Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is raising no objection to a joint legislative committee's decision to hold off for another year - until July 1, 2011 - on shifting gas tax funding away from the state parks department and the Idaho State Police; they'll recommend that…
Today was the first day the National Centers for Disease Control accepted orders for H1N1 flu vaccine, and Idaho got its order in - for 9,000 doses. They're expected to start arriving early next week, going directly to hospitals, community health centers and public health…
Here's a link to my full story in today's Spokesman-Review on the joint legislative committee's decision yesterday to delay shifting gas tax funds away from the state parks department and ISP for another year, until July 1, 2011. The panel's decision is a recommendation to…
It's not huge, but state officials are pointing to a germ of good news in the latest economic data: Economic activity in four Idaho metro areas, Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston, Pocatello and Idaho Falls, rose in 2008 for the second straight year, according to the latest…
A correction: Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, actually voted "yes" on Sen. Jim Hammond's motion at the legislative task force today to delay for one year the shift of gas tax funds away from the state parks department; I thought he said "no," but it was…
Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, moved that "we make it clear that it is the intent of the committee to find dedicated funding for the Idaho State Police in conjunction with the governor's task force." He said, "I think that way it's clear that we…
Rep. Maxine Bell's motion to delay the shift of gas tax funding away from the Idaho State Police for a year has passed unanimously, winning the 8-0 support of the joint legislative task force. Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, a retired state trooper, said, "I…
Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, has moved to also delay the funding shift of gas taxes away from the Idaho State Police for a year. "This is an area where we need a revenue stream - we need a dedicated revenue stream," she said, "and again,…
Rep. Raul Labrador's motion to add a statement from the joint legislative task force that its intention in delaying implementation for a year on the parks funding shift is to permanently reinstate the 3 percent gas tax diversion for parks, has passed unanimously, 8-0. Rep.…
Sen. Jim Hammond's motion to delay the parks funding shift for a year has passed on a 7-1 vote, with just Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, objecting. Labrador then said he wants language added noting that it's the panel's intent to repeal the shift, not just…
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, said, "I would object to any statement that we're going to find other funding sources. ... I just don't think we should get into that. All we're doing is tying the Legislature." Labrador said he's not sure if he'll support Hammond's…
Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said he and Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, met with Gov. Butch Otter to discuss the parks fund-shift. "The dilemma is that the governor recognizes a significant funding shortage for transportation," Cameron said. "He had a certain dollar amount he was trying…
Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, has moved to delay by one year the shift of gas taxes away from the state Parks & Rec department. "Actually I would go a step further and say that it makes little sense to me that we are diverting…
If the legislative task force today chooses to do nothing about parks funding, on July 1, 2010 the state parks department will lose 10 positions and $4.25 million, including: $1.2 million from the waterways improvement fund; $1.2 million from the off-highway vehicle fund; $1.2 million…
The Idaho State Police used to get 6 percent of the state highway user fund revenue, which mainly comes from the gas tax. Then, in 1992 it went to 5.4 percent, and in 2000, it went to 5 percent. Some lawmakers questioned whether perhaps the…
Col. Jerry Russell, chief of the Idaho State Police, told a legislative task force that whatever funding source is identified to replace gas taxes for ISP, "We believe that it should be one that will grow with the state of Idaho." He noted Utah's approach,…
Idaho also is losing out on $4.5 million in one-time funds available for highway safety because lawmakers have refused to stiffen the state's seat belt law, lawmakers were just informed; another $5 million to $6 million because the state hasn't attained 85 percent seat belt…
If Idaho were to follow the lead of Ohio and start charging a $20 late fee for driver's license renewals and vehicle registration renewals (after a 7-day grace period), it could raise a little over $5 million, legislative budget analyst Keith Bybee just reported to…
There are a couple dozen people gathered in the audience for today's legislative task force hearing on alternative funding sources for the Idaho State Police and the state parks, once they lose gas tax funds next July - a move many task force members now…
Thirteen months after multiple murderer Joseph Duncan was handed three death sentences by an Idaho federal court jury, his appeal in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals remains stalled at its earliest stage: The appellate court has yet to rule on whether it can even…
There was intense interest in Gov. Butch Otter's announcement today on new state budget cuts; this shot shows the line-up of TV cameras at the press conference. Not visible are many additional reporters and photographers (including me) who were ranged around the sides of the…
The Idaho Transportation Department has announced an $8.6 million holdback on its own department budget - a 3.4 percent cut - even though it wasn't required to participate in Gov. Butch Otter's holdbacks because the agency receives no state general funds. ITD Acting Director Scott…
There were even deeper cuts proposed by state agencies that Gov. Butch Otter rejected, when he put together the holdback plan he unveiled this morning, Otter told Eye on Boise. "Yes, yes," he said to the question, but he declined to give examples. "I'm not…
Idaho House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke said, "We're ready to stand and work with the executive branch to work this thing out." He told Eye on Boise that many lawmakers are wary of spending down the state's budget reserves, when they already face a…
Idaho state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna said, "I think the reality that we find ourselves in today validates ... the decisions that we made in the last legislative session," when lawmakers made the state's first-ever cut in state funding to public schools. Luna said…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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