Idaho GOP Congressman Raul Labrador is sharply criticizing fellow Idaho GOP Congressman Mike Simpson, after Simpson said a congressman would “have to look long and hard to find a reason to vote no” on legislation that passed the House late last week to reauthorize the…
After a hearing that was continued this afternoon from Monday, the Senate Resources Committee, after extensive discussion, has voted to kill HB 265a, the bill to enter into an interstate compact for state takeover of federal lands. After numerous concerns were raised about various provisions…
Gov. Butch Otter has issued a statement today lauding lawmakers for approving funding for a new mental health crisis center in North Idaho next year, saying he signed the budget bill, HB 264, into law today. “As I said in my State of the State…
Gov. Butch Otter has allowed two bills to become law without his signature: HB 75, which removes the sales tax from prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses; and HB 132, which would switch from a flat tax, with an annual decal, to a tax based on…
As the House State Affairs Committee prepares to reconsider SB 1146a, the cannabidiol oil bill, tomorrow morning, here’s how their vote broke down Monday evening when they deadlocked 8-8 on a motion to approve the bill and send it to the House with a recommendation…
In case you missed ‘em, I penned three legislative limericks this morning: One on the “Saga of HB 311” here; one on the “Veto of HB 126” here; and Rep. Vito Barbieri's favorite, one on Gov. Otter’s recent comments, “He Said It On Public TV”…
The House has now adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow, and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle had this announcement: “We’ve cleared the board, we’re kind of waiting for the Senate to send us something to do.” He said after convening tomorrow at 10 a.m., “Depending on…
The Senate has now adjourned to 10 a.m. tomorrow, and Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, offered this road map for the next five days: “Tomorrow we will come in, by coming in at 10, it accommodates a bill signing that I think several…
The Idaho Senate has voted unanimously in favor – 35-0 – of every one of the seven bills that comprise the public schools budget, which would increase state funding for schools next year by 7.4 percent and fully fund the first year of a five-year…
The House has voted 52-17 in favor of SB 1098a, the bill to allow Idaho’s state parks to seek corporate sponsorships. “The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has a goal of seeking partnerships with businesses, foundations, non-profits or other entities,” said Rep. Elaine Smith,...
The Senate has begun debate on the public school budget, which is contained in seven bills. The first, on the administrators division, passed unanimously without debate. The second is up now, for the teachers division, which includes the funding for the career ladder teacher-pay bill.
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho bill that would stop information about voluntary sage grouse conservation on private land from becoming public has passed the Senate. The Senate voted 24-11 to exempt information about private lands contracting…
The House State Affairs Committee voted 12-4 today to reconsider the tied 8-8 vote by which it killed SB 1146a, the cannabidiol oil bill, on Monday evening. When that vote took place, one committee member – Rep. Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer – was missing; she was…
Across the rotunda it flew The pride of the House R's top two To fall with a splat As senators said ‘What’s that?’ And that’s what our lawmakers do.
Rep. Boyle did pen an op-ed State leaders and cronies, she said Are running amok On the taxpayers’ clock Now her latest bill winds up dead.
The guv says that he has two stamps For bills that he looks at askance One’s V – E – T – O And one’s V – I – T – O And that’s all the warning he grants.
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
