House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, has announced that today’s hearing on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, will run until just before 11:30, when the House is due to convene on the floor, then break, and come back at 5 p.m.…
The Lincoln Auditorium can accommodate 317 people for today’s hearing on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill regarding civil rights protections for gays. Teresa Luna, director of the state Department of Administration, said overflow rooms are being opened in Senate hearing rooms WW 55,…
The Lincoln Auditorium is filling up this morning, and more than 300 people still are in line out in the corridors of the garden level of the state Capitol for today's hearing on HB 2, the "Add the Words" bill. It would add the words…
The Idaho Legislature will hold a full hearing on an “Add the Words” bill starting Monday morning at 8 in the Lincoln Auditorium, after nine years of refusing to do so. The measure would add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Idaho…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports,” I join Jim Weatherby, Bill Dentzer, and co-hosts Aaron Kunz and Melissa Davlin to discuss the events of the second week of the legislative session, from Health & Welfare budgets to a presidential visit. The show also includes Aaron and Melissa’s…
Idaho’s jobless rate fell another two-tenths of a percentage point in December to 3.7 percent – a seven-year low, according to the Idaho Department of Labor, and a full percentage point below the August level. The national rate also dropped two-tenths of a percentage point,…
Ohio Gov. John Kasich wrapped up a six-state stump tour in the Idaho Capitol today, pressing for state legislatures to consider joining Ohio in calling for a constitutional convention to enact a balanced budget amendment. Kasich, who spent an hour with Idaho lawmakers before a...
Walking through an empty Senate chamber just now, I caught this blue sky peeping through the dome above, along with some bright sunlight. Idaho’s Capitol was designed with natural light in mind, pouring in through a variety of skylights, windows and light vents; architect John…
The Senate State Affairs Committee sounded no more receptive this morning to the spread of so-called “instant racing” terminals that resemble slot machines to Idaho communities than the House State Affairs Committee was a day earlier. The Senate panel voted unanimously to introduce legislation proposed...
Former state Rep. Cindy Agidius, R-Moscow, who lost her re-election bid to new Rep. Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer, is back at the state Capitol – this time as communications director for the House Republican Caucus, Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence reports on his “Political Theater” blog.…
The numbers haven’t changed on Idaho’s unmet transportation needs, the House and Senate transportation committees hearing at a joint meeting this afternoon, with presentations from Idaho Transportation Director Brian Ness and ITD Board Chairman Jerry Whitehead. Ness said the state is $543 million a year…
Idaho Education News reporter Kevin Richert crunched the numbers from a recent state service audit of the Idaho Education Network, and found that of the 6,056 high school students who took classes specifically delivered over the IEN, more than half were in just five of…
Former Idaho Govs. Cecil Andrus and Phil Batt were in the House gallery today, and were recognized and honored. Now, they’re doing a book-signing for representatives, of two books by Batt and another about Andrus, in the lounge behind the House chamber; the books were...
Idaho lawmakers expressed deep concerns this morning about slot machine-like “instant racing” betting machines that have been installed in the Treasure Valley, in Post Falls and in Idaho Falls under legislation passed two years ago authorizing betting on “historical” horse races. “This committee was flatly...
Idaho’s catastrophic health care cost program has received a “tune-up” over the past five years to try to cut costs and make it more efficient, but there’s little more than can be done, Roger Christensen, chairman of the CAT Fund board, told JFAC this morning.…
The Associated Press reports that Idaho lawmakers have introduced a bill to formally expand the secrecy surrounding executions. The measure, proposed by the Idaho Department of Correction, was introduced Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee. Here's the full AP report: Idaho prisons department…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today’s presidential visit to Idaho, President Barack Obama’s first in his two terms as president. Obama brought his State of the Union themes of tax changes designed to strengthen the middle class and close loopholes…
When Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little welcomed President Obama to Idaho this afternoon at the airport, he gave the president a copy of a resolution passed by last year’s Legislature and a letter signed by legislative leaders calling for the freeing of the Rev. Saeed...
President Obama has finished his speech at Boise State, descending from the stage to go down the line of the crowd in the front row, enthusiastically greeting people along the way, just as he did last night at his State of the Union address.
President Obama recounted his themes from last night’s State of the Union address, from the economic recovery to infrastructure investments to free community college. “Republicans were not applauding for many of these ideas,” he said amid some laughter. But he said when it comes to…
“There’s not a liberal America or a conservative America,” President Barack Obama told a cheering crowd at Boise State University, “but a United States of America.” He said there were a number of reasons he wanted Boise to be his first stop on his tour…
President Barack Obama has taken the stage, after an introduction from Boise State University sophomore engineering major Camille Eddy. The crowd is cheering enthusiastically.
“Isn’t this a grand occasion?” asked Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, as he joined the crowd of several thousand awaiting President Obama’s speech at Boise State University. Asked why he wanted to come today, Bateman said, “I love my country. He’s the president of the...
Tess Gregg Worstell of Twin Falls just wowed the crowd at the Caven-Williams Sports Complex with her singing of the national anthem, hear voice clear, sweet and very strong - including on the high notes. The crowd roared its approval. Meanwhile, Air Force One has...
Outside the Caven-Williams Sports Complex at Boise State University, there’s a long and cheerful line of folks waiting to get in for President Obama’s speech this afternoon. There are signs promoting protection of the Boulder-White Clouds mountains and signs calling for freeing Boise Pastor Saeed…
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