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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Governor

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Marc: Allred Not Making In-roads Yet

Marc: Allred Not Making In-roads Yet

Idaho joins lawsuit testing constitutionality of reforms

As Idaho joined a national lawsuit against the new health care reform law Tuesday, Washington’s attorney general was both blasted and praised for jumping into the litigation a day before. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has the backing of Gov. Butch Otter and a legislative mandate to challenge any federal health care law.

Idaho, Wash. AGs sue over health care overhaul

As Idaho joined a national lawsuit against the new health care reform law, Washington’s attorney general was both blasted and praised for jumping into the litigation Monday.

Idaho first state to enact health reform challenge

BOISE – Idaho took the lead in a growing, nationwide fight against health care overhaul Wednesday when its governor became the first to sign a measure requiring the state attorney general to sue the federal government if residents are forced to buy health insurance. Similar legislation is pending in 37 other states.

Idaho’s First

Idaho’s First

Idaho first to sign law against health care reform

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter on Wednesday became the first state chief executive to sign a measure requiring the attorney general to sue Congress if it passes health reforms that force residents to buy insurance.

Land Board raises rents

Land Board raises rents

Smart bombs: Love is a battlefield

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s cheeky love letter to Northwest businesses in the wake of voter-approved tax increases in Oregon and the proposed increases in Washington has caused a predictable dust-up. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire fired back with some of the advantages in her own state. Meanwhile, Phil Knight, owner of Nike, is loudly complaining about the tax hikes in Oregon, which has fueled speculation that he might lace up his sneaker company and dash off to Idaho.

Federal reform ban heads to Otter

Idaho lawmakers have sent Gov. Butch Otter legislation to ban the enforcement in Idaho of any federal requirement that all individuals and businesses purchase health insurance, and to require the state’s attorney general to go to court to fight any such requirement.

IPTV budget cut, but not as much as Otter wanted

Idaho Public Television got its budget trimmed Tuesday, but the damage was far less than Gov. Butch Otter called for earlier - and Otter not only supported the plan, he’ll appear on IPTV tomorrow night to help with fundraising.

Caution pervades Otter’s bleak Idaho budget

BOISE – Gov. Butch Otter laid out a grim budget proposal for Idaho on Monday, calling for cutting public education both this year and next, slashing 400 state jobs, phasing out state funding for Idaho Public TV over the next four years and more. “To those folks who say, ‘Why are you cutting education?’ I say, where else would you have me cut?” a frustrated Otter said after his State of the State message to a joint session of the Legislature.

Otter seeks midyear cuts

BOISE - Idaho Gov. Butch Otter on Thursday declared his support for additional midyear budget cuts that would hit schools along with all other state operations. Otter said he’ll include further holdbacks, beyond the 4 percent he trimmed from the current year’s state budget in September, in the budget he proposes to a joint session of the Legislature on Monday. But he stopped short of imposing the cuts immediately – something GOP legislative leaders have urged him to do for the past month.

Otter set to make budget announcement amid talk of cuts

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has scheduled an announcement for Thursday morning on the state budget, just days before he’ll unveil his proposed budget Monday to a joint session of the state Legislature.

Gov. Otter threatens suit over health care reform

BOISE – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter said he may sue to stop federal health care reform, calling U.S. House and Senate bills unconstitutional and too costly.

Idaho Tribes Want Executive Post

Idaho Tribes Want Executive Post

Idaho tribes want Otter to create executive post

Idaho tribal leaders want Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter to create a cabinet post dedicated to improving tribal relations.

Kootenai County Magistrate Named District Court Judge

Kootenai County Magistrate Named District Court Judge

Kootenai County magistrate named district court judge

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter today announced the appointment of Kootenai County Magistrate Benjamin Simpson to succeed 1st District Judge Charles Hosack, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Allred advocates direct citizen input

BOISE – Perhaps the oddest thing about Keith Allred, the newly announced Democratic candidate for governor of Idaho, is that he’s not a Democrat. He’s not a Republican either. Instead, the 45-year-old former Harvard professor and expert mediator is a passionate advocate for returning the nation to its founders’ vision of government by the people, of involving ordinary citizens in policymaking to skirt special interests, including political parties.

Allred, Democrats form atypical alliance

BOISE – Perhaps the oddest thing about Keith Allred, the newly announced Democratic candidate for governor of Idaho, is that he’s not a Democrat. He’s not a Republican either.