Legislation co-sponsored by the governor, the House majority leader and the Senate tax chairman barely squeaked through the Senate Local Government & Taxation Committee this afternoon on a 5-4 vote. The bill, HB 630, presented to the panel by Jason Kreizenbeck, Gov. Butch Otter's chief…
Gov. Butch Otter called the Idaho Health Freedom Act, which he signed into law today, "a reflection of public dismay with Washington, D.C., and a clear expression of State sovereignty," saying the bill says "that the citizens of our state won’t be subject to another…
Here's a news item from The Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lingering disputes over an urban renewal reform bill now in the Idaho Legislature have left its fate into limbo, with House Revenue and Taxation Committee chairman shelving the bill, at least for now.…
The Corrections Corp. of America is replacing both the warden and assistant warden at the Idaho Correctional Center, the privately-run Idaho state prison south of Boise that's the subject of an ACLU lawsuit charging horrendous inmate-on-inmate violence has gone unchecked by authorities there, and that…
Gov. Butch Otter is holding his first public signing ceremony for a bill - for HB 391a, the "Idaho Health Care Freedom Act." The bill prohibits the enforcement of any federal mandate for Idahoans or Idaho businesses to purchase health care, and requires the state…
Among the new candidate filings today is Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, who filed for the 1st Congressional District in the Republican primary; he launched his campaign with an announcement in December, but formally filed his candidacy papers this afternoon. Also announcing is Boise School District…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the cross-deputization agreement that's been reached between Benewah County and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, just in time to head off state legislation that was up for a vote in a House committee this afternoon.
Benewah County Sheriff Bob Kirts greeted lawmakers after the House Judiciary Committee meeting today, introducing himself, shaking hands, and apologizing for not testifying during a tense hearing on HB 500, the tribal law enforcement legislation, last week. Kirts said after the meeting, "I was there…
The cross-deputization agreement reached yesterday at 4:30 between Benewah County and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe includes these provisions:* Tribal police officers will be sheriff's deputies, and Benewah County deputies and tribal officers will enforce each other's laws* Both the tribe and the county agreed to…
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Benewah County have reached an "agreement in principle" on cross-deputization, according to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, so the committee today will consider holding the tribe's law enforcement legislation in committee pending that deal. "I think it's…
Young dancers with "Irish Dance Idaho" filled the fourth-floor rotunda of the Capitol today with clicking, tapping and festivity on this St. Patrick's Day.
A new version of emergency surcharge legislation to help fund Idaho's courts through the economic downturn was introduced in the House Ways & Means Committee today and sent directly to the House's 2nd Reading Calendar. It replaces HB 524a, the earlier version, which originally sought…
The House Ways & Means Committee has introduced legislation sought by Boise State University that would free state universities to follow their own purchasing policies, rather than go through both their university processes and the state's purchasing process. The University of Idaho already can do…
There were lots of questions first, particularly from Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, but the House has voted unanimously, 68-0, to pass HB 656, the Idaho Hospital Assessment Act. The negotiated bill, which will last for two years, calls for private hospitals to pay an…
The "conscience" bill on abortion, emergency contraception and end-of-life care has won final passage in the House on a 51-18 vote, but it wasn't a straight party-line vote. Democrats Branden Durst of Boise and James Ruchti of Pocatello voted in favor of the bill, along…
1st District GOP congressional candidate Vaughn Ward has announced that Lori Otter - Idaho's current first lady - and Patricia Kempthorne, a past Idaho first lady, will co-chair his "Republican Women for Ward" group, which Ward said now has more than 300 members. Said Ward,…
The Senate State Affairs Committee has passed Rep. Mike Moyle's voter I.D. bill, but only after lots of discussion and many questions from Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, who said, "I have concerns about its implementation as well as its constitutionality, and I'll be…
House and Senate Democratic leaders say the latest unemployment figures underscore the need for economic development legislation like the 10 bills their party has proposed, including six as part of their "IJOBS" package, but none of those bills has passed; just one had received a…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
