Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — America should reserve a place for God in the public domain and speak English when doing government business, according to a symbolic measure passed 50-17 in the House. Rep. Rich Jarvis's resolution, HCR…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Olympic cycling champion Kristin Armstrong is encouraging Idaho lawmakers to pass new safety laws she says will help curtail harassment of bicyclists across the state. The Boise resident told the Senate Transportation Committee…
The state Board of Examiners has voted unanimously to transfer $30 million from the general fund to the state's tax refund fund, to make sure the state Tax Commission can continue to pay out refunds on people's tax returns after the balance in the refund…
Click below to read the full article from AP reporter John Miller on the implications of the Medicaid budget that JFAC set this morning. Overall, it'll require Medicaid to come up with more than $47.2 million in savings next year to meet its reduced budget,…
Idaho didn't make the list of finalists for billions in "Race to the Top" federal grants, officials announced today. Idaho had applied for $120 million for its public schools, which are facing steep funding cuts next year; state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna had touted…
Idaho's state Board of Examiners has scheduled an emergency meeting for 2 p.m. today in the governor's office to make an immediate transfer from the general fund to the state refund account, which pays out refunds due from people's tax returns. The reason: That account…
Legislation to make all hunting and fishing licenses and tags secret has passed the House on a 55-14 vote, after much debate. Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, lead sponsor of HB 531a, said it was prompted by "incredible harassment" of successful hunters during Idaho's current wolf…
The House has voted 55-15 in favor of HB 533, the bill from Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, to raise boat sticker fees for the anti-invasive species program by $2 for owners of all non-motorized boats and for owners of out-of-state motorized boats. The money…
Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, says his legislation to create an official state silver medallion that Idahoans could use to pay their state taxes could jump-start the state's economy. "There's a lot of interest in the state of Idaho right now for this kind of thing,"…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted to pass HB 589, legislation from Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, to declare guns or ammunition manufactured in Idaho exempt from all federal laws including registration. Harwood brought Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane to the committee to talk…
JFAC has now set a budget for public health services at the Department of Health & Welfare that includes cutting out funding for the adult cystic fibrosis program. The department had requested $322,500 for the program; Gov. Butch Otter recommended $150,000; but the approved budget…
JFAC has voted 16-2 in favor of complex intent language on the Medicaid budget that requires additional cost savings to be identified along a list of priorities, starting with pricing cuts and rate cuts, and then if necessary moving to benefit cuts such as waiting…
JFAC is debating the proposed intent language on Medicaid. Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, said, "We have to look at the stark reality of the economic situation that the state finds itself in." Wood said no one knows what the future holds for Idaho's economy. "As…
The lean budget proposed by Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, for Medicaid for next year has passed on a 16-2 vote in JFAC, with just Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, and Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, objecting. Wood said, "We don't know what the economy's going to do…
The Medicaid budget proposed this morning by Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, zero-funds all line items and holds Medicaid to an overall 3.1 percent increase, though it's a cut in state funding. Caseload growth is covered, but holdbacks from this year are made permanent; all pricing…
Today's task for JFAC is the toughest Health & Welfare budget: Medicaid. Reporter Colleen LaMay of the Idaho Statesman has this report today on what can be cut in Medicaid and what can't; Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance program for the poor and disabled,…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
