A supermajority of Idahoans wants the state to put money into pre-kindergarten programs, according to new statewide polling data. Seventy-six percent of voters and 80 percent of parents of children 5 and younger support state funding for pre-K, according to the poll unveiled Wednesday by…
Following two special hearings this morning – one on the state’s group health insurance plan for state employees, for which Gov. Butch Otter is proposing a two-month “premium holiday” next year to draw down excess reserves, and the other on the new 10-year plan to...
Idaho is severely lacking in doctors, and many of its existing ones are nearing retirement age, Dr. Ted Epperly told the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, as he presented the state’s new 10-year plan to increase graduate medical education in the state, which....
Hundreds of Idaho legislators, Statehouse staffers, reporters and lobbyists underwent “respectful workplace” training on Tuesday, and top legislative leaders vowed that harassment is “never acceptable in the Idaho state Capitol.” Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, Rexburg, added, “This is not just sexual harassment, but any kind of harassment...
The Southwest Idaho chapter of NOW, the National Organization for Women, held a “State of the State of Idaho Women” event at the Idaho state Capitol this afternoon. “As a working taxpayer and the mother of two brilliant girls, I have deep concerns about the…
Legislators, lobbyists, reporters and Statehouse staffers are filling the Lincoln Auditorium this afternoon for the mandatory “respectful workplace” training; a second session will follow for those who don’t attend the first. The screen at the front of the room says, “Creating and Maintaining a Respectful…
House Speaker Scott Bedke just announced “some bad news” to the House: “Former Rep. Brandon Hixon has tragically taken his own life. Our thoughts go first to family and friends who are suffering from this loss.” Bedke said, “We should … support those who are...
Under questioning from both co-chairs of JFAC, Sen. Shawn Keough and Rep. Maxine Bell, Jani Revier, Gov. Butch Otter’s budget director, had this explanation for why the governor’s budget proposal doesn’t account for transferring $27.5 million to the Idaho Transportation Department’s strategic initiatives fund, as...
Jani Revier, Gov. Butch Otter’s budget director, is presenting the governor’s budget to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. Some new information that’s emerged: Due to a drafting error, half of the “surplus-eliminator” transfer that lawmakers approved last year, to split any year-end surplus funds…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter rolled out a major tax-cut proposal Monday in his 12th and final State of the State message to a joint session of the Legislature. “It’s true that our tax burden in Idaho is relatively light compared with other states,” the third-term governor told lawmakers. “But our income levels also remain comparatively low...
Democratic legislators today decried Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed tax cuts, saying they’ll fall “on the backs of Idaho families with children.” House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, said Otter’s proposal for a dependent tax credit doesn’t fully offset the federal removal of the personal exemption,…
Close the Gap Idaho, a broad coalition of health care stakeholders and advocates, had both praise and concerns about Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed Idaho Health Care Plan and health care executive order this afternoon, reacting to Otter’s comments in his State of the State message.…
Gov. Butch Otter’s final State of the State address ran roughly 53 minutes; he was interrupted more than a dozen times by applause, including an extended standing ovation at the end of his speech. He also was ribbed a bit by a lawmaker who began...
Gov. Butch Otter said, “We have constitutional, legal and social responsibilities to the people of Idaho. Those include preparing them for productive citizenship with accessible educational opportunities, safe communities and equal protection of the law. I believe the plan of action recommended in my Executive…
“My friends, I say again: Idaho is stronger and more economically diverse than ever,” Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers today in his State of the State message. “Our unemployment rate is near a record low. Wages are on the rise. Whole industry sectors are emerging...
Gov. Butch Otter, in his State of the State message today, touted the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy, which serves at-risk youth at its campus in Pierce. The academy has graduated 648 young people from 41 counties, he said. The cadets at the academy also have…
After recounting how Idaho dealt with last year’s disastrous floods and drawing applause when Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers, “For the first time since the 1950s we put more water back into the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer than we pumped out in 2017,” Otter turned…
Gov. Butch Otter, a former congressman who first went back to D.C. vowing to tell the federal government to “butt out” of Idaho, told lawmakers today, “Obstructionists in Congress and the undue influence of a carryover proscribe-and-punish mentality in some federal agencies are still slowing…
Gov. Butch Otter is calling for lawmakers to support his dual-waiver program to cover more Idahoans, without expanding Medicaid. “In my last legislative session as your governor, I am making one final attempt,” he said. “No longer should this body use my agreement not to…
“It’s true that our tax burden in Idaho is relatively light compared with other states,” Gov. Butch Otter told the House and Senate in his State of the State message today. “But our income levels also remain comparatively low, and beneath our own expectations.” He...
“As I said at the end of the 2017 legislative session, unemployment tax relief should be job one for 2018 - I hope you agree,” Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers, drawing applause. Last year, he proposed a cut to the unemployment insurance tax rates that…
Turning to higher education, Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers that he’s recommending hiring an “executive officer to coordinate the work of all our higher education institutions,” a change he said “will upend the status quo.” The move is aimed at finding “tens of millions of...
Gov. Butch Otter is outlining his education proposals for the coming year, including the next installment in the teacher career ladder: Nearly $42 million in the coming year for the fourth year of the five-year plan. Overall, Otter is proposing a 6.03 percent increase in…
Gov. Butch Otter, in his State of the State address today, paid tribute to the late Gov. Cecil Andrus, who he noted “gave even more State of the State speeches than me!” “The outpouring of fond remembrance and well-earned respect for Cece was a welcome...
“Despite the talent and experience contained in this august body, I’m sure many of you share my feelings about starting a legislative session without the able assistance of former Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis,” Gov. Butch Otter said today in his State of the State…
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