Idaho has paid $762,952 to the law firm Hawley Troxell since 2010 for legal defense in the Syringa Networks lawsuit over the contract award for the Idaho Education Network, Idaho Statesman reporter Cynthia Sewell reports today. The lawsuit over the award of the $60 million,…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on tonight’s debate between GOP Gov. Butch Otter, Democratic challenger A.J. Balukoff and Constitution Party candidate Steve Pankey. After their closing statements at tonight’s KTVB debate in Nampa, there was a little extra time, so the…
Panelist Jim Weatherby asked Gov. Butch Otter about the Idaho Statesman’s endorsement of Otter, which said that a third term for Otter would be his last. “Along with the endorsement, they got that right too,” Otter said, indicating he won’t run for a fourth term.…
Here are the three candidates’ answers when they were asked if Idaho’s schools are underfunded: A.J. Balukoff: “It is underfunded.” He said the state is not meeting its constitutional mandate to provide for a "general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools." Butch…
Asked about same-sex marriage, GOP Gov. Butch Otter, on tonight’s KTVB debate, said, “I don’t think it’s over with.” He said Louisiana’s case is still pending. “I’m not going to give up on it,” he said. “The voters passed that.” Constitution Party candidate Steve Pankey…
“Back at Channel 7, our phones have been ringing off the hook,” moderator Dee Sarton told gubernatorial candidates Steve Pankey, A.J. Balukoff and Butch Otter tonight at the opening of KTVB’s gubernatorial debate. “Folks are a little disappointed … their favorite programming in prime time…
A combative Rep. Raul Labrador has interjected repeatedly in tonight’s KTVB debate to give his view of Democratic challenger Shirley Ringo’s positions. He said she supports a single-payer system for health care, like those in Canada or Europe. She said she doesn’t. He said it…
Asked how people should judge the effectiveness of a member of Congress, 1st District Rep. Raul Labrador said during tonight’s KTVB debate, “I think the most effective way that we can judge a member of Congress is whether he or she has kept the promises…
Moderator Dee Sarton opened the 1st Congressional District debate tonight at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa with a quote from a listener, who sent in this message: “So sad primetime line-up is being interrupted for the same-old, it’s someone else’s fault campaign crud.” Sarton urged…
Syringa Networks, the company that sued over the 2009 broadband contract for the Idaho Education Network, is now demanding $17 million to settle the dispute, Idaho Education News reports. House Education Committee Chairman Reed DeMordaunt today dubbed the request “outrageous,” and the dispute appears unlikely…
KTVB Channel 7 has two major political debates on tap tonight, both to be broadcast live from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. At 7 p.m., 1st Congressional District Rep. Raul Labrador will debate Democratic challenger Shirley Ringo. At 8 p.m., it’s the governor’s race. The…
Sherri Ybarra, the Republican candidate for state superintendent of schools, has skipped at least 15 of the last 17 state elections, Idaho Education News reports, and hasn’t voted in a November general election since she moved to Mountain Home in 1996. “We have all missed…
The Republican Governors Association launched a new anti-A.J. Balukoff TV ad in Idaho today, this one using a video clip from the governors’ debate in Coeur d'Alene debate where Balukoff momentarily lost his place in his opening remarks. The ad suggests Balukoff “needs a script,”…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter just issued this statement: “The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has issued its mandate for enforcement of decisions overturning the Idaho Constitution’s prohibition on same-sex marriage effective at 10 a.m. MDT, 9 a.m. PDT on Wednesday, October 15. I continue…
Idaho's state health insurance exchange, YourHealthIdaho.org, is gearing up for the launch of its own Internet sign-up system on Nov. 15, the start of the next open enrollment period for health plans through the exchange, the Idaho State Journal reports. "Launching our own technology platform…
Idaho Secretary of State candidate Holli Woodings is calling on her GOP opponent, former House Speaker Lawerence Denney, to give up his state pension, in light of his comments at a live debate last week that he doesn’t believe elected officials should be on the…
Three candidates for governor of Idaho will face off in a live debate tonight at 8 on Boise TV station KTVB, broadcast from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. The three: GOP Gov. Butch Otter, Democratic challenger A.J. Balukoff, and Constitution Party candidate Steve Pankey. Libertarian…
Monte Neil Stewart, the attorney who represented both Idaho and Nevada in oral arguments at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in same-sex marriage cases, today leveled a highly unusual charge at the 9th Circuit: That the three-judge panel selected to hear Idaho’s and Nevada’s…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter launched his third television campaign ad in southern Idaho over the weekend; focusing largely on education. It is scheduled to go statewide on Tuesday, including the Spokane broadcast TV market. Here’s a look at the ad and its claims: WHAT IT…
The legal arguments that Gov. Butch Otter submitted to the 9th Circuit today in his unsuccessful bid to continue a stay on same-sex marriage in Idaho included some unusual ones, including his contention that if the 9th Circuit were to lift the stay, it would…
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has just issued an order lifting the stay that blocked same-sex marriage from starting in Idaho - effective Wednesday morning. That's 9 a.m. Wednesday, the order says; so that would be 10 a.m. Boise time. The plaintiffs hadn't yet…
The state has filed its responses with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal on the stay in the same-sex marriage case, and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has dropped his opposition to the stay – but Gov. Butch Otter has not. You can read my full…
Democratic candidate for governor A.J. Balukoff has launched two new TV ads statewide in the past week and a half – including the Spokane broadcast TV market – and GOP Gov. Butch Otter launched a new one over the weekend. I’ll take a look at…
When he was Idaho’s governor for a scant seven months, Jim Risch was a whirlwind of activity, writing an unprecedented management plan for roadless areas, reforming the state Department of Health and Welfare and nursing education programs, and calling a special session of the Legislature…
Lawerence Denney, the Republican candidate for Idaho secretary of state, this week backed off from statements he’d made in suggesting he’d do away with Idaho’s primary election. “I think you misunderstood what I said,” Denney told reporters during a live debate on Idaho Public TV…