Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee in the House – the panel that’s expected to handle immigration reform, on which Labrador is positioning himself to become a player. Yesterday, Politico dubbed Labrador one of “five Republicans who matter on immigration,”…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The state of Idaho is suing the federal government for nearly $1.6 million because state attorneys say members of the U.S. Navy's Reserve Officer Training Corps negligently caused a fire at the University…
The co-chairs of the successful campaign to defeat Propositions 1, 2 and 3 on the November ballot, the “Students Come First” or Luna laws, today released a statement applauding Gov. Butch Otter for looking into forming a broad stakeholder task force to look into future…
There was an excellent turnout last night in Payette, where more than 35 folks filled the historic Portia Club to learn about Idaho's open meetings and public records laws at the latest IDOG seminar - that's Idahoans for Openness in Government. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence…
Here’s a news item from the AP and the Idaho Statesman: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Micron Technology Inc. is scaling back on its plans to develop energy-efficient lighting technology it launched in 2009, leading to the layoff of at least 30 workers. Micron spokesman Dan…
At 1 minute to 5 p.m. today Boise time, the Idaho Secretary of State’s office reported that Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton, had filed her campaign finance report; up to that point, she was the only incumbent lawmaker who hadn’t filed. The deadline was Dec. 6.…
Second-term Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton, hasn’t filed the required post-election campaign finance report, the only North Idaho legislative incumbent or candidate to miss the filing deadline. The reports were due the 6thof December – today’s the 12th. Candidates can meet the deadline by having that…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An optometrist from southwest Idaho convicted for defrauding Medicaid and other health care programs has been sentenced to three years in prison. A federal judge on Tuesday also ordered 60-year-old Christopher Card of…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has named a new budget director: Jani Revier, who served on his congressional staff and has worked as a special projects manager for Congressman Mike Simpson since 2007. Revier, the first woman to hold the position, will start as Otter's Division…
StateImpact Idaho took a look at the occupations of the 105 citizen legislators who make up the 2013 Idaho Legislature, and compared them to those of Idahoans as a whole. The conclusion: They don’t match up. For example, 21 percent of Idaho legislators work in…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Gov. Butch Otter's announcement today that he's recommending a privately operated, state-based health insurance exchange in Idaho as the best option for Idaho to maintain control over how health care reform operates in the state.…
The Idaho Health Exchange Alliance, a coalition of more than 400 insurers, businesses, individuals and trade associations in Idaho, applauded Gov. Butch Otter's decision today to recommend that lawmakers approve a privately operated, state-based health insurance exchange. "We're very grateful that Gov. Otter has shown…
Among lawmakers reacting to Gov. Butch Otter’s health care exchange announcement today is Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, who spoke from Denver, where he’s attending an education meeting. “ I think the governor did the right thing in the face of certainly a lot of…
Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation for a state-run health insurance exchange matches that of his working group that studied the issue for months – it’d be a privately operated, state-based exchange. Jon Hanian, Otter’s press secretary, said the privately run feature was a “better option” because…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter announced today that he's notifying the federal government that Idaho will opt for a state-run health insurance exchange, subject to legislative approval. “This is not a battle of my choosing, but no one has fought harder against the mandates and overreaching…
The Idaho Falls Post Register reports that the school board in Blackfoot agreed in April to a $210,000 contract buyout with the district's former superintendent, then took steps to keep the payments secret, according to documents the district released under a court order Monday. The…
Last summer, someone bought a lottery ticket in Meridian that won a $1 million prize - but they've never claimed it, and it's about to expire. The Idaho Lottery announced today that the Powerball ticket, which matched all five numbers but not the Powerball, will…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Two former governors oppose modifying Idaho's 1995 nuclear cleanup agreement with the federal government after a new draft report suggested changes be considered as part of efforts to assure the Idaho National Laboratory's…
Brundage Mountain Resort announced today that it will open for the ski season on Friday. "We got 9 inches of new snow since Thursday," the resort reported. "At this point, we have just enough snow to open three of our five lifts, but more snow…
The Boise law and lobbying firm Risch Pisca has announced that Mark Dunham, former CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Idaho, is joining the firm as a legislative consultant. "Mr. Dunham has had a very long and distinguished career in Idaho Policy and Politics…
Lawmakers from Lewiston north will take up eight of the 20 seats on the Idaho Legislature's powerful joint budget committee when the legislative session convenes in January, doubling the representation for the region on the budget-writing panel. "Five of us are in the northern Panhandle,…
Former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Byron Johnson died Sunday at his home of cancer; he was 75. Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey calls Johnson "a singular character in Idaho public life," reporting that he was a baseball star at Boise High School, once striking out…
An eastern Idaho judge has ordered the Blackfoot School District to release all documents surrounding a separation agreement and a consulting fee by mid-week, the AP reports. Sixth District Judge David Nye issued the order Friday afternoon in response to an open records lawsuit filed…
Last week, Gov. Butch Otter told a crowd of more than 400 people that Idaho is "probably not" meeting the state Constitution's requirements to provide for education. The implications of that are serious: The state currently is being sued over the issue. “I would say…
Click below for the full list of House committee assignments for the upcoming 2013 legislative session.
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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