The Senate has voted 29-5 in favor of spending another $400,000 in state tax funds next year to kill wolves, through the new state Wolf Depredation Control Board in the governor's office. Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocatello, noted that the first $400,000 allocated last year hasn’t…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Signs to help victims of human trafficking may soon be coming to highway rest stops in Idaho. The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously endorsed the plan on Thursday. The bill, HB 183, sponsored by…
Gov. Butch Otter issued a letter today reappointing Col. Ralph Powell as director of the Idaho State Police for the next four years; you can read the letter here. That's the last of Otter's cabinet appointees to receive a reappointment for Otter's third term; the…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A House panel has approved a bill requiring school board candidates in roughly half of Idaho's school districts to reveal money given to their campaigns. The House Education Committee endorsed the proposal Thursday,…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today’s debate and votes in the House State Affairs Committee on “instant racing,” which ended with a 15-2 vote in favor of SB 1011, the bill to repeal the 2013 law that led to the…
A third version of the teacher pay bill was introduced in the House Education Committee this morning, Idaho Education News reports, clearing the way for a showdown hearing set for Friday morning. The major change from the second to third version, reports EdNews reporter Clark…
After much debate and lots of motions, the House State Affairs Committee has voted 15-2 in favor of sending SB 1011, the bill to repeal instant racing, to the full House for a vote, without recommendation. That sets the issue up for a final vote…
After three votes, the House State Affairs Committee has killed HB 279, the state gaming commission bill.
The House State Affairs Committee is now debating HB 279, the bill to create a new state gaming commission. Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said he was ambivalent. “It’s pretty obvious that the legislation before us is pretty reactionary, and even with the best effort,…
Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, in her closing comments in favor of HB 279, the state gaming commission bill, told the House State Affairs Committee, “Constitutionality issues are addressed by the judicial branch ... and that has been done several times. It has been determined in…
Doug Okunewicz, general manager for Coeur d’Alene Racing, which operates the Greyhound Park Event Center, said of the bill, “I think it’s probably a good idea. It seems to me that a centralized commission would likely provide a more consistent application of our constitution and…
Jeremy Chou, attorney with Givens Pursley and lobbyist for Intralot USA, the vendor for the state lottery, spoke against HB 279, the bill to create a new state gaming commission. “You are creating a super-agency,” he said. “It is a super-bureauratic gaming agency. There will…
John Sheldon, president of Treasure Valley Racing, spoke in favor of the state gaming commission bill, HB 279. “We need one regulatory body to regulate all aspects of gaming in the state,” he told the House State Affairs Committee. “This would ensure that we all…
Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, asked Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, “I’m frankly concerned about the insertion on Page 2 of ‘instant racing.’ I’ve never voted for or supported instant racing, that’s not in our code right now. So can you explain why that is being put…
Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, is presenting HB 279, the bill to create a new state Gaming Commission to oversee horse racing, the state lottery and Indian gaming, to the House State Affairs Committee this morning. “All of these types of gaming have undergone a revolution...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
