The House and Senate have now convened, in advance of Gov. Butch Otter's annual "State of the State" and budget message to a joint session of the Legislature, which will occur in the House chambers. The governor's speech, laying out his agenda for the legislative…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter faces a major leadership test when Idaho lawmakers convene their legislative session on Monday: convincing many from his own party that it’s in the state’s best interest to run its own health insurance exchange, when many want no part of “Obamacare.”…
Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador not only abstained from the vote to re-elect John Boehner as speaker of the U.S. House, he collected a vote himself for the post. Ohio GOP Rep. Justin Amash, who’s at odds with his party leadership and recently was stripped of…
Click below for a report from AP reporter John Miller on the potential repeal of the personal property tax on business property. Gov. Butch Otter said Friday that he'll promote a repeal plan in his State of the State address to lawmakers on Monday, provided…
On the first episode of "Idaho Reports" this week on Idaho Public TV, host Greg Hahn interviews new House Speaker Scott Bedke, and I join Jim Weatherby, Bill Spence, Dan Popkey and Greg to discuss the issues coming up as Idaho prepares for the legislative…
"I'm swearing off alcohol and I am not going to continue to drink," Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo told reporters today in a conference call after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge in Alexandria, Va. Crapo said he believes public officials should be…
Only eight states have no personal property tax on business property, attorney and CPA Rick Smith of Hawley Troxel said at today’s AP Legislative Preview. Still, he urged its repeal in Idaho. “It gives Idaho an opportunity to get out in front on this issue,”…
Things got a little heated at the end of the legislative leaders panel this morning at the AP Legislative Preview, when House Speaker Scott Bedke said the $44 million in the school budget that was allocated to the voter-repealed “Students Come First” reform laws might…
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated in Alexandria, Va. today, and apologized for his actions. Crapo was ordered to pay a $250 fine, complete and alcohol safety program and have his driver's license suspended for 12 months. Click…
When a questioner noted that lawmakers will be working on ethics issues next week – all legislators will go through an unprecedented half-day of ethics training - Senate President Pro-tem Brent Hill said, “We’re always working on ethics issues.” House Speaker Scott Bedke said a…
Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said the health insurance exchange issue won’t go to the Health & Welfare Committee in the Senate this year – it’ll go to the Commerce Committee. “That’s an insurance issue,” Hill said, explaining his thinking.
House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said, “We are going to have to face some real monumental issues.” He said the minority party has been out talking with voters, and is bringing back some messages. “They want a Legislature and government that’s open, honest, and…
House and Senate leaders are speaking now at this morning’s AP Legislative Preview. Said new House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, “Every other person, nearly, in the House of Representatives is new. And there’s a lot of new chairmen. There’s been a lot of shuffling around.…
Gov. Butch Otter, asked about the question of nuclear waste in Idaho, declared, “We are not going to become the dumping ground for nuclear waste.” He said, “I have no disagreement with Gov. Batt’s 1995 agreement. I thought it was great when he got the…
Asked about Idaho’s vacant governor’s mansion – which is costing the state nearly $180,000 a year in upkeep - Gov. Butch Otter said it’s not up to him what the state does with the home of his late former father-in-law. “What you could do with…
Here’s what Gov. Butch Otter had to say this morning on the issue of a state-run health insurance exchange: “Let me just say from the outset on that, I see nothing wrong, or nothing liberal, or maybe even nothing conservative, about preserving all of our…
Gov. Butch Otter praised state legislative leaders for setting up extensive ethics training for lawmakers next week. “I think sometimes we cross an ethical barrier because we simply don’t know the rules,” he said, “so I see great advantage for leadership to step up.”
Gov. Butch Otter told reporters this morning that education reform must be arrived at collaboratively and with consensus, saying the process that led to the voter-rejected “Students Come First” laws, which he championed, was badly flawed. “It’s pretty hard to establish consensus if you’re only…
Gov. Butch Otter is here at the Statehouse to speak to the press this morning at the annual AP legislative preview – though it’s First Lady Lori Otter’s birthday. There’s an overflow crowd. “I will tell you that the state of the state is in…
This morning’s AP legislative preview will be streamed live online by Idaho Public Television; you can watch live here. It starts with Gov. Butch Otter at 9 a.m., legislative leaders from both parties speaking at 10, and a panel discussion at 11 on the possible…
It isn’t usually a part of how I gear up for a legislative session, but this morning I underwent a root canal. On the good side: It should be all downhill from here. Tomorrow morning, the governor and legislative leaders will speak to reporters as…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was notified today that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has “conditionally approved” Idaho’s plan to operate a state-based health care exchange. “We got a phone call from HHS informing us of that decision,” said Jon Hanian, Otter’s press…
Bob Maynard, chief investment officer for the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho, told lawmakers this morning the coming year’s economy is widely expected to be similar to this past year: “Subdued and stumbling growth, good equity markets, flat bond markets.” He said, “2012 was…
Idaho Public TV’s new live streaming site is up for the 2013 legislative session, which kicks off Monday. The old links still work through a redirect, but the new address is www.idahoptv.org/insession. Upgrades mean that the service will now stream easily to Macs, PCs, iOS…
More than 6,300 unemployed Idahoans won’t lose their federal extended unemployment benefits this week after all, the Idaho Department of Labor says, under the newly passed legislation to avert the so-called fiscal cliff. Instead, those on extended benefits will continue to receive them, though possibly…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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