Idaho’s state Liquor Division has a proposal to add two new stores in the Treasure Valley next year to address market growth and development patterns in the area. That would take Idaho from 66 to 68 state-owned liquor stores, the first increase since 2009; roughly...
The College of Western Idaho has set up displays throughout the fourth-floor rotunda this morning, and is showcasing its programs all day. “We’re just trying to raise awareness in the Legislature, basically, about our programs,” said CWI Board Chairman Mark Dunham. “I don’t think a…
Legislative budget writers held their annual budget hearing on the Idaho state lottery this morning, and several new members of the committee had questions about how much of the lottery’s proceeds go to schools. Lottery Director Jeff Anderson said last year, about 22 cents of…
Legislative budget writers this morning are opening the week with a hearing on the Idaho Transportation Department budget, for which Gov. Butch Otter is proposing a 1.5 percent increase. ITD gets no state general tax funds; instead, it’s funded by dedicated state funds, largely from...
Idaho lawmakers have just finished a full week of hearings on health and human services budgets, and while major changes and initiatives are underway in some areas, there was little talk about how to close the state’s health coverage gap. Among the news that emerged...
Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says he agrees with President Donald Trump that persecuted Christians should be treated as priority in the U.S. refugee program despite acknowledging that such preference is discriminatory. "It is," Otter said during an interview on Idaho Public Television's Idaho Reports. "(But) we want a safe country." Otter...
This week’s “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television includes a roundup of the events of the week, and co-host Melissa Davlin’s extended interview with Gov. Butch Otter, on everything from refugees and immigration to transportation funding. Otter makes some surprising comments, including suggesting that the…
A federal judge has ordered the Idaho Legislature to repeal unconstitutional laws before the end of this year's legislative session, but Idaho lawmakers aren't jumping to take on the challenge. The inaction is part of the ongoing hesitation of Idaho's Republican supermajority to remove unenforceable laws that are sprinkled in both the state's...
Yoga enthusiasts were aghast when state officials in both Idaho and Washington suggested that those training yoga teachers should be regulated just like for-profit vocational schools that train students in truck driving, power line repair or welding. “Yoga teacher training is really where people would...
Unlike the Idaho House, the Idaho Senate today had no debate and a unanimous vote as it approved the annual IRS conformity bill, to conform Idaho’s state income tax code to federal changes and ensure Idaho taxpayers can file their state income tax returns and…
Idaho human rights icon Marilyn Shuler died early this morning at a Boise hospital; she was 77. Former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus issued this statement today: "Carol and I extend our deepest condolences to Marilyn's family and to her thousands and thousands of friends and admirers in...
Reflecting a top priority of President Donald Trump, Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador hopes to impose term limits on members of Congress, the Lewiston Tribune reports. Labrador introduced a joint resolution Thursday proposing a constitutional amendment that would limit representatives to six two-year terms; senators would…
An Idaho lawmaker is pushing legislation that would exempt free medical clinics from paying sales tax. The Times-News reports that the House Revenue and Taxation Committee approved Republican Rep. Clark Kauffman's proposal on Thursday. The bill now heads to the full House...
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted unanimously today to approve a supplemental appropriation of $255,400, including $127,700 in state general funds, to cover the first step in reconfiguring children’s mental health treatment in Idaho as part of the settlement of the long-running Jeff D lawsuit. The…
State schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra announced today that Allison Westfall will join her staff, starting a week from Monday, as director of communications. Westfall, who served as public information officer for the state Department of Education from 1998 to 2006, is currently the director of…
As JFAC wrapped up a full week of budget hearings on health and welfare programs this morning, before moving on to the Veterans Services budget, legislative budget writers quizzed state Health & Welfare Director Dick Armstrong about the possibility of Medicaid being converted into a…
You can read my full story here at spokesman.com on today’s move by the House State Affairs Committee to target the Idaho Lottery’s touch tab lottery machines, pictured above; and my full story here on today’s House vote to pass a $51 million tax cut…
The Idaho State Board of Education has given its formal approval to conduct a community college taxing district election in Bonneville County, intended to transform Eastern Idaho Technical College into a new community college called the College of Eastern Idaho. Dave Goins of Idaho News…
As Betsy DeVos’ nomination comes down to a final vote, Idaho’s Republican senators haven’t publicly pledged to support President Trump’s controversial education secretary nominee, Idaho EdNews reports. The non-answers come as DeVos faces a razor-thin Senate vote, and possibly a historic vote. The Senate hasn’t…
Idahoans with gas hybrid vehicles would be relieved from paying a $75 a year surcharge that lawmakers imposed in 2015, under legislation that cleared a unanimous House Transportation Committee this afternoon. “The basic thing was back in 2015 … we didn’t know what a hybrid…
Last year, a Senate committee deadlocked on Corvette-driving Sen. Jim Patrick’s proposal to remove Idaho’s requirement for a front license plate on vehicles, killing it on a 4-4 vote. Today, the House Transportation Committee agreed unanimously to introduce a different version of the bill from…
The House has voted 58-11 in favor of HB 67, Rep. Mike Moyle’s tax cut bill, which would lower the top personal and corporate income tax rates from 7.4 percent to 7.2 percent, plus exempt the first $750 in taxable income. Its fiscal impact is...
In further debate on tax cuts in the House: Rep. Karey Hanks, R-St. Anthony, said, “I will vote for this bill, but I hope this is just a starting point.” Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls, said, “I will be supporting this bill. I would just...
The House this morning is debating HB 67, the tax-cut bill. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, opening the debate, said, “When businesses come here, they look at that top income tax rate.” His bill would lower the top personal and corporate income tax rates…
The Senate has voted unanimously in favor of HB 1, the first bill introduced this session, clarifying HJR 5, the administrative rules constitutional amendment that passed in the November election. “This was great to see the public’s support for the constitutional amendment,” Sen. Chuck Winder,…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Feb. 2017 | ||||
| 28 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
| 21 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
| 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 09 |
| 08 | 07 | 06 | 05 | 04 |
| 03 | 02 | 01 |
