with Virginia Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia when the BSU Broncos defeated Virginia Tech on the football field, 33-30, so today, Warner had to pay up by posing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in a Boise…
GOP congressional hopeful Raul Labrador has issued a blistering press release in response to incumbent Rep. Walt Minnick's decision to back out of a scheduled debate against him on KTVB-TV and its partner KREM-TV; in it, Labrador recalled Minnick's comments in 2008 about the value…
An Oregon congressman who chairs a House subcommittee on highways is calling for a federal investigation into plans for oversize shipments of oil equipment across U.S. Highway 12 to Canada, saying he doesn't want U.S. taxpayers subsidizing Canadian oil production. "I am concerned about the…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Politicians opting out of televised debates are again news in Idaho. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter told organizers in Lewiston he couldn't do an Oct. 7 debate, though he's scheduled for three other meetings…
Boise State University has set an all-time record with its enrollment this year of 19,993 students, up 5.6 percent from last fall. At the same time, the number of new student applications is up 16 percent. BSU's enrollment has grown 21 percent since 2000 and…
Both major-party candidates for governor released lists of supporters today, with incumbent GOP Gov. Butch Otter's list including regional chairmen around the state, from Freeman Duncan in Region 1 to Madison County Commissioner Kimber Ricks in Region 7, and continuing with county and "grassroots leaders"…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Sept. 2010 | ||||
| 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
| 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
| 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| 12 | 10 | 08 | 07 | 03 |
| 02 | 01 |
