It’s been 10 years in the works, but a Medicaid buy-in bill, HB 664, just passed the House Health & Welfare Committee on a unanimous vote. The bill would allow disabled people to keep their Medicaid coverage when they go to work or increase their…
Pregnant women who illegally consume any controlled substance would be guilty of a felony, under a bill that just passed the Senate on an 18-16 vote. The bill suggests that drug court or treatment be considered for the women, but makes it clear that it’s…
When North Idaho Reps. Bob Nonini and Frank Henderson went before the House Resources Committee this afternoon to pitch their bill to protect the Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, they knew it might not be the most welcoming place – southern Idaho lawmakers had made clear in…
GOP leaders introduced a new school facilities bill today – on a 4-3 party-line vote in a hastily-called meeting of the House Ways & Means Committee. Notice of the meeting was posted inside the House chambers – while the House was in session and the…
The House just voted unanimously in favor of HB 555, legislation sponsored by a group of legislators headed by House Speaker Bruce Newcomb plus the governor’s and attorney general’s offices, that puts limitations on the use of the power of eminent domain for private parties,…
The Idaho AFL-CIO, the state’s largest organized labor group, has endorsed Democrat Larry Grant in the 1st District congressional race. Grant, a retired Micron executive from Fruitland, faces Coeur d’Alene businessman Cecil Kelly in the Democratic primary – though most of the focus thus far…
Top legislative leaders Bruce Newcomb and Bob Geddes were asked today about former Gov. Phil Batt coming out against the “Connecting Idaho” project building major highway improvements by borrowing against future federal highway funds through GARVEE bonds. Batt wrote a guest opinion that appeared in…
It’s tax-exemption time. The House yesterday passed a sales tax exemption for the film industry, and today, House Rev & Tax held hearings on a couple more – including one proposed by Rep. Bill Sali, R-Kuna, to exempt shooting range fees from sales tax.According to…
House Agriculture Chairwoman Rep. Frances Field, R-Grand View, charms those who attend her committee meetings with her courteous welcome and her friendly insistence that everyone stand and introduce themselves at the start of the meeting. On Wednesday, when she got to Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest…
S-R reporter Meghann Cuniff reports that Vandal football fever spread through the Idaho Statehouse today, as the Senate and House took breaks from their regularly scheduled lawmaking to recognize newly hired University of Idaho football coach Dennis Erickson, who was visiting the Capitol with UI…
HB 570, which would have added a public records exemption to Idaho state law to cover the identities of applicants for public employment – including all public jobs, paid or volunteer, other than elective offices – has been withdrawn. House State Affairs Committee Chairman Bill…
Longtime state Rep. Jack Barraclough, R-Idaho Falls, had high praise for U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo as he introduced him to the House chamber this morning, where Crapo spoke to lawmakers on what’s going on in Washington, D.C. – but Barraclough also had one small criticism:…
Would you believe that current Idaho law authorizes mayors to call on “every male inhabitant in the city over 21 years of age to aid in enforcing the laws”? A newly elected Idaho mayor who was reviewing the statutes that describe her duties found that…
Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, was praising the qualifications and experience of a nominee to the Idaho Board of Pardons and Parole, Robin Sandy, when she noted that in addition to all her other experiences, Sandy enjoys shooting trap. “She and I have had many…
Post Falls resident Tracey Brown, the reigning Miss Idaho, isn’t sure if she’s the first Miss Idaho to use her post to successfully pitch a bill to a legislative committee. But the 19-year-old had everything lined up Monday: Two legislative sponsors, and two officials from…
North Idaho College President Michael Burke was describing how NIC moved into the former Kellogg City Hall to set up an outreach campus for the Silver Valley, during a Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee special hearing on community colleges this morning, and he noted that NIC is…
Eight property tax relief bills just passed the House after a debate lasting more than three hours, including a 50 percent increase in the homeowner’s exemption, shifting half of school operations funding off the property tax, and raising the sales tax by half a penny…
After two and a half hours of testimony, the House State Affairs Committee today killed a proposal from top GOP leaders in the House and Senate to mount a taxpayer-funded challenge of the voter-approved Indian gaming initiative.Former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Robert Bakes warned that…
Former state Rep. Gary Ingram, R-Post Falls, had this response to current Rep. Jim Clark’s legacy of “fine pleasures” legislation: “Did it all begin when I carried the liquor by the drink on Sunday legislation back in the ‘70s? No one thought it could be…
GOP legislative leaders introduced their school facilities proposal in the House Education Committee today, calling for earmarking $25 million from the state surplus, plus an additional $8 million to $9 million a year in aid for school repairs and bond levies in poorer districts. “We…
The Senate has been debating the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment for the last hour and a half, and is well into the lunch hour. So when Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, got up just now to start his debate, he said, “I guess everybody thought they…
Jerry Brady, the Democratic candidate for governor, sent an “open letter” to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne today saying he’s sent Valley County a check for $9.73, the amount of property taxes overdue on Kempthorne’s 14 acres there. Brady said he did so to make two points…
An exhibit about the film industry in Idaho in the state capitol today is drawing lots of attention – partly because it includes an Idaho resident who’s best known for having portrayed “Mary Ann” on the TV show “Gilligan’s Island.”Dawn Wells, aka Mary Ann, has…
It wasn’t about property taxes – Rep. George Sayler’s proposal in House Rev & Tax this morning was to give people who donate to Project Safe Place’s teen crisis programs an income tax credit. The committee agreed to introduce the bill, which Sayler said should…
I’m laid up this week after knee surgery this morning, but S-R reporter Erica Curless, who’s filling in for me over at the Statehouse, sent over this note: Rathdrum resident Tina Jacobsen is filling in for Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, this week. Hart, who owns…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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