Once the teachers division of the education budget had been set, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee moved on to the operations division. Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, said, “If I were to make our motion, it would definitely break the bank, so I’m not going to.”…
After much debate, JFAC has voted 15-5 in favor of the second set of motions from a group of nine JFAC members led by Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls, and Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. Cameron said there was a “significant difference” between the two competing…
Both competing sets of motions on the public schools budget being considered in JFAC this morning include funding for additional math and science teachers, at $4.8 million; both include restoring the 1.67 percent cut from teacher and administrator salary funds by the voter-rejected “Students Come…
The first vote on the public schools budget, for the Division of Administrators, came out 15-5 in favor of the Thompson/Cameron motion. The only JFAC members voting “no” were Sens. Dean Mortimer, Steve Vick, Sheryl Nuxoll, Cliff Bayer and Steven Thayn. In addition to Rep.…
One big difference between the two competing sets of motions for the public schools budget this morning is the question of whether or not to restore a budget cut imposed in 2010 and 2011 by “freezing” movement on the teacher and administrator salary grid for…
There’s not much the Idaho Legislature deals with that’s more complicated that Idaho’s public schools budget. This morning, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will set that budget. “Whichever way it goes, this will be 47 percent of the general fund budget, so it’s by far the…
New legislation is set to be introduced in the House Health & Welfare Committee this morning that combines the governor's state health insurance exchange bill with one proposed by 16 House GOP freshmen adding additional legislative oversight. There may be some other changes too; David…
No bill has even been introduced yet to repeal Idaho’s $141 million-a-year personal property tax on business equipment, the AP reports, but one potential beneficiary aims to kick-start debate by putting its tax savings where its mouth is. CenturyLink Inc., one of the state’s top…
A woman who has already been banned from filing frivolous lawsuits in several state and federal courts is challenging a new Idaho law designed to staunch so-called vexatious litigation, the AP reporters. Holli Lundahl Telford has already been designated a vexatious litigant by the states…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports” program on Idaho Public Television, I join Jim Weatherby, Rocky Barker, Kevin Richert and host Greg Hahn to discuss the week’s developments in the Legislature. Plus, Aaron Kunz talks with Lt. Gov. Brad Little; and Melissa Davlin interviews freshman Rep. Steven…
University of Idaho President Duane Nellis has been named the sole finalist to become president at Texas Tech University, signaling he'll be leaving the U of I after four years. Nellis called the Texas post a "unique and exciting opportunity." Click below for the full…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho aims to return the hilltop mansion to the Simplot family in a tentative agreement over the would-be governor's residence-turned-money pit that remained vacant even as maintenance costs skyrocketed. That's according to a…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill mandating open teacher contract talks cleared the Senate unanimously, reflecting a rare point of agreement between the education union and school boards on a remnant of the failed "Students Come First"…
The Senate State Affairs Committee held a lively hearing this morning on SB 1108, the bill from the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation to make it tougher to qualify initiatives or referenda measures for the Idaho ballot; it's scheduled to continue on Monday. The AP reports…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Senate voted unanimously today to reject rules that sought to limit hours and locations of protests at the Capitol, saying the Department of Administration's proposal was too extreme. Before Friday's vote,…
Legislation that would make it a misdemeanor crime for Idaho law enforcement officials to help enforce any new federal firearms restrictions or registration requirements cleared the House State Affairs Committee today on a party-line vote, the AP reports; it would impose jail time and fines…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho beer distributors failed to convince lawmakers to forbid beer brewers including giants Miller Coors and Anheuser-Busch Inbev from buying distributorships. The Idaho Beer and Wine Distributors Association's measure was pitched in the…
A blizzard of numbers was presented to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning as to the potential impact of the federal sequestration cuts on the state. Overall, it shows a potential cut of $24.8 million in federal funds going to the state in the current…
Physicians and nurse practitioners soon may have the authority to order juveniles who are suicidal, severely mentally ill or pose a threat to others into temporary custody at a hospital or some other health care facility, the AP reports; a bill approved Thursday by the…
Mental health services, one of the most controversial areas of state Health & Welfare services after recent years’ deep budget cuts, received a 5.2 percent increase in state general funds, 3.6 percent in total funds, under a budget for next year set this morning by…
The Legislative Council has voted unanimously to preserve the audio and video records of the proccedings of this year's legislative session, at least for now; it'll decide on a permanent basis in its spring meeting after the session adjourns. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho…
An informal group of Idaho legislators, lawyers and lobbyists rewrote the Idaho Water Plan, reports Idaho Statesman reporter Rocky Barker, deleting references to climate variability, minimum stream flows and endangered species. The revised plan is up for introduction in the Senate Resources Committee this afternoon;…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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