Now the House Local Government Committee has passed the final two bills on its agenda as well, HB 114, from Rep. Kathy Sims, requiring countywide elections for city urban renewal boards; and HB 110 from Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, imposing additional public hearing requirements…
The urban renewal hearing in the House Local Government Committee is still going - it started at 1:30 this afternoon, and it's now past 5:30 p.m. Boise time. Thus far, the committee has voted to send all four of the bills it's taken up to…
Union workers flooded the Capitol this week to testify against legislation aimed at weakening the leverage of labor organizations in Idaho, the AP reports, but both bills cleared a House committee and are now headed for a final vote in the full House, having already…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's House debate and vote on HB 117, the health care nullification bill. The measure passed on a 49-20 vote and now moves to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. The opposition was bipartisan,…
As the Senate Education Committee continues going over state schools Supt. Tom Luna's reform bills this afternoon, several members asked why the bills would ban teacher contract negotiations from covering anything other than salaries and benefits, prevent any negotiated contract from lasting beyond a single…
Idaho's state Tax Commission has retracted its dire report that sales tax rebates for wind energy development would chomp an unanticipated $47 million hole in Idaho's state budget between this year and next year, and now says the rebates will be a "net neutral event,…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how, amid quotes from scripture and urgings from anti-abortion activists, an Idaho Senate committee today approved legislation to outlaw physician-assisted suicide in the state, making it a felony. SB 1070 won support from the Idaho…
Here's the breakdown on the 49-20 House vote on HB 117, the health care nullification bill: Voting in favor: Reps. Andrus, Barbieri, Barrett, Bateman, Bayer, Bedke, Bell, Bilbao, Block, Bolz, Boyle, Collins, Crane, DeMordaunt, Ellsworth, Gibbs(Wheeler), Guthrie, Hagedorn, Hart, Hartgen, Harwood, Henderson, Lake, Loertscher, Luker,…
The House has voted 49-20 in favor of HB 117, the health care nullification bill. In his closing debate, Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said in his closing debate, "Now is the time. If Idaho is to stand for its sovereign rights, it must do…
House Health & Welfare Chairwoman Janice McGeachin has issued a news release charging that the state is overpaying for families who care for disabled members at home through the Medicaid program, and asking, “When did we make the shift to decide that the taxpayer should…
The House GOP leadership has issued a two-page statement defending state schools Supt. Tom Luna's school reform plan, saying, "Times of uncertainty require strong leadership, and plans for change in times of hardship will always meet resistance from those who wish things could stay the…
Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, told the House, "Our people are telling us that they are not happy." She decried "a federal government who is spending us into a bankrupt government," and said, "They speak with a forked tongue. ... We have a right to dissent.…
Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, asked Rep. Vito Barbieri about unfunded mandates that the state passes down to cities and counties. "Would they not have the right also to pursue nullification?" he asked. Barbieri responded, "Contrary to what others expressed here, I do not believe the…
Rep. Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, told the House, "The reason why I support HB 117 is because it is a strong policy telling our agencies what they shall or shall not do in regards to the federal health care law." McGeachin said she wouldn't refer…
Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, debating in favor of the nullification bill, HB 117, said as a longtime teacher of government and history, "I cannot begin to express my satisfaction that this bill has reached the House of Representatives." He said, "This bill is symbolic…
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, debating against HB 117, took issue with fellow North Idaho Rep. Vito Barbieri's claim that a vote against the nullification bill is a vote in favor of the national health care reform law. "I do not believe it good for…
Lawmakers have received two Idaho attorney general's opinions on nullification; the first said any attempt by state lawmakers to nullify a federal law through legislation would violate both the U.S. and Idaho constitutions and lawmakers' oath of office. The bill was revised after that, but…
Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, has opened the debate on HB 117, the health care nullification bill, urging support for the measure "with all the passion I can muster." Barbieri said a federal judge's decision in Florida that the federal health-care reform bill is unconstitutional…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted 12-6 to send SB 1007 to the full House with a recommendation that it pass, after two days of hearings that drew strong opposition from union workers. The move came after a motion to amend the bill failed,…
House and Senate Democrats held a press conference just now against state schools Supt. Tom Luna's school reform plan. "Frankly some parts of his plan are intriguing," said House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston. But, he said, "We agree with the citizens of Idaho -…
Idaho Parents and Teachers Together, the group that organized a rally on the Statehouse steps last week against state schools Supt. Tom Luna's school reform plan, has issued a statement in response to yesterday's events, including Luna blaming reform opponents for the vandalism of his…
Legislation to outlaw physician-assisted suicide in Idaho has cleared the Senate State Affairs Committee, which just voted to send SB 1070 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The bill was sponsored by anti-abortion activists, but was negotiated with the Idaho Medical…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
