A group of severely disabled Idahoans is suing the state after the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare cut their Medicaid benefits by as much as 40 percent, then refused to tell them why, saying its formula for the benefits is a "trade secret," and…
The Idaho Republican Party has announced that five candidates have qualified for the ballot for its March 6 presidential caucus: Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Buddy Roemer. Roemer is the former governor of Louisiana and served four terms in Congress in…
The House Environment, Energy & Technology Committee has voted to introduce Rep. Shannon McMillan's non-binding memorial calling for the EPA to pull out of the Silver Valley and halt its Superfund cleanup there within five years, with two "no" votes, one abstention and some concerns…
House Transportation Committee Chairman Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, introduced legislation today to disable all the parking meters on streets adjacent to the state Capitol Mall during the legislative session, to ease citizen access to the session. "It'd make it so all the parking meters ... are…
Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, is proposing an "Idaho Farm Freedom Act" that would exempt from any licensing, certification or inspection requirement the sale of farm products at farmers' markets, roadside stands, or directly to consumers, including for a "traditional community social event" like weddings, church…
Dalton Gardens Rep. Vito Barbieri proposed legislation this afternoon to ease Idaho's rules on sales of raw milk, and ran into opposition in the House Agriculture Committee, whose members noted that extensive work was done just last year to revise Idaho's rules for raw milk.…
Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton, will ask the House Environment, Energy & Technology Committee this afternoon to reintroduce a measure she proposed last year: A resolution demanding that the EPA be removed from Shoshone County, along with its Superfund designation, within five years, because allowing continuation…
Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, sponsored legislation in the House today to add Special Needs Recreation of Coeur d'Alene to the list of charities and youth rehab organizations to which donations are eligible for a tax credit. Nonini praised the group, which provides recreational opportunities…
Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, spoke out in the House today against HB 371, which would allow parents of a military member who is killed while serving to live in Idaho's veterans' homes; federal law now allows states to offer that option. "We have a ...…
Idahoans who were targeted in misleading and deceptive debt-collection practices by a national debt collection firm, NCO Financial Systems Inc., are eligible for a share in a $50,000 restitution pool, under a multistate settlement announced today by Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden. The firm also…
The House Education Committee has voted unanimously in favor of HB 426, a proposal from Rep. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, to set up an "8 in 6 program" in which the state would pay for up to eight extra or summer classes a year for students…
A temporary emergency surcharge on those convicted of crimes or infractions to help fund Idaho's court system through the economic downturn hasn't brought in as much as anticipated, Idaho Court Administrator Patti Tobias told JFAC this morning, and the surcharge will expire on June 30,…
The vote was unanimous in the House State Affairs Committee this morning, in favor of HB 391, Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa's bill to eliminate the state's spring presidential preference primary, now that both political parties are choosing their presidential delegates through caucuses; the…
The House Education Committee has voted to introduce legislation proposed by its chairman, Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, to lift the state's caps on creation of new charters schools. Nonini said his bill would remove both the cap of six new public charter schools per…
Idaho's Department of Juvenile Corrections is seeing increasingly complex problems among the juvenile offenders it has in custody, though overall numbers are down. "Our system is changing," Director Sharon Harrigfeld told legislative budget writers this morning. "We have seen a 74 percent increase in mental…
Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind needs more instructors to help with a sharp increase in the number of students, the administrator says. Brian Darcy said about 1,400 students statewide participate, up from about 950 students five years ago. "You have to get…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
