EOB: House Votes Against PERSI Hike

The House has voted 48-19 in favor of HCR 42, the bill to block a 1 percent cost of living increase for state retirees next month. It wasn’t a straight party-line vote. Two Republicans, Reps. Bob Schaefer, R-Nampa, and Tom Trail, R-Moscow, voted against the bill, joining Democrats; and one Democrat, Rep. Donna Boe, D-Pocatello, voted in favor of it, joining Republicans. Then, right after the vote, she rose, and said, “Having voted on the prevailing side, I wish to give notice of reconsideration for HCR 42.” Speaker Lawerence Denney responded, “So noted.” That means, under rules, Boe can bring the bill back up for a re-vote, though the House would then have to vote to reconsider/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise.

• Vaughn Ward picks up 3 more national endorsements /Dan Popkey, Idaho Politics
• Hot and heavy debate on retiree COLA /Eye On Boise
• The budget for 2010 is balanced , and The magnitude of the cuts /Eye On Boise (also play-by-play rundown of budget debate on Eye on Boise here )
• Senate endorses F-35 program /Brad Iverson-Long, Idaho Reporter
• Task force: Idaho needs more road money /Brad Iverson-Long, Idaho Reporter
• Star mayor to run for Labrador’s Idaho House seat /Dan Popkey, Idaho Politics

Question: Do you think retired state employees should get a modest, cost-of-living raise this year?