In one of the strangest moments yet in this year's most unusual legislative session, the House finished its calendar and attempted to adjourn sine die, which means without a day to come back. But when the House sent its formal delegation to the Senate to…
House members gathered for pizza in a back room during a short break, showing what a long night they have ahead trying to clear their agenda. So far, they've already passed more than 30 bills, but at least a dozen and a half more remain…
The Senate has voted 32-1 in favor of HB 311, the budget for the Idaho Transportation Department. The bill passed the House 52-14 about two weeks ago, but has been hanging on the Senate calendar awaiting a vote as the two houses wrangled over transportation…
The House has voted 51-15 in favor of HB 372, the new version of the election consolidation bill. The sweeping, 98-page piece of legislation would consolidate Idaho elections to four dates. In the new version, the state would cover the costs, rather than requiring school…
Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, had this reaction to the House plan for an interim committee to study transportation funding: "I'm trying to think of an issue over the last two years that has been studied and talked about more than transportation funding. Every…
House GOP leaders called a press conference to announce that they plan to adjourn sine die tonight. "Our plans are to complete our work and adjourn sine die later this afternoon or this evening," said Rep. Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly. Before leaving, he said, the House…
The House Ways & Means Committee has voted 4-3 in three straight party-line votes to introduce three new bills: A compromise on election consolidation, with the state covering school district and local government costs; a concurrent resolution calling for an interim committee to study transportation…
After their hour-long caucus, which ran through the lunch hour, House Republican leaders said they're still planning to try to unilaterally adjourn for the session tonight - possibly as late as 10 p.m. "We're moving ahead with our plan to get done with our agenda…
In their open caucus, House Democrats expressed some disappointment about the House plan to unilaterally adjourn today, and the cost and uncertainty posed by the gambit. "How long do they intend to keep playing this game of chicken?" asked Rep. Anne Pasley-Stuart, D-Boise. Meanwhile, the…
House and Senate leaders have emerged from a lengthy meeting with the governor, but there's no deal. "We had good discussions," said Speaker Lawerence Denney. "The bottom line is he still wants gas tax, and the bottom line is we can't deliver it." So, Denney…
House GOP leaders told reporters late today that they'll make one more run at settling the transportation issue with Senate leaders and the governor in the morning, but all they'll offer is what they've already offered - repeal of an ethanol exemption from the gas…
In JFAC this morning, Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, moved to fund busing for school field trips and other transportation changes from Senate amendments to HB 256a by taking the money, $4.2 million, from textbook funds. "We can bridge a year with a more modest budget"…
Even as the House Education Committee is meeting downstairs to hear a new version of education legislation, JFAC is meeting this morning to fund the already-passed bills, as amended in the Senate, which include doing away with the phase-out of an early retirement incentive program…
It's Republican vs. Republican in an Idaho political showdown: House GOP leaders say they'll adjourn for the session on Wednesday without passing GOP Gov. Butch Otter's transportation plan, likely forcing the GOP-dominated Senate to force the House back into session against its will. "We can…
When JFAC meets in the morning, it'll take up new versions of the 25 vetoed budget bills, according to Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, along with action to "fill the holes" created by Senate amendments to HB 256 and HB 262, on public school funding.…
The House has finished up for the day, after passing four budget bills, including those for the PUC, the Office of the State Board of Education, and the Office of Energy Resources. All were Senate bills. The House also passed SB 1183, on wrecker plates,…
The House Ways & Means Committee, in another unannounced meeting, gathered just before 3 p.m. Boise time in the JFAC meeting room. Up first: New legislation from House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, regarding public school finances. The bill includes reinstating the elimination of…
The amendments to the day care licensing bill, developed in the House Health & Welfare Committee, easily passed the House just now. Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene, told the House, "SB 1112a is intended to provide additional safety to children in Idaho." With the amendments,…
House Republicans emerged from their closed-door caucus without a lot to say. "We're working on a plan to get this session adjourned and go home," said Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly. "We're still working on it." The House Ways & Means Committee will meet…
In their open caucus, House Democrats asked Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, what's up in the fight over transportation funding. Rusche had huddled briefly in his office with House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, before each went into his respective party caucus. "I have not…
There's a Sen. Bob Geddes here this week after all - but he looks a little different. That's because Senate President Pro-tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, has named his dad, former state Rep. Bob Geddes, R-Preston, as his substitute while the younger Geddes has to…
On tonight's "Idaho Reports" program on Idaho Public Television, I join Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise; Rep. James Ruchti, D-Pocatello; and Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert; along with BSU political scientist emeritus Jim Weatherby and host Thanh Tan, to discuss the legislative developments of the week. Among…
Gov. Butch Otter, talking with reporters after two bill signing ceremonies this morning, didn't come right out and say the conditional, economically-triggered general fund shift proposal is unacceptable to him as a means of funding transportation, but he sure threw cold water on the idea.…
With uniformed officers standing by, Gov. Butch Otter and Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, praised legislation today that will help permanently disabled law enforcement officers with health insurance costs for their families. At a formal signing ceremony for the bill, SB 1111, Otter and officers…
The House convened this morning at 8:30 Boise time, and was done by 8:45. There were 26 members absent out of the 70-member chamber. When Majority Leader Mike Moyle moved to adjourn until 9:30 on Monday morning, Assistant Minority Leader James Ruchti responded, "Mr. Speaker,…
