Don Burnett, interim president of the University of Idaho, is making the university’s budget presentation to lawmakers this morning in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, where he drew on recent years’ flap over the designation of the U of I as the state’s “flagship” university to…
Though support is growing in Idaho to join the ranks of states that include early-childhood education in their public education systems, many Idaho lawmakers remain philosophically opposed to state-supported pre-school. “Anything that is bringing institutional education to younger children is problematic to me,” said state…
Here's a news item from the AP and the Idaho Press-Tribune: NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's farmers and ranchers saw record cash receipts in 2013, for the fourth consecutive year. A report from the University of Idaho says cash receipts were projected at $7.82 billion…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on an alternative state budget that was released today, suggesting that Idaho could spend tens of millions more on its public schools, grant raises to teachers and state workers restore cuts to services to poor disabled…
The co-chairs of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee both say they’d be glad to have their budget analysts review the proposed alternative budget unveiled today by a coalition including former state chief economist Mike Ferguson and former state schools superintendents Jerry Evans and Marilyn Howard. After…
Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, is intrigued by the alternative state budget released today by former state chief economist Mike Ferguson and former state schools superintendents Jerry Evans and Marilyn Howard, along with two members of the governor's education task force. “It sounds…
Mike Ferguson was Idaho’s chief state economist for 25 years. Jerry Evans, a Republican, was Idaho’s schools chief for 16 years; Marilyn Howard, a Democrat, served in that post for eight years. Today, all three stood together behind an alternative state budget that Ferguson has…
Hundreds of people have filled the rotunda of the state Capitol today for the state’s official Martin Luther King Jr.-Idaho Human Rights Day ceremony, filling the center of the statehouse on the 2nd floor and looking on from the floors above. “Dr. King was relentless…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislative budget writers have approved $1.9 million in spending to hire 90 guards and other prison workers for Idaho's takeover of the privately-managed Idaho Correctional Center. The Nashville, Tenn.-based Corrections Corporation of America…
Idaho’s three community colleges would get a 9.1 percent funding boost next year, under Gov. Butch Otter’s budget proposal, but much of that $2.8 million increase would go to cover increasing enrollment at the fast-growing College of Western Idaho, occupancy costs for new buildings at…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Civil liberties activists won another victory in their bid to protect free speech when they convinced Idaho senators to reject rules designed to manage rallies around the Idaho Capitol. The Senate State Affairs…
The latest Georgetown University study estimates that by 2020, 68 percent of Idaho jobs will require a post-secondary degree or certificate, Idaho State Board of Education President Don Soltman told the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. “We all know that education is directly tied…
Today is an official state holiday – Martin Luther King Jr.-Idaho Human Rights Day – but the Legislature, which doesn’t take holidays, is in session. First up this morning, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee kicks off a week of education budget hearings with a presentation from…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports” program on Idaho Public Television, I join Jim Weatherby, Rebecca Boone and hosts Melissa Davlin and Aaron Kunz for a discussion of the events of the legislative session’s second week, and Kunz interviews House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate President Pro-Tem…
Federal Election Commission lawyers urged a federal judge not to heed former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's contention that regulators are being too hard on him — and to force him to pay nearly $360,000 in fines and restitution for tapping campaign accounts for his legal…
The American Civil Liberties Union warned lawmakers Friday that they risk paying hundreds of thousands more in legal fees if they back rules governing Capitol protests that so far have been challenged successfully in federal court by the free-speech activist group, the AP reports. A…
Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are co-sponsoring legislation to let those with a state concealed gun permit carry a concealed weapon in other states, too, as long at the state they’re in allows or doesn’t prohibit concealed carrying of firearms. “Idahoans and law-abiding…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter today applauded the proposals of the state's justice reinvestment project, calling the plan a "no-brainer." “While our crime rate is among the lowest in the nation, our recidivism rate is increasing,” Otter said. “This framework outlines a variety of sensible changes…
Legislative budget writers held a special hearing this morning on the transition of the Idaho Correctional Center south of Boise from private operation by the Corrections Corp. of America to state operation by July 1. The shift will require a supplemental appropriation – an additional…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has voted unanimously to accept the report of the CEC Committee for 2 percent average pay boosts for state workers next year, though it won’t make the final call on budget-setting figures until Feb. 12. “That money has to come from…
The co-chairmen of the Legislature’s joint Change in Employee Compensation Committee are presenting the committee’s recommendation to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, which calls for an average 2 percent pay boost for state workers next year – 1 percent permanent, and 1 percent in…
Confusion reigned in the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning, where the state Department of Administration brought rules for approval governing use of the exterior of the Capitol grounds and the Capitol Mall area – the same rules that were, in part, ruled unconstitutional by…
Numerous children of members of the Followers of Christ in Marsing, Idaho have died of treatable causes since 2009, AP reporter John Miller reports; church members rely on faith healing, rather than medicine, to help sick members. Ada County Coroner Erwin Sonnenberg says autopsies of…
After hearing several questions about whether Idaho’s “rider” program, which incarcerates offenders in a special treatment program for a short time, then releases them on probation if they succeed or sends them to prison for their full terms if they fail, skews state’s incarceration rate…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how the costs to the state and counties for Idaho’s unique catastrophic medical care program more than doubled from 2002 to 2013, and they’re expected to continue to mount if the program stays as-is. Alternatives…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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