A “landmark” proposal to make patronizing a prostitute a felony on first offense earned a split vote in the Idaho House on Thursday following an emotional, two-hour hearing. Members of the House Judiciary and Rules Committee seemed to agree with the bill's sponsor, Rep. Brent Crane, about the need to "send a strong" message that this activity...
Members of the Idaho House Education Committee on Thursday continued to balk at proposed new school science standards that deal with climate change, even as public testimony came in 100 percent in favor of the newly revised standards; more testimony is scheduled on Friday. You…
North Idaho Rep. Heather Scott today proposed legislation to forbid school districts or other taxing districts that have a levy or bond vote fail from trying again for a year. “The purpose of this bill is to protect voters from aggressive taxing districts that repeatedly…
So much for the planned schedule in which the House would convene briefly at 8 a.m. tomorrow, and then the Education Committee would resume its hearing on school science standards in the Lincoln Auditorium as soon as the House adjourns, taking as much time as…
After this morning’s hearing on school science standards – which will continue tomorrow – Rep. Scott Syme, R-Caldwell, said he’s planning to propose a motion tomorrow to approve the standards with two sections removed – one of the five regarding climate change that lawmakers had…
With the House going on the floor at 10 a.m. today, House Education Chair Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, has now recessed this morning's hearing on proposed new school science standards to tomorrow. Tomorrow's hearing, also in the Lincoln Auditorium, the Capitol's largest hearing room, will begin…
Melyssa Ferro, the 2016 Idaho Teacher of the year and the chair of the committee that developed the revised school science standards that are before lawmakers this year, told the House Education Committee, “The science in these new standards is sound, and it’s the same…
Among the testimony offered so far to the House Education Committee this morning on proposed new science standards: Ilah Hickman, 17, a junior at Timberline High School, told lawmakers she is a “passionate advocate” for the science standards. “Years later, me and my generation will...
Rep. Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls, has been closely questioning Scott Cook of the state Department of Education about proposed new school science standards regarding climate change. “If there are two scientists out there … who kind of take different approaches to the same data ……
Duncan Robb, chief policy adviser to state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra, presented the new proposed science standards to the House Education Committee at the start of this morning’s hearing. In the new standards, he said, “Science is a verb – this is about what kids…
The House Education Committee is holding a public hearing this morning on school science standards - which raised controversy last year when lawmakers voted to remove five sections referring to climate change. Those sections have been rewritten and are back for consideration; Idaho EdNews has...
Boise businessman Tommy Ahlquist outraised his Republican gubernatorial rivals last year, reporting more than $1.7 million in fundraising, but opponent Lt. Gov. Brad Little closed out 2017 with a bigger bank balance of nearly $638,000. End-of-year financial disclosure reports were filed Wednesday with the Idaho Secretary of State's office. The...
Two of the three leading GOP candidates for governor issued statements today lauding the signing of HB 335, the unemployment insurance tax cut bill for Idaho employers; here are the full statements from Lt. Gov. Brad Little and Boise physician and developer Tommy Ahlquist: LITTLE:…
Idaho House Majority Leader Mike Moyle wants to write the state’s current roadkill salvage rules into state law, and add an additional provision: That motorists can shoot a badly injured animal they’ve struck, to put it out of its misery. Right now, Moyle said, “The…
Officials with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes say they will not renew a contract with their lobbying firm after the firm filed a ballot initiative to legalize lucrative betting machines known as instant racing. The tribes and others across the state have previously come out against the betting terminals, saying they do not use pari-mutuel wagering...
Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney is asking for a budget increase next year of more than 70 percent, with most of the increase coming in a major upgrade to the state’s election software system to allow more transparent reporting of campaign finances, lobbyist records...
The Medicaid budget came under scrutiny in the Joint Finance-Appropriat ions Committee today, as part of a series of budget hearings this week on the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare. For next year, Gov. Butch Otter is recommending a 13 percent increase in state…
Gov. Butch Otter has signed the first bill of the session into law – HB 335, the unemployment insurance tax cut for Idaho employers. “This is about a year overdue,” Otter said. “I’ve got to thank the legislative leadership for their leadership and for their...
Idaho House Democrats are calling for investing in education and infrastructure, rather than the $202 million tax-cut proposal that GOP leaders and Gov. Butch Otter introduced yesterday. “This tax cut is at best rushed, at worst, reckless,” said House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding,...
A second leading Republican candidate for governor now says he would pursue term limits, some form of financial disclosure requirements and other reforms targeting Idaho politicians. The proposals by U.S. Rep. Raúl Labrador come on the heels of the Republican-dominated Legislature showing signs it will continue to resist such reforms. The House...
A new proposal to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients in Idaho – most of whom are children or disabled – is raising concerns among health advocacy groups that had been supportive of the Idaho Health Care Plan, Idaho’s dual-waiver proposal. The work clause, added...
Idaho EdNews surveyed the leading Republican and Democratic candidates for governor about Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal for a higher education CEO, and found none who were sold on the plan. EdNews reporter Kevin Richert writes that Republicans Tommy Ahlquist and Raul Labrador oppose the plan,…
Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins, today re-introduced his unsuccessful bill from last year attempting to set up a process through which Idaho lawmakers could nullify federal laws or rules or U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Without comment, the House State Affairs Committee voted to introduce Shepherd’s bill;…
Staff from the Office of Performance Evaluations uncovered major human resources problems in a state agency charged with nursing home oversight. Their report also documents the state’s challenges with finding facilities that accept individuals with complex conditions, even as Idaho’s elderly population grows rapidly...
The Idaho Water Resource Board has voted to spend $2.4 million on upgrades to Priest Lake recommended by a recent study, bringing the project within $150,000 of the full $5 million in funding it’ll need next year. Gov. Butch Otter is recommending $2.4 million in...
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