How is it that Cabela’s, the sporting goods retailer, could have gotten a ruling from the Idaho Tax Commission that it doesn’t have to charge sales tax on its Internet and catalog sales to Idaho residents even though it now has a store in Idaho,…
Gov. Jim Risch signed HB 1 into law this morning in his office, and he was all business – though an array of supportive legislators (plus state superintendent of schools candidate Tom Luna) were lined up behind him, Risch didn’t pause to provide them with…
Gov. Jim Risch plans to sign HB 1, the tax bill passed in Friday’s 15-hour-plus special session of the Legislature, tomorrow morning at 9 in his office. He’ll also be in Coeur d’Alene later in the morning.
Decorated Vietnam War veteran Max Cleland, a former U.S. senator and former head of the Veterans Administration, today endorsed Democrat Larry Grant for Congress and announced he’ll come to Idaho Oct. 16 for a Democratic Party campaign dinner and rally in Nampa at the Idaho…
The Idaho Supreme Court has ruled that a state agency can’t keep public records secret simply by handing them over to someone else and saying they’re no longer in the agency’s possession.“These documents are clearly public records that are not expressly exempted by statute, regardless…
Among those with predictably differing views on the special session of the Legislature on Friday are Gov. Jim Risch, who called the session and pronounced it a success, and former Congressman Larry LaRocco, Risch’s election opponent in November’s contest for lieutenant governor.“Yesterday’s session was a…
After every delay possible – including the forced reading of much of the 29-page bill – the Senate has finally begun debating the tax reform bill – and it’s twelve and a half hours after this one-day special session started this morning.
Senators have been chewing over a protest by Democrats about the nature of the narrow call for the special session. Earlier, in the Senate Local Government & Tax Committee, Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise, said the lack of consideration for other property tax relief bills “makes…
The Senate’s Tax Committee has voted 6-3 in favor of Gov. Jim Risch’s plan to cut property taxes and raise the sales tax, sending it to the full Senate for final passage. The committee’s vote came after a 90-minute hearing in the Gold Room, the…
Senate Tax Chairman Hal Bunderson, R-Meridian, has scheduled a 90-minute hearing on the tax reform legislation, to begin shortly in the Gold Room on the 4th floor, the capitol’s largest hearing room. He has set strict time limits for committee discussion, weighing the pros and…
Rep. Bill Sali, R-Kuna, who’s running for Congress, just spoke out in favor of the governor’s tax bill on the House floor. The bill lowers property taxes and raises the sales tax. “This is not exactly the way I would do it,” Sali said. “There…
The House debate on the tax reform plan is still going – and going. To listen in live, go to www.idahoptv.org. Among the highlights so far:Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, said, “It would be politically expedient for me to vote yes – it would probably…
Jerry Brady, Democratic candidate for governor, was smiling in the shade outside the state Capitol at the lunch hour today, as Ada County Democrats held a “Pork for the People” luncheon in protest of the tax legislation being enacted in today’s special session. “Pork to…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has just voted 13-6 in favor of Gov. Jim Risch’s tax reform bill. Those voting against were Reps. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls; Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls; and Democratic Reps. Nicole LeFavour, Wendy Jaquet, George Sayler and Elmer Martinez. All…
It was well after 8 a.m. by the time the House finally got rolling this morning – the House chaplain got stuck in traffic – but nevertheless, Speaker Bruce Newcomb started off the day with, “The hour of 8 a.m. having arrived…” Both houses went…
House and Senate Democratic leaders Rep. Wendy Jaquet and Sen. Clint Stennett joined other Democrats at a press conference at the Boise Train Depot on the eve of the special session of the Legislature, and vowed to try to get their own tax reform bill…
Democratic congressional candidate Larry Grant is calling on his GOP opponent, state Rep. Bill Sali, to vote against Gov. Jim Risch’s tax reform bill, which would cut property taxes and raise the sales tax. Grant favors the Democratic alternative plan, which would just trim property…
Senate Tax Chairman Hal Bunderson, R-Meridian, requested an Idaho Attorney General’s opinion more than a month ago on whether Gov. Jim Risch really could limit the special legislative session to just one bill – something former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Robert Huntley now is challenging.…
The Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, the influential business lobby, announced today that when its president Steve Ahrens retires next month, he’ll be succeeded by Alex LaBeau, the current head of the Idaho Association of Realtors. Ahrens has held the post for 15 years.Ahrens…
Idaho Democrats have released a five-page legal opinion concluding that their property tax reform plan is constitutional – in response to continuing suggestions from Gov. Jim Risch that it’s not. The Democrats want to eliminate the school operations property tax levy only for homeowners; Risch…
Here’s an oddment reported by the S-R’s Meghann Cuniff up in Post Falls today: Though the Bill Sali congressional campaign said earlier that the fundraising breakfast this morning with U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert was closed to the press to comply with the Speaker’s…
Current Gov. Jim Risch laid out an unusual suggestion for the format of his statewide televised debate against election opponent Larry LaRocco, the former congressman he faces in his bid for another term as Idaho’s lieutenant governor: Risch wants the two candidates interviewed separately for…
When you play the new Idaho-themed Monopoly game, you don’t stay at pricey Boardwalk – you’re at Micron instead. Sun Valley Resort replaces Pennsylvania Avenue, and instead of Marvin Gardens, it’s Monsanto Corp.St. Charles Place has been replaced by the Cataldo Mission, and instead of…
Idaho’s updated revenue forecast for the coming year was released today, and Gov. Jim Risch said it shows the state could end up with another $200 million-plus surplus at the end of the 2007 fiscal year, on top of the current $203 million it has…
A month after a state study found serious problems with morale and communication at the Idaho Transportation Department, department Director Dave Ekern has resigned. The state Transportation Board today selected former department Director Dwight Bower, who headed the department for nine years until his retirement…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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