On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public TV, I join host Jim Weatherby, Brian Murphy, and host Greg Hahn to discuss the events of the week, and Greg interviews House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot; UI political scientist David Adler; and BSU sociologist Martin Orr.…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how an Idaho Senate committee killed legislation seeking to nullify the federal health-care reform bill on a voice vote today after a nearly three-hour hearing, angering a crowd of close to 200 that grew restive…
Why did JFAC Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, withdraw her motion this morning in JFAC to shift $5 million from an excess balance in the state Industrial Commission to help balance the state budget? Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence reports on his blog, "Political Theater," that…
As the nullification hearing closed today, just after the sponsors finished wrapping up, "Coach" Dave Daubenmire, a radio talk show host from Hebron, Ohio, pushed up to the microphone and demanded a chance to speak, and he was allowed to. As he spoke, at times…
The crowd is restive, with people milling around the Capitol Auditorium after the nullification bill was killed on a voice vote, and some forcefully confronting lawmakers. "You know we're left with no alternative but to defend ourselves," one young man told Senate President Pro-Tem Brent…
Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, moved to send HB 117, the health care nullification bill, to the full Senate with a recommendation that it "do pass." "I do believe that we as the states do have this right," Fulcher said. "I believe that we must act."…
With time running out at the still-full nullification hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee, committee Chairman Curtis McKenzie, R-Nampa, has again cautioned those testifying that as for "what I call Obamacare, we are on record as opposing that, both in the committee and on…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A plan headed to lawmakers in the Idaho House would refinance some $200 million in federal loans the state has used to buttress its unemployment safety net. The House Commerce and Human Resources…
Among those testifying so far at the hearing this morning on HB 117, the health care nullification law, was Leah Southwell of Coeur d'Alene, who told the Senate State Affairs Committee, "We have strayed so incredibly far from the original intent of our founding fathers.…
After much debate, JFAC has put off for now a decision on whether to transfer $5 million in unused funds from an $18 million excess fund balance at the state Industrial Commission into the state general fund, to help balance this year's budget. JFAC Co-Chair…
JFAC has voted 19-0 for a budget for the Division of Professional-Technical Education for next year that included a 2.2 percent cut in state general funds and a 1.7 percent cut overall, though backers of the plan acknowledged that it fails to meet federal maintenance…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has set several agency budgets so far this morning, including the budget for Idaho Public Television, which passed on a 16-4 vote. The plan calls for a 1 percent cut in state general funds for IPTV next year, and a 4.6…
Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, told the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning, "We assert that states have rights and we assert that they have been established." He called the national health care reform law enacted by Congress "probably the worst bill in American history."…
The Senate State Affairs Committee has a substantial crowd in the Capitol Auditorium this morning for its hearing on HB 117, the health care nullification bill. Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, the bill's lead sponsor, asked the panel, "Are the state agencies responsible to the…
The co-chairs of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee have identified $5 million from an $18 million fund balance at the state Industrial Commission that could be transfered to the general fund to help balance the budget, and the Industrial Commission has agreed to the move. It's…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
