Gov. Butch Otter is paying tribute to the citizens, volunteers and state employees, and also said he wants to “express my gratitude to our extraordinary state employees whose hard work and dedication help us all succeed. So let me begin by saying that my Executive…
“The state of Idaho is prosperous, positive, and poised for even better times ahead,” Gov. Butch Otter told a joint session of the Legislature today as he began his 12th and final State of the State message and released his budget for the coming year,…
Gov. Butch Otter’s 12th and final State of the State message will begin at 1 p.m. Mountain time today, here in the House chamber, to a joint session of the Legislature. Otter also will be releasing his budget today, kicking off the 2018 legislative session.…
Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, has defeated Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, for assistant majority leader in the Senate; Sen. Kelly Anthon, R-Burley, was elected caucus chair in a four-way race. Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, is the new majority leader. Asked why he decided to run…
This giant American flag usually hangs in the Capitol rotunda for the 4th of July, but Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill said, “A lot of people aren’t here during the summer.” So he talked with House Speaker Scott Bedke, Gov. Butch Otter and state Administration…
The campaigning is on this morning for Senate GOP leadership posts, with four senators vying for majority caucus chair and two for assistant majority leader. Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, is unopposed thus far to succeed former Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, but additional…
Five prisons south of Boise have been placed on secure status indefinitely following the second altercation in two days between gangs that involved multiple inmates, officials said Saturday. The Idaho Department of Correction in a news release said 28 inmates in the housing unit at the 2,170-bed Idaho State Correctional Center for men took part...
What effect with the federal tax bill have on Idaho’s state budget? That’s been the big-bucks question, so there was far more suspense than usual surrounding state Tax Commission Chairman Ken Roberts’ presentation Friday to the Legislature’s Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee. Roberts noted…
Idaho gubernatorial hopeful Raul Labrador, currently the 1st District GOP congressman, released his economic plan late last week, and on top of the $900 million in tax cuts he’s already been advocating, he’s adding another $120 million-plus. Labrador’s “5-5-5 plan” to cut personal and corporate income tax rates and Idaho’s sales tax...
Tonight’s “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television includes a report on the struggle of one small Idaho community, Mackay, to provide for public safety and the implications of that; a report on the news from today’s AP Legislative Preview; and a panel of lobbyists, including…
Idaho’s upcoming legislative session – which kicks off Monday with third-term Gov. Butch Otter’s final State of the State address – will tackle big issues in health care, taxes, education and ethics, and it will come in one of the biggest election years the state has seen in decades. “It’s going to be like the OK Corral – there’s going to be...
Blue Cross of Idaho is praising the executive order issued by Gov. Butch Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little today on health care. Here is the full statement from President and CEO Charlene Maher: “Blue Cross of Idaho is committed to the health and wellness…
Tommy Ahlquist’s campaign is disparaging the executive order issued by Gov. Butch Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little today on health care, suggesting it’s a campaign stunt. Here’s the campaign’s statement, from campaign manager David Johnston: “Sadly, this is just the latest example of Boise’s…
A “disturbance” at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution yesterday involving two rival gangs involved 17 inmates, the Idaho Department of Correction announced today, and five were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The Ada County Sheriff’s Department is investigating, at the request of IDOC.…
Among the issues that legislative leaders from both parties addressed at this morning’s AP Legislative Preview: SESSION PRIORITIES: House Speaker Scott Bedke said, “I believe there’s going to be a discussion on tax policy, and that will include tax relief. We’re going to attempt to…
Asked about how he’ll deal with the message from last night’s legislative preview held by nine far-right legislators who essentially were declaring that they don’t want to be muzzled and if they are they’d take out the speaker, House Speaker Scott Bedke said, “The way…
Legislative leaders from both parties, speaking at the AP Legislative Preview this morning, said they’ll be announcing some policy changes with regard to sexual harassment next week when all lawmakers, and all Statehouse staffers, go through “respectful workplace” training. “Let’s make it clear that that...
Asked about legal marijuana in Idaho’s neighboring states, Gov. Butch Otter said, “I think it’s a big mistake. When the medical marijuana effort was being made, especially across the Pacific Northwest, I talked to several governors that initially had been in favor of it, and…
Taking questions from reporters at today’s legislative preview, Gov. Butch Otter was asked if he had anything to say about tax reform and his priorities on that issue as this year’s legislative session convenes. “Let me answer that question: No,” Otter said. “Stay tuned Monday.”...
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter says he’s signing an executive order “restoring choice in health insurance for Idahoans.” “We’ve had some great innovations and some great discussions with insurance companies in Idaho about products, if they weren’t limited by the mandates, if they weren’t limited by…
Saying education will again be his top priority for this year’s legislative session, Gov. Butch Otter told reporters at the AP Legislative Preview this morning that he’s learned much in his three terms as governor of Idaho. “Probably of all the things that I learned,…
Lots of reporters and others are gathering for this morning’s AP Legislative Preview. First up to speak is Gov. Butch Otter.
Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, held a legislative preview last night in Meridian that promised to reveal “what conservatives want for the upcoming session,” featuring, along with her, Reps. Ron Nate, Karey Hanks, Dorothy Moon, Christy Zito, Priscilla Giddings, and Bryan Zollinger, and Sens. Dan Foreman...
Idaho gubernatorial hopeful Raul Labrador, currently the 1st District GOP congressman, released his economic plan today, and on top of the $900 million in tax cuts he’s already been advocating, he’s adding another $120 million-plus. Labrador’s “5-5-5 plan” to cut personal and corporate income tax...
Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter offered a rare glimpse into his agenda for the upcoming legislative session on Thursday by announcing plans to ask lawmakers to create a chief education officer who would help make key changes inside Idaho's postsecondary system."We have a lot of agencies clinging to the status quo and status quo isn't going to get us...
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