It's Republican vs. Republican in an Idaho political showdown: House GOP leaders say they'll adjourn for the session on Wednesday without passing GOP Gov. Butch Otter's transportation plan, likely forcing the GOP-dominated Senate to force the House back into session against its will. "We can…
Is the governor's letter, sent to all lawmakers this morning thanking them for their efforts to work with him on various other issues, a "white flag" showing he's giving in on the transportation funding issue? Or nothing of the sort? Decide for yourself; you can…
Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, asked if lawmakers made any progress today on the big issues holding up the end of this year's over-long session, said shortly, "No." Said Davis, "I'd love to be done by Wednesday - I just don't believe we…
When JFAC meets in the morning, it'll take up new versions of the 25 vetoed budget bills, according to Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, along with action to "fill the holes" created by Senate amendments to HB 256 and HB 262, on public school funding.…
The House has finished up for the day, after passing four budget bills, including those for the PUC, the Office of the State Board of Education, and the Office of Energy Resources. All were Senate bills. The House also passed SB 1183, on wrecker plates,…
The House has gone back into session, and taken up SB 1224, the budget bill for the state Department of Labor. With no debate, it passed, 58-7. The House then moved on to SB 1229, the budget bill for the PUC.
House GOP leaders are now saying they'll run the ethanol bill and the DMV fees bill, and that's it. "I don't know if it's enough to get it done - that's just where we're going," said House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, "and let's get…
Next the Ways & Means Committee took up another new bill, also from Nonini, on worker's compensation, attempting to retroactively change the law regarding a pending lawsuit. Again, the measure was introduced over the objection of minority Democrats on the committee. Rep. James Ruchti, D-Pocatello,…
On a 4-3, party-line vote, Rep. Bob Nonini's bill making changes in public school finances has won introduction in the House Ways & Means Committee, and will go to the House Education Committee for a hearing. The bill makes three changes: It eliminates an early-retirement…
The House Ways & Means Committee, in another unannounced meeting, gathered just before 3 p.m. Boise time in the JFAC meeting room. Up first: New legislation from House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, regarding public school finances. The bill includes reinstating the elimination of…
After a fairly lengthy hearing, during which committee members variously queried ITD officials and bill sponsors, the House Transportation Committee has voted to send HB 334 to the full House for a vote. The measure would raise a series of Department of Motor Vehicle fees…
The House has gone at ease, after Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, said there'll be a Transportation Committee meeting and "some other things going on." There was no public mention of a Ways & Means Committee meeting, though there's been talk about one. Moyle cautioned…
The amendments to the day care licensing bill, developed in the House Health & Welfare Committee, easily passed the House just now. Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene, told the House, "SB 1112a is intended to provide additional safety to children in Idaho." With the amendments,…
The House has convened, gone into its amending order and is amending the day care bill, SB 1112a.
Here's a news item from AP: BOISE - In a buy-local brew-ha-ha percolating in Boise, a southwestern Idaho coffee roaster is miffed at Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter over his choice of out-of-state java. David Ledgard, who owns Dawson Taylor Coffee Roasters, had just paid his…
The Senate has adjourned for the day, after moving the new bighorn sheep bill on the calendar but taking no further action. Meanwhile, there's talk among lawmakers about whether the governor's letter is a sign that he's giving in on the transportation funding issue. Some…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has scheduled a meeting for 8 a.m. on Tuesday, with the agenda still to come. The budget panel held off from meeting last week, amid the impasse between the governor, the House and the Senate over transportation funding.
Over the weekend, AP reporter John Miller wrote about the high stakes in the battle between Gov. Butch Otter and the GOP-dominated Legislature. "No less than his legacy is at stake," he wrote. Click below to read the full article.
Gov. Butch Otter sent a letter to every member of the Senate and House of Representatives this morning, thanking them for their work this session and their friendship. "We all have gotten more than our fair share of news media coverage the past few weeks…
House Republicans emerged from their closed-door caucus without a lot to say. "We're working on a plan to get this session adjourned and go home," said Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly. "We're still working on it." The House Ways & Means Committee will meet…
Gov. Butch Otter's veto on Saturday of SB 1175, regarding bighorn sheep, was received by the Senate this morning, and Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, asked to route the bill back to the Resources Committee. Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, objected; she's taken…
In their open caucus, House Democrats asked Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, what's up in the fight over transportation funding. Rusche had huddled briefly in his office with House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, before each went into his respective party caucus. "I have not…
The House has recessed until 1 p.m., with both parties headed into caucus. Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, said the House will be "on and off the floor today at different times."
Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, said he was "reluctantly" asking the House to concur in Senate amendments to two education bills, HB 256 and HB 262. Nonini described the Senate changes to the bills as clauses that were "gutted out of the bill." Then he…
The House GOP leadership team arrived back at the Capitol Annex, about half an hour after they'd left to meet with the governor. "We're still working on it," said House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly. Asked about the discussions, he said, "We're talking about…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
