Idaho Gov. Butch Otter believes there’s been “a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding” about his proposal for a state-based health insurance exchange, so he’s sent out a memo on health insurance exchange “myths” and “facts” to all legislators. “There’s a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding…
Rep. Shirley Ringo is serving her seventh term in the state House – but today marked a first for her: She chaired a legislative committee. “It’s the first time, and it’s something that I never expected to have the opportunity to do,” said Ringo, a…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho could be the next western state to engage in a public lands fight with the federal government. Last year, Utah and Arizona passed legislation demanding the federal government turn over control of…
Idaho’s management of contracts with the state – including multimillion-dollar deals – falls short in two key areas, according to a performance evaluation released this afternoon by the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee: Training and monitoring. The report lays out a series of recommendations, including a…
As the Idaho Legislature this year looks into proposals to repeal or phase out the personal property tax on business equipment, Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, is pointing to Article VII, Section 9 of the Idaho Constitution, which says, “Corporate property must be taxed. The power…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Government attorneys are asking a judge to rule in their favor in a federal tax case against ex-state Rep. Phil Hart and allow them to immediately foreclose on his northern Idaho log home.…
The House Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee has voted unanimously to introduce legislation amending the House’s ethics rule, Rule 76, to establish a permanent, standing Ethics Committee, rather than just have one appointed when a complaint is made. The new rule was developed behind closed…
Trumpets resounded in the Capitol rotunda, as hundreds gathered both inside and outside to mark Idaho’s commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr./Idaho Human Rights Day today. The Rev. Percy “Happy” Watkins of Spokane, shown here, gave his rendition of King’s famous “I Have A Dream”…
The House and Senate Education committees are now planning to hold a “joint listening hearing” on Feb. 1, the day of the first canceled JFAC public hearing on the state budget this year, at the request of House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate President Pro-Tem…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is threatening to withhold $4.5 million it's promised to Idaho next year for a computer program to track student progress. The foundation in Boise says the money…
Boise State University has seen a shift in its student composition since the opening of the College of Western Idaho community college, BSU President Bob Kustra told JFAC this morning. Now, Boise State has more juniors and seniors, and fewer freshmen and sophomores, and that’s…
While we shiver and sniffle in the frigid temperatures of the inversion-plagued Boise valley, there's a whole different world just 16 miles to the north at Bogus Basin. This view from the top of Chair 1 yesterday afternoon snows the smog-filled valley below in which…
Idaho would make it harder to collect enough signatures to qualify an initiative or referendum for the ballot, under legislation introduced this morning in the Senate State Affairs Committee at the request of lobbyist Russ Hendricks of the Idaho Farm Bureau; the bill’s sponsor is…
Idaho State Board of Education President Ken Edmunds is opening “Education Week” in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, with a presentation from the state board; he’ll be followed this morning by ISU President Arthur Vailas and then BSU President Bob Kustra. Edmunds told lawmakers…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
