Here's how Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, explained his idea about changing the bracket for car and light truck registration fees, a proposal that raises $3.1 million without changing registration fees, back in March: Henderson said he’s been promoting his idea about changing the “bands,”…
Gov. Butch Otter is vetoing 25 budget bills, telling lawmakers he'll continue the vetoes until they act on his transportation plan. "We've got to continue to try, because every day the problem is going to get worse," the governor declared. "They're all bills that need…
House Speaker Lawerence Denney said, "We are still negotiating, which means that what we have offered is not enough." That's how the House GOP press conference ended.
In the latest development on this weird, wacky and wild 100th legislative day, the House Republican leadership called a press conference for 1 p.m., but when the hour arrived, spokesman Chuck Malloy had to stand up and tell a capacity crowd, "The leadership has been…
Following the House defeat of the transportation bill, the House went at ease at Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, was presented with the "crow" to commemorate carrying a bill that receives fewer than 20 votes. Then, Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, noted that a century mark…
Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, the sponsor of HB 96a, told the House, "I think this bill is properly before the House and the full House deserves to vote on it." Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, spoke in favor, saying citizens and those passing through Idaho…
The House has come back on the floor, its caucuses concluded, and will be taking up the amended transportation bill, HB 96. In this photo, just before the bell rang to convene, representatives looked at newspapers with headlines asking, "Will House yield to Otter's threat?"
Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, co-chair of JFAC, started off this morning's JFAC meeting - on the 100th day of the legislative session - saying, "It does bring to mind a saying I heard that no good deed will go unpunished - and some of our…
The Senate has voted 21-14 in favor of HB 96 as amended, which not only removes an ethanol exemption from fuel tax, but now also raises Idaho's gas tax by 3 cents per gallon next year and another 3 cents the following year, and raises…
The proposed amendments to HB 96, the ethanol bill, appear to add in the increased Department of Motor Vehicle fees previously proposed in a Senate bill; add in a gas tax increase of 3 cents per gallon next year and 3 cents the year after;…
Senate Democrats met in an open caucus, and while they discussed and debated what's going on, they're essentially waiting to see what the majority Republicans will do. The Senate GOP caucus still is meeting behind closed doors; meanwhile, the House has adjourned for the day.
Both Senate Doorkeeper Bob McDonald and Sen. John Andreason, R-Boise, are celebrating 80th birthdays - McDonald tomorrow and Andreason today - so senators paused before convening their afternoon session to join the two and their families for celebratory cake and ice cream. McDonald has been…
On the turbulent border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, an Idaho soldier who's serving on a multi-national security force now has a new Spuddy Buddy figure, a box of Idaho candy and a Senate medallion, after his home-state senator came by on an international…
This week on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public TV, I joined BSU political scientist emeritus Jim Weatherby, Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, and House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, along with host Thanh Tan, to discuss the…
The Senate has unanimously passed a resolution saluting North Idaho College on its 75th anniversary, after several senators had glowing things to say about the Coeur d'Alene college. When the resolution, HCR 30, cleared the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene,…
The House has started its session, after some initial milling about, and is taking up Health & Welfare budgets that top its Third Reading calendar. GOP leaders said they'll do a few bills from the calendar, suspend rules and take up a few appropriations from…
Senate Democrats are in their open caucus, talking. Senate Republicans are still behind closed doors in their caucus, talking. And the House is in the midst of a protracted debate over a bighorn sheep bill.
House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, was presenting the redistricting bill to his committee this morning when he got a tough question. Glancing behind him, he said, "I see the cavalry is here," and deferred to Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, House…
The House has voted 18-51 on SB 1222, killing the big, final budget bill that passed the Senate yesterday on a 34-1 vote. It's not clear what'll happen next on that; now the House has gone on to begin debating the controversial liquor license law…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's developments, as lawmakers in the House and Senate clashed over the budget and transportation funding. In this photo, from the Senate Transportation Committee meeting, Sens. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home, and Shawn…
Statehouse reporters have been wearing ugly ties for some time to try to spur the session to end (tradition holds that lawmakers will be so dismayed by the press' hideous neckwear that they'll just want to leave town), but it hasn't worked yet. We're still…
On tonight's "Idaho Reports" program on Idaho Public Television, I joined BSU political scientist emeritus Jim Weatherby, Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, and Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, along with host Thanh Tan, to discuss the legislative events…
Here's a link to my full story in today's Spokesman-Review on the governor's setbacks yesterday in his transportation initiative, a one-two punch with the House killing its last remaining bill to raise the state's gas tax and the joint budget committee directing a $17 million…
Among the technical fixes and trailer bills being approved by JFAC this morning is one to give Parks & Rec spending authority to run the new quagga and zebra mussel boat sticker program, which has passed both houses and has an emergency clause. The parks…
People are spilling out the doorway and standing around outside in the foyer for the liquor license bill hearing in the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon. The bill, SB 1148, passed the Senate on March 26 on a 23-12 vote; a task force convened by…
