Business and agricultural groups told the House and Senate tax committees, in a rare joint hearing today, that restoring university research and development budgets, adding incentives for job creation and eliminating Idaho's $130 million personal property tax would all help boost Idaho's economy. Idaho Department…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho Senate committee thinks hunting, fishing and trapping be a constitutional right in Idaho. The Senate Resources Committee on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Constitution that would preserve these traditional outdoor…
Former U.S. Rep. Bill Sali told a House committee earlier today that 11 states already have "In God We Trust" license plates like the one he's proposing for Idaho; his would raise funds for his new nonprofit organization, the "American Heritage Foundation," which plans to…
Former Idaho Congressman Bill Sali, who popped up at the Statehouse today proposing a specialty license plate bill to raise funds for his new nonprofit organization, the "American Heritage Foundation," says he's considering running for the state Legislature again. "I am looking at this open…
The House Environment Committee has voted 9-5 against introducing proposed legislation from Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, attempting to ban the EPA from the state of Idaho by repealing 10 state laws that recognize the federal agency's role in environmental regulation in the state. "Don't…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how former Idaho Congressman Bill Sali persuaded an Idaho House committee today to introduce a bill to fund his new nonprofit organization, the "American Heritage Foundation," through a new specialty license plate that would bear…
Former Idaho Congressman Bill Sali's new nonprofit organization, the "American Heritage Foundation," for which he got a bill introduced today to raise funds through a new specialty Idaho license plate, was just formed on Jan. 25, 2012, according to corporate records of the Idaho Secretary…
Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, moved to introduce former Rep. Bill Sali's proposed specialty license plate bill to raise money for his "Idaho Heritage Foundation," and Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, spoke out in favor of it. "As you know some of our federal courts have…
Former Idaho Congressman Bill Sali is pitching a special license plate to the House Transportation Committee this afternoon, which would bear the national motto, "In God We Trust," and raise money for the "American Heritage Foundation," an Idaho nonprofit that Sali said he and his…
Sen. Jim Hammond's bill to limit future specialty Idaho license plates to those promoting a governmental purpose, SB 1243, has been killed in the House Transportation Committee, after earlier passing the Senate 31-2. Hammond said other states, like Montana, have seen a proliferation of specialty…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Supreme Court's efforts to repeal obsolete laws offer a trip down memory lane, to the days when passenger trains sped across the Snake River Plain and the telegraph let people quickly…
When debate in the Senate resumed, Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, thanked Sen. Bart Davis for pointing out the conflict between the various amendments to HB 404, the anti-Occupy bill. "I think there's a simple solution - we can reject Amendment 3," Schmidt told the Senate.…
Senators are huddling over a technical question: Whether the amendment to HB 404, the anti-Occupy bill, already approved by senators this morning regarding university grounds conflicts with another, proposed by Sens. Davis and Hill on property seizure, because their amendment replaces entire sections of the…
Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, has proposed an amendment to delete the emergency clause from HB 404, the anti-Occupy Boise bill. Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, seconded the amendment. "I've watched what's gone on across the street since I arrived in Boise, and I don't believe that…
The Senate is now taking up amendments to HB 404, the anti-Occupy bill, which would forbid camping on most state property. The first one up is from Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, who said, "This is an amendment to try to avoid unintended consequences." The amendment…
Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, has announced that rather than seek a fifth term in the Senate, she'll run for Bonner County commissioner. "After talking to my family and at the urging of many constituents, I have decided it is time for me to focus my…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Business and agricultural industry groups told legislative tax committees that restoring research and development spending and adding financial incentives for job creation would help boost Idaho's economy. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted - with just two "no" votes from Reps. Tom Loertscher and Joe Palmer - to kill HB 392, the bill to move Idaho's primary election back to August. "I don't have any illusions about the outcome of this…
Nine county clerks from around the state have now testified against HB 392, the bill to move Idaho's primary election back from May to August. They're now being joined by Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa. "I stand in opposition to this bill," Ysursa told…
Col. Jerry Russell, director of the Idaho State Police, told legislative budget writers this morning that he can only categorize ISP's service level now as "satisfactory," in the wake of deep budget cuts. "ISP is not doing more with less," Russell told JFAC. The agency's…
House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, is pitching his bill to move the primary election back from May to August, HB 392, to the House State Affairs Committee this morning. Loertscher said, "This is my idea, this is one that I've had for a…
The House and Senate tax committees are holding an unprecedent joint hearing this morning on what can be done to stimulate Idaho economic conditions, including through tax cuts; eight presenters are scheduled to speak. You can watch live here; the joint hearing is in the…
There was pretty hot debate in the House State Affairs Committee this morning on HB 444, Rep. Dennis Lake's bill to repeal a 1990 law that allows longtime state legislators who take higher-paying state jobs late in their careers to count all their legislative service…
Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, introduced a resolution this morning in the Senate State Affairs Committee to launch an interim study committee to look at how Idaho can attain primacy on wastewater permit regulation, which would mean NPDES permits could be issued through the state…
Yesterday I was on a panel speaking to a session of the Idaho Association of Counties Midwinter Conference, and during a discussion of election laws, the assembled county officials sent a remarkably strong message: They want vote-by-mail to improve how Idaho's elections work. It's an…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
