In continuing testimony today on HB 2: A 16-year-old told the committee, “My legal name is Sawyer Johnson but I identify as Oliver Simon.” As a transgender teen, he said he was cornered in a women’s restroom at the age of 13 because of the…
After Paul Thompson of Twin Falls told the committee that he spoke out of faith telling the panel to reject HB 2 as protecting sin, Rep. John McCrostie, D-Boise, told him that he, too, is a Christian, and a graduate of Oral Roberts University. “I…
In continuing testimony on HB 2 today: Jenny Seibert of Post Falls told the committee in her deep voice, “You may be able to tell the reason why I’m here today, is I’m fairly certain I was born this way. If the Family Research Council…
In continuing testimony at today’s hearing on HB 2: Diane Terhune of Meridian told lawmakers, “I am the mother of a transgender child. ... Having children has been the absolute greatest gift in my life because it taught me to love unconditionally. When my littlest...
In continuing testimony at today’s public hearing on the “Add the Words” bill, HB 2: Emilie Jackson-Edney of Garden City told the House State Affairs Committee, “Look into your hearts and into your humanity to include Idaho’s gay and transgender population in the Idaho Human...
More testimony from today’s hearing on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill to amend Idaho’s human rights act to bar discrimination against gays: Juli Stratton of Post Falls spoke on behalf of herself and her wife, Amy, a physician who couldn’t travel to the...
More testimony from today’s HB 2 hearing: Nick Dumas of Nampa spoke on behalf of “Integrity Idaho,” a religious organization that backs HB 2. “Everyone should be welcomed equally within our beautiful state,” he said. “All of Idaho’s citizens deserve every protection possible. … It…
In continuing testimony at today’s hearing on HB 2, the “Add the Words” civil rights bill to add anti-discrimination protections for gays to the Idaho Human Rights Act: James Hanna told the House State Affairs Committee, “I never expected discrimination to happen based on my…
The first two people to to testify at this morning’s “Add the Words” hearing were both from Pocatello, Heather Disselkoen, testifying against HB 2, and Julie Zicha, testifying in favor. Zicha’s son Ryan committed suicide at the age of 19 after years of harassment for…
Bill Roden, attorney, lobbyist and former state lawmaker, told the House State Affairs Committee this morning that he was among the original co-sponsors of Idaho’s first civil rights law in 1961, which covered only discrimination based on race, creed, color and national origin. Over the…
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.…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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