The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning voted unanimously to accept the report of the joint Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee, which, after two days of hearings, voted yesterday to accept Gov. Butch Otter’s revenue forecast for next year which predicts a 5.5 percent increase…
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…
With a quick meeting, no questions or comments, and a 6-1 vote the House Ways & Means Committee has voted to introduce the “Add the Words” bill, to add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Idaho Human Rights Act and ban discrimination...
Gov. Butch Otter has named Grangeville attorney Gregory FitzMaurice a 2nd District judge, to succeed, Judge Michael Griffin, who retired at the beginning of this year. The new district judge will take office immediately. FitzMaurice has practiced law at his own firm in Grangeville since…
The state has outlined its timetable to rebid the Idaho Education Network broadband contract, Idaho Education News reporter Kevin Richert reports, and it suggests Idaho will likely have to do without the federal e-rate funds that were supposed to fund 75 percent of the project…
After a 20-minute break, this afternoon’s legislative ethics training session has started back up. Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, announced, “I’d like to welcome our Secretary of State, Lawerence Denney. I appreciate him joining us for this portion of the session.” The next portion…
Legislative leaders have distributed the Idaho Legislature’s new ethics manual to all lawmakers in the Lincoln Auditorium, as part of today’s ethics training. “Please write in the margins, please take notes,” House Speaker Scott Bedke told the group. “This is so important that I want…
Idaho Court of Appeals Judge Karen Lansing plans to retire June 30 after 22 years on the bench, she announced today. “The opportunity to serve Idahoans as a Court of Appeals judge has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Judge Lansing.…
By my count, there are about 135 people gathered in the Lincoln Auditorium for the Legislature’s mandatory ethics training this afternoon, though not all are legislators; the session is mandatory for the 105 senators and representatives. Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, thanked them all...
Idaho lawmakers are beginning to gather in the Lincoln Auditorium for today's mandatory ethics training, which will run all afternoon, 'til 5 p.m. House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill said they haven't had any ask to skip the session. "We do...
In unprecedented move, the House Ways & Means Committee - the leadership-controlled panel that rarely meets until late in the session - has announced a meeting for 5 p.m. today to consider introducing the "Add the Words" bill, the measure to amend the Idaho Human...
Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will push for a 6.4 percent increase in public school funding for next year, slightly less than the 7.4 percent boost sought by Gov. Butch Otter, Idaho Education News reports. Reporter Clark Corbin reports that Otter’s budget team and…
Idaho’s Constitutional Defense Council will hold a special meeting Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Borah Post Office building’s 2nd floor courtroom, to consider paying $400,000-plus in court-ordered attorney fees and costs in the gay marriage case...
Idaho lawmakers will undergo four hours of ethics training Wednesday, in a mandatory session for all 105 senators and representatives. It’s the second straight year the mandatory ethics training has been offered to state lawmakers. Asked why, House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said, “Because it’s…
Your Health Idaho, the state health insurance exchange, is up to 83,383 customers through December from its first two months of open enrollment this year, the exchange announced today. That includes people renewing from last year and new signups. “We are happy so many Idahoans…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has called for a statewide moment of silence tomorrow at 1 p.m. Mountain time, noon Pacific, to remember the victims of this week's shooting in Moscow, in which three people died. Here is Otter's statement: “It is important that everyone in…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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