Close to 30 people testified at today’s Health & Welfare listening hearing, and complaints about Health & Welfare behavioral health contractor Optum topped the list of concerns. “We had a client burn his family’s house down,” Nikki Tangen told lawmakers. “We can’t call Optum and…
Jim Baugh, executive director of Disability Rights Idaho, told the House and Senate Health & Welfare Committees today that legislation is needed to correct an unintended situation in which people with developmental disabilities are being pushed out of the supports they need to work. “What’s…
Complaints about Optum, an Idaho Health & Welfare contractor for outpatient behavioral health under Medicaid, have continued to mount at this morning’s public hearing on Health & Welfare issues. Doug Loertscher, who owns and operates two mental health agencies in Boise and Nampa, said contacting…
In continuing testimony at the Health & Welfare listening session in the Lincoln Auditorium this morning, more than a dozen people have spoken so far. They’ve pleaded for expansion of Medicaid in Idaho; highlighted perverse incentives in current policies for developmental disability services that are…
Ian James Bott was the first to testify at the listening session on Health & Welfare issues. A 30-year-old college student with autism, he spoke of how he had to pay out of pocket for extensive dental work, including a bridge. “I’m hoping that people…
A crowd is gathering in the Lincoln Auditorium this morning for a “listening session” on Health & Welfare issues; the public is invited to speak, with testimony limited to 3 minutes apiece; both the House and Senate Health & Welfare committees will be listening. On…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today’s public school budget hearing; Idaho’s schools, hard-hit by budget cuts during years of economic downturn, would see a 5.1 percent boost in funding next year, under a budget plan pitched to lawmakers Thursday by…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former southwestern Idaho prosecutor has denied charges that he tried to hide assets from a bankruptcy court. John Bujak pleaded not guilty Thursday to bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, making a false…
A 1968 Olympic gold medalist and famed high jumper will run for the Idaho Legislature this year, Twin Falls Times-News reporter Kimberlee Kruesi reports. At her “On the Agenda” blog, Kruesi reports that Dick Fosbury, a Democrat, will challenge freshman Rep. Steve Miller, R-Fairfield. Fosbury…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's former chief economist says families of four earning more than $117,750 would see lower taxes, should lawmakers adopt House Speaker Scott Bedke's proposal to shift money from a grocery tax credit to…
The House has voted 57-12 in favor of HB 375, which writes into Idaho law – retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year – that same-sex couples legally married in other states may not file joint income tax returns in Idaho, meaning they’ll have to…
JFAC Co-Chair Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, asked state schools Superintendent Tom Luna about his proposal for $16 million in one-time leadership bonuses for teachers next year, asking if that would require legislation. Luna said yes. He said it would follow recommendations from the governor’s education task…
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, quizzed state schools Superintendent Tom Luna about how he interpreted a one-time appropriation in the current year’s budget, with intent language about installing and maintaining wireless networks in high schools, as authorizing a multi-year contract. Luna signed a five- to 15-year…
Among the questions JFAC members are posing to state schools chief Tom Luna this morning: Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell, asked about restoring funding for programs for gifted and talented students, which were shifted to the operating funds line during the economic downturn. Bolz said he’s…
As part of his budget presentation today, state schools Supt. Tom Luna played a video clip for legislative budget writers featuring Cathyanne Nonini, a violin teacher and wife of Sen. Bob Nonini (and his substitute in the Senate for the first two weeks of this…
State schools chief Tom Luna told lawmakers he’s made several changes to his budget proposal: He’s calling for a 1 percent increase in salary-based apportionment to school districts, to allow teachers to get pay raises next year, in addition to $16 million for one-time leadership…
State schools Superintendent Tom Luna’s budget request for next year includes $13.4 million for school technology; he said it’s the same amount schools got this year. That would include $8 million distributed directly to school districts for classroom technology; $2.25 million to continue the statewide…
Tom Luna, state schools superintendent, touted the new higher standards Idaho’s enacted for student achievement. “It is nothing short of amazing,” he told legislative budget writers. “Idaho’s teachers are hard at work implementing these new, higher standards in mathematics and English language arts at all…
State schools Superintendent Tom Luna, beginning his public school budget presentation, told lawmakers, “Overall, our schools are doing better as evidenced by our Five Star Rating System.” The top 5-star rating is not easy to get, he said; fewer than 100 schools statewide have it.…
State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna is presenting his State Department of Education budget right now to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee; that'll be followed by the public school budget, the largest single piece of Idaho's state budget. You can watch live here; click on "JFAC."…
A proposed constitutional amendment introduced by House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher yesterday would enshrine the current rules-review process by state lawmakers in the Constitution, allowing the Legislature to review and accept or reject administrative rules written by state agencies. Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey…
A federal judge has ruled that Idaho's attorney general can intervene in a lawsuit challenging the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, even though Gov. Butch Otter is already a party in the case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale made the ruling Tuesday, reports…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Senators questioned the accuracy of Idaho Department of Fish and Game's report on the number of wolves in Idaho during a hearing. Officials say there were 683 wolves in the state at the…
The Idaho core standards forum has wrapped up after more than two hours of questions and answers from a six-member panel. Among the comments: Standards opponent Dorothy Moon said, “I think it’d be wonderful if we just had a halt to this whole common core…
Idaho Gov. Butch would consider a proposal from House Speaker Scott Bedke to shift money from a popular grocery tax credit to individual and corporate income tax cuts, AP reporter John Miller reports. "Convince me," Otter told the AP on how he's approaching Bedke's proposal.…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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