In brief: Agency OKs plan to survive cuts
BOISE – The Idaho Human Rights Commission unanimously backed a new partnership between itself and the Department of Labor.
Last month, Gov. Butch Otter proposed eliminating state funding over the next four years for the 40-year-old commission, which is the state’s discrimination watchdog agency. An uproar ensued among some who feared that could spell the commission’s demise.
But that was before Pamela Parks, the commission’s head, and Department of Labor Director Roger Madsen worked out a proposal to combine forces and tap Department of Labor-managed funds to cover about $600,000 that Otter wants phased out from the state general fund by 2014.
On Monday, the nine-member commission endorsed the plan, saying it would ensure the agency has enough money to continue investigating discrimination complaints, which last year totaled 512.
Plane company eyes jet tax rebate
BOISE – Idaho lawmakers hope a proposed sales tax rebate up for debate in the House will prompt an aircraft maintenance company to expand.
A bill being pushed by Reps. Mike Moyle, a Republican, and John Rusche, a Democrat, would allow owners of big corporate jets to claim a tax rebate on parts installed in Idaho.
Western Aircraft, an aircraft service company in Boise, said it could add up to 10 employees, if such a rebate were offered.
Other states offer similar breaks and Western Aircraft said that gives them a competitive advantage.
BLM postpones horse roundup
LAS VEGAS – Federal land managers said Monday they’ll delay a roundup of most of the nearly 600 wild horses in a range in eastern Nevada, at least until after the herd’s spring foaling season.
Advocates fighting to stop mustang roundups in the West said they think their threat to file a lawsuit stopped the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from beginning a roundup next week of almost 500 wild horses in the Eagle Herd Management Area.
But Chris Hanefeld, spokesman for the BLM office in Ely, wouldn’t link the threat to sue in Washington with the bureau decision in Nevada to postpone the Eagle herd area cull. It had been scheduled to begin Feb. 14.