Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Senate committee has delayed a vote on two measures pushed by the Idaho School Board Association giving school districts more leverage in teacher contract and salary negotiations after nearly three hours of…
The House's freshman 'Gang of 16' dwindled to 14 members on the vote to approve Idaho's state-based insurance exchange, the AP reports. Last month, this group of first-year representatives made a unified showing with reporters, introducing new provisions to the measure setting up a marketplace…
A state judge has agreed to dismiss the state from a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the fees many public schools charge for classes and the legality of Idaho's overall education funding system, the AP reports. Ruling from the bench, 4th District Judge Richard Greenwood…
Here’s how members of the House voted tonight on HB 248, the exchange bill, which passed on a 41-29 vote: Voting yes: Reps. Anderson(01), Anderson(31), Anderst, Bedke, Bell, Bolz, Burgoyne, Chew, Clow, Collins, Erpelding, Eskridge, Gannon, Gibbs, Hancey, Hartgen, Henderson, Hixon, Horman, Kauffman, King, Kloc,…
The House has voted 41-29 in favor of HB 248, the governor's health insurance exchange bill, after seven hours of debate. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.
Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, the fourth House member to debate for the second time, urged everyone to stop debating. “We knew this morning that noses were counted and heels dug in,” she said. Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, is now giving the closing debate. “We carried…
As the House debate on the health insurance exchange bill stretches on, Reps. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, have debated against HB 248; Reps. Clark Kauffman, R-Filer, and Brandon Hixon, R-Caldwell, have debated in favor. Now just past 5 p.m. Boise time,…
The Twin Falls Times-News reports that tomorrow’s vote in House Rev & Tax on two competing personal property tax relief bills is off, and instead, a new bill will be introduced on Friday. You can read the full report here from Times-News reporter Melissa Davlin,…
Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, got a laugh at the start of his debate against HB 248 when he said, “If all of the members of this body who have drifted off to sleep during this debate were placed end to end, they’d probably be a…
Another five House members have now debated on HB 248. Debating in favor were Reps. Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls, and Kelly Packer, R-McCammon. Debating against were Reps. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs; Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton; and Brent Crane, R-Nampa. So far, by my count, 15…
Thus far, 12 House members have debated against HB 248, and 11 have debated in favor. Here are some of the latest: Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, said, “We’ve talked today about oversight, and I don’t believe we really have oversight in this bill, I…
Here's more from this afternoon's House debate on the state insurance exchange bill: Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, said, “The federal government needs the state to get this done. The state does not need the federal government. And I realize … some of us say the…
The House debate is continuing. Among those speaking: Rep. Neil Anderson, R-Blackfoot, compared the process of setting up an exchange to building a house. There are lots of decisions involved, he said, “But at some point you’ve got to build a house. … If we…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A non-binding memorial urging the federal government to help clean up networks of trails damaged by years of wildfires in the eastern Idaho wilderness has blazed through the Senate. The Senate on Wednesday…
Three House GOP freshmen have just debated, two in favor of HB 248, one against: Rep. Paul Romrell, R-St. Anthony, said his long experience in local government taught him that the best government is that closest to home. After the Senate version of the health…
Here's more from the continuing House debate on the health insurance exchange legislation this afternoon: Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, said, “Most everyone came into this chamber today having a pretty good idea how you were going to vote.” He went through sections of the national…
The House is back in session after its lunch break, and back into its debate on HB 248, the governor’s state health insurance exchange bill. First, House Speaker Scott Bedke issued a stern warning to those watching in the gallery “to help us maintain the…
Here’s how the House voted on the unsuccessful motion to send HB 248, the governor’s state health insurance exchange bill, to the amending order; the motion failed, 32-38: Voting Yes: Reps. Agidius, Andrus, Barbieri, Barrett, Bateman, Batt, Boyle, Collins, Crane, Dayley, DeMordaunt, Denney, Gestrin, Harris,…
After nearly two hours of questions to the sponsor and a move to amend the bill, House members have begun debating the governor’s health insurance exchange legislation. First was Rep. Dell Raybould, R-Rexburg, who noted that Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, referred to Idaho’s history with…
The Senate has voted 26-6 in favor of HB 55, the bill brought by two phone companies to allow telephone, cable and other telecom companies to make commercial solicitation calls to their existing customers even if they’re on the do-not-call list. Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Meridian,…
The House has voted 32-38 on the motion from Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, to send HB 248 to general orders for amendment, defeating the motion. Now, it's back to the debate on the bill, the governor's state health insurance exchange bill.
As the House continues debating Rep. Vito Barbieri’s motion to send HB 248 to the amending order, House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, backed the move, saying, “I think we can make it a better bill.” Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, opposed it, saying, “This is…
Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene, told the House, “I would submit that the constitutions are the law of the land, period.” Referring to lawmakers’ oath of office, he said, “The oath is to defend life, liberty and property. … Life is listed first obviously because…
After Rep. Cindy Agidius, R-Moscow, asked Rep. Fred Wood about the use of contraceptive drugs Ella and Plan B under a health exchange and whether that might permit drug-induced abortions, Wood said no. Wood said the Idaho attorney general’s office has assured him they “did…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation legalizing machines for betting on previously run horse races is heading into the final turn in the Idaho Capitol. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted Wednesday to approve a bill allowing wagering…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
