The Legislature’s joint revenue committee has adopted Gov. Butch Otter’s revenue forecast for next year, after learning that the median of estimates from committee members – after two days of hearings last week with public testimony from economists, business representatives and more – came in…
The Legislature’s joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee has gathered in the Lincoln Auditorium this afternoon to set a revenue estimate for the coming year. That figure is key, because it provides a basis for setting the state budget that lawmakers will craft throughout...
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter will have surgery Monday, a hip-resurfacing procedure on his left hip that’s similar to a fairly extensive procedure he had on his right hip in 2008. “So I will be out of the office for a period of time,” he told…
Gov. Butch Otter told reporters today that he meant for former Govs. Phil Batt and Cecil Andrus to be informed before he sent a letter to the Department of Energy regarding nuclear waste on Jan. 9. “If we didn’t reach out to them and let...
Two former Idaho governors – Republican Phil Batt and Democrat Cecil Andrus – called a press conference today to object sitting Gov. Butch Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s agreement to accept more nuclear waste at the Idaho National Laboratory, saying it violates Batt’s 1995...
Gov. Butch Otter has named Debbie Field, former chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, former state drug czar, and former chairman of Otter’s re-election campaign, as the new chair of the state Board of Correction. That’s the board that oversees Idaho’s prison system; former chair…
A service audit of the Idaho Education Network presented to legislative budget writers this morning is raising troubling questions about the pricey statewide broadband and videoconferencing network that links Idaho’s high schools. Looking specifically at the videoconferencing piece, the audit found that $3.35 million was...
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has issued this statement on his vote against paying $55,000 of Gov. Butch Otter's legal fees for private attorneys he brought in to help with same-sex marriage appeals: "My view on the use of outside counsel is no secret. I've…
The Constitutional Defense Council has voted unanimously to pay the court-ordered $401,663 in attorney fees and costs to the winning side in Idaho’s same-sex marriage case, and 3-1 to pay $55,000 for costs for outside counsel hired by Gov. Butch Otter in his appeals of…
Idaho’s Constitutional Defense Council meets this morning to consider two items: Payment of $401,663 in attorney fees and court costs to the winning side in the same-sex marriage case, per a U.S. District Court order; and payment of $55,000 in fees to outside attorneys that…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
