By the time the Idaho Senate adjourned for the day at 7 tonight, it had passed more than 60 bills and resolutions since convening this morning. Senators first went on the floor at 10 a.m. "I still had more work I could suspend on and…
After JFAC this morning adopted a "contingency plan" to allow Gov. Butch Otter to tap reserve funds and building project funds if state revenues continue to slide after lawmakers leave town this year, Otter's budget director, Wayne Hammon, told reporters, "We're confident that the language…
Here's a news item from the Idaho Falls Post Register, via the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An eastern Idaho bear and wildlife zoo wants to pay its workers less than federal minimum wage this summer, so it's asking the Legislature for help. Yellowstone…
There was a brief flurry of hope today that the legislative session actually would end tomorrow - Senate Republicans emerged from a caucus saying they thought they could get it done, and since then have been hard at work on the floor, passing dozens of…
House Democrats all were wearing black ribbons on their lapels for the school budget debate just now. Asked why, Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said, "We're sad."
The House has voted 50-19 in favor of SB 1418, the public school budget bill, sending the Senate-passed measure to the governor's desk. The bill, which includes historic cuts, spends half the state's budget in a single piece of legislation. Here's a link to my…
House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, debated in favor of the school budget. "It's been the economy that has gotten us to this point - the economy is the enemy," he told the House.
The tone has been mostly glum as the House debates the public school budget bill, SB 1418. Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene, a retired high school teacher, said, "This is a budget that is all about choices. ... We are not forced into this course…
The House has begun its debate on SB 1418, the public schools budget for next year - the single largest slice of Idaho's state budget pie. It includes historic cuts.Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, co-chair of the Legislature's joint budget committee, told the House, "I've never…
Click below to read AP reporter John Miller's full report on today's funding decision on the Idaho Education Network; he reports, "This agreement helps clear the way for adjournment of the 2010 session, possibly by early next week." In the AP story, Jason Kreizenbeck, Gov.…
The amended bill setting salaries for the state's top elected officials for the next four years, HB 692a, has passed the House on a close 37-30 vote, and now moves to the Senate. The bill would cut the officials' pay by 4 percent next year,…
The Senate has voted 29-5 in favor of HB 630, legislation to expand the current tax credit for donations to Idaho Public Television, schools and libraries. The measure, backed by Gov. Butch Otter, would increase the exemption for five years and also add additional state…
Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, contends that the public school budget now moving through the Legislature - and likely to come up for debate in the full House today - violates legislative rules because its fiscal note doesn't reflect the impact on local school districts that…
Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, tried a last-minute motion to take $35,150,000 from $71 million in Millenium Funds now being held in case federal Medicaid match rates drop - which now appears unlikely - and, if they're not needed for Medicaid, route them into several holes…
JFAC has adopted the "intent language" section for the Department of Administration budget that extends the waiting period for health coverage for new state employees from 30 days to 90 days. Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "Given the circumstances of this budget year, we felt…
The budget for the state Department of Administration - including IEN funding - has passed JFAC on an 18-2 vote, with just Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, and Rep. Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, voting no. In the end, Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, who had expressed grave…
As part of its consideration of funding for the next stage of the Idaho Education Network, JFAC is looking at introducing a bill this morning - which then would be referred to a germane committee - to change the oversight of the project from the…
Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, said she has a "concern that things that have been put into motion perhaps improperly will just continue in motion" if JFAC approves the full $3 million in spending authority for the next stage of the Idaho Education Network. Rep. Fred…
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, has made the motion for the Department of Administration's budget for next year, for a $6.9 million in state general funds and $60 million in total funds. It includes spending authority for the $3 million in Albertson Foundation donations for the…
JFAC has now voted unanimously to adopt a fiscal year 2010 year-end contingency plan, offering tools to Gov. Butch Otter if state revenues continue to slide this year. The budget was set on the estimate that revenues this year would fall 7.5 percent below last…
Also in the budget proposal for the Department of Administration that JFAC will vote on this morning are directions to the department on state employee health insurance plans, including specifying that benefits won't be cut or costs to employees increased as a result of the…
For the state Department of Administration, legislative budget analyst Joe Austin went over a budget proposal developed by Sens. Cameron and Mortimer and Reps. Bell, Ringo and Jaquet that calls for a general-fund cut of 7.6 percent, and an overall reduction of 0.7 percent. It…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is gathering for what's likely its final early-morning workshop meeting of the session today, in advance of its 8 a.m. meeting to set the budget for the state Department of Administration and to adopt a "contingency plan" for if revenues still…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
