Freshman Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, was the swing vote in the Senate Education Committee on HB 256, the bill to cut state reimbursements to school districts for their student busing costs. He could've killed the bill by supporting the substitute motion from Sen. Gary Schroeder,…
The Senate Education Committee has voted 5-4 in favor of HB 262, to freeze the teacher salary grid for experience-related increases for a year, and phase out an early-retirement incentive program for teachers, to save the state a little over $8 million next year. It…
When SB 1111 passed the House unanimously yesterday, to provide a new self-funded benefit to help permanently disabled law enforcement officers like former Coeur d'Alene police officer Mike Kralicek with their family's health insurance costs - the bill wouldn't help Kralicek, but it'd help others…
Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, asked why he's so mad at the governor, said, "I'm not mad at all." His forceful debate in the House against amendments increasing the amount of a gas tax increase - including calling Gov. Butch Otter's executive order mandating accountability…
Gov. Butch Otter's press secretary, Jon Hanian, was circumspect after the House's defeat this morning of seven separate amendments to the gas tax bill, several of them designed to raise the amount closer to what Otter wants to fund roadwork. "We're obviously mindful of the…
The House Ways & Means Committee has voted unanimously, with no discussion, to introduce legislation from Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, requiring reporting within 48 hours of campaign contributions received during a convened legislative session. Idaho now has no restrictions or special reporting requirements for such…
The Idaho Senate has voted 34-1 in favor of legislation to require all boats launched in Idaho, motorized or not, to carry a $5, $10 or $20 sticker to help fund the fight against invasive quagga and zebra mussels. The bill, HB 213, earlier passed…
Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Don Soltman, vice president at Kootenai Medical Center and a former longtime school trustee in the Lakeland School District, to the state Board of Education. Soltman fills the position formerly held by Sue Thilo of Coeur d'Alene. Click below to…
So after all that, with two hours of debate, the House has rejected seven of the proposed amendments to HB 135, the gas tax bill, and approved one - making relatively minor changes in wording in the bill. The successful amendment, proposed by House Majority…
With all the amendments to raise the amount of the gas tax increase in HB 135 failing, the House took up an "economic trigger" amendment proposed by Rep. Bill Killen, D-Boise. He said it would delay any tax increase until Idaho's economy improves. "At that…
Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, urged the House to reject the proposal to amend her 2-cent gas tax hike bill to make it into a phased, two-year, 4-cent hike. Rep. Marv Hagedorn, closing the debate, said lawmakers have an "obligation to maintain our infrastructure." The $17.6…
Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, debated against the two-year, 2-cent a year gas tax hike plan, saying it doesn't give lawmakers enough leverage to force changes at ITD. "If we give 'em a big tax increase this year, we're giving away our bargaining tools," Hart said.…
Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, is now debating for his amendment, to raise the gas tax two cents next year and an additional two cents the following year. "We don't use general funds here - the department gets what they earn, and they earn funding through…
"It reminds me of going duck hunting, when there's a flock of ducks going over and if you don't take aim at one of them, you wind up not getting any," said Rep. Richard Jarvis, R-Meridian. "Words to live by, good gentleman," responded House Assistant…
Now the House is debating a proposal from Rep. Richard Jarvis, R-Meridian, for a four-cent gas tax increase. "What we're dealing with now is a tax increase on a tax increase," said Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis. Rep. Steve Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, said the House appears…
After much debate, the first amendment to change the amount of the gas tax bill - from 2 cents next year to 5 cents - has been defeated. Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, who sponsored the amendment, said it would raise $26.4 million annually for…
The fourth amendment to HB 135 would've changed the distribution of funds raised by the gas tax increase back to the current split for gas taxes of 62 percent to the state, 38 percent to local highway districts. Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, sponsored this…
House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, introduced the third amendment to HB 135, making various wording changes in the existing bill, including allowing new gas tax proceeds to be used for maintenance of new roads as well as existing roads, and allowing for the…
Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, also sponsored the second amendment, which would have directed funding to regional transit authorities where they exist in the state, or to roads where they don't. "It gives us another avenue to fund our public highways," Durst said. "We need to…
The local-option tax amendment to HB 135, the gas tax increase bill, has been voted down in the House. "The motion fails ," announced House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley. "One down, seven to go."
Among those speaking in favor of the local-option amendment was Rep. Pat Takasugi, R-Wilder, who said, "I think it's good for rural, it's good for urban, and I would urge your support for the amendment." Said Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, "Some places in the state…
Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, introducing the first amendment to HB 135, said, "This is the moment we've all been waiting for - we're actually going to get to talk about local option on the floor of the House." Durst said lawmakers are willing to "vote…
The House is taking up amendments to HB 135, the gas tax hike bill. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, announced that there are eight amendments to be considered.
Gov. Butch Otter ripped lawmakers this morning for their move to require 3 percent across-the-board pay cuts for state workers as part of a 5 percent cut in personnel funding, rather than just leaving how to implement the 5 percent cut up to agency directors.…
As the House prepares to consider amendments to HB 135, Rep. JoAn Wood's bill to raise the gas tax just 2 cents next year, Gov. Butch Otter said he's not reached any deal with House leadership on transportation. "I am aware that they're trying very…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
