The Senate has voted 21-14 in favor of HB 96 as amended, which not only removes an ethanol exemption from fuel tax, but now also raises Idaho's gas tax by 3 cents per gallon next year and another 3 cents the following year, and raises…
The Senate has suspended its rules and will debate and vote on the amended HB 96, the transportation funding bill, right now.
The first amendment, adding DMV fees into HB 96, has passed, with just the Senate's Democrats and Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, objecting. The second amendment, the gas tax hike, also passed, this time with the six Democrats present joined in their opposition by eight…
"Senators, let's be very clear about this - this is a gas tax increase," Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, told the Senate while introducing the next amendment to HB 96. "... This raises the state gas tax on a gallon of gas from 25 cents to…
Many of Idaho's motor vehicle department fees, such as those for titles and licenses, haven't been raised in more than 20 years, Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, told the Senate, arguing for his amendment to add about $13 million in such fee increases to HB 96,…
The proposed amendments to HB 96, the ethanol bill, appear to add in the increased Department of Motor Vehicle fees previously proposed in a Senate bill; add in a gas tax increase of 3 cents per gallon next year and 3 cents the year after;…
The Senate has reconvened, and unanimously agreed to refer the eight vetoed budget bills back to committee, rather than try to override the governor's veto. Now, they're moving to their 14th Order for amendments. Two amendments, both from Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, are pending on…
Here's some reaction from legislators to the governor's veto of eight appropriation bills today:"There's certainly been some question as to how determined the governor truly was - now at least we know." - Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls"I think it's silly - I think it…
More than two hours later, GOP senators have emerged from their closed-door caucus. "I don't think we have the sentiment to override the governor's veto, so those (vetoed budget bills) will be referred back to the committee, and I think we'll try to amend HB…
Here are the eight budget bills that Gov. Butch Otter vetoed today:SB 1176, Office of Species ConservationSB 1177, Department of Fish & GameSB 1178, Department of Parks & RecreationSB 1179, Office of Energy ResourcesSB 1181, Office of the State Board of EducationSB 1188, Public Utilities…
Senate Democrats met in an open caucus, and while they discussed and debated what's going on, they're essentially waiting to see what the majority Republicans will do. The Senate GOP caucus still is meeting behind closed doors; meanwhile, the House has adjourned for the day.
Gov. Butch Otter says he decided to veto eight appropriations bills today when "the initial response from legislators was unsatisfactory" to his move this morning to veto two unrelated bills, and threaten to veto the appropriations if the Legislature doesn't pass transportation funding increases by…
The Senate has received the veto message from the governor on eight appropriation bills, and now has gone at ease. The majority party is headed into a closed-door caucus.
Here are the eight appropriation bills that Otter has vetoed today: Senate Bills 1176, 1177, 1178, 1179, 1181, 1188, 1189, and 1190. Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "I think there was a feeling that what he said this morning wasn't being perceived as…
Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed all eight appropriation bills that he threatened to veto this morning. "I have no problem with these bills," Otter wrote in his veto message. "At some point they will merit positive consideration. However, consistent with my desire to provide you…
Both Senate Doorkeeper Bob McDonald and Sen. John Andreason, R-Boise, are celebrating 80th birthdays - McDonald tomorrow and Andreason today - so senators paused before convening their afternoon session to join the two and their families for celebratory cake and ice cream. McDonald has been…
The Senate passed three bills from its 2nd Reading calendar, HB 178a, HB 312 and HB 313, and now it's recessed until 1:30 p.m. (Boise time).
House and Senate Democrats have put out a news release critical of Gov. Butch Otter's two vetoes today; in it, Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, said, "The governor and other Republican leaders are more interested in power plays than solving problems." Also in the…
The Senate has started its session, but hasn't yet moved to its amending order, where it's expected to take up transportation funding. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, told the Senate, "I do not know fully what's going to happen between now and day's…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the governor's action this morning, vetoing two unrelated bills to send a message to lawmakers that he wants action by both houses on transportation funding by this Wednesday night - or else.
Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, will propose the transportation amendments that Gov. Butch Otter favors, the governor said this morning as he vetoed two unrelated bills. "I'm asking the Legislature to please move forward on the Senate bill," Otter declared. "I've gone over what's…
Gov. Butch Otter says there's no relationship between the two bills he vetoed this morning - HB 161a on security breaches that release personal information, and HB 245, which established a Parents as Teachers program under the Children's Trust Fund - and his dispute with…
After Gov. Butch Otter's veto press conference this morning, House Minority Caucus Chairman Bill Killen, D-Boise, who attended, said House Democrats continue talks with the governor on the transportation issue. "We have been carrying on discussions with the governor about transportation," he said. "I didn't…
Gov. Butch Otter says he would have vetoed those two bills anyway. "By Thursday, I have all these appropriation bills to sign," he said - but he's going to hold them, to see what happens with Senate amendments to transportation bills. "I'm simply using the…
Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed two bills, HB 245 and HB 161. HB 245 was a measure regarding the Parents as Teachers program. HB 161, regarding security breaches, was "really unnecessary," the governor said. "I think it's a solution in search of a problem." Otter…
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