It'd be entirely feasible to privatize liquor sales in Idaho, according to a new state-commissioned report - but that doesn't mean the state would do it. "Usually we're all about privatization," said Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, who requested the study by the state Legislature's office…
A Wall Street banker, a lawmaker from Ketchum and an agency director combined to craft a plan to refinance Idaho's $202.4 million in federal loans that have propped up the state's unemployment safety net for thousands of workers broadsided by the recession, AP reporter John…
The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee has just released a new state-commissioned feasibility study on privatizing liquor sales in Idaho. The study, requested by Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, has been in the works since last March. Among the results: Privatization is feasible, but if Idaho were…
Today's House GOP caucus focused on "the overall budget and implications of tax conformity and what that means to the budget," according to House GOP Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly. "We're going to meet again later in the week to receive and discuss some more…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge in Florida says the Obama administration's health overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states that had sued to block it. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson on Monday accepted without trial…
House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, says he hasn't decided whether or not to allow a hearing on legislation from Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, to amend Idaho's "conscience law" to ensure that patients' living wills and advanced care directives are followed -…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A lawmaker who spearheaded a program to reward Idaho students who graduate from high school early with scholarship money says he no longer wants to limit district participation by size or region. Rep.…
Both the House and Senate majority caucuses have gone into closed-door caucus meetings, as has the House minority caucus; neither house took up its calendar of bills this morning, instead just briefly convening and then adjourning.
One bright spot in an array of down budgets is at Idaho's Veterans Services Division, though it's not in the agency's state funding, which has dropped by 50 percent in recent years. Instead, it's a federal grant: $5 million to expand the Idaho Veterans Cemetery…
After an hour of legal arguments about complicated legal problems with the bill, the Senate State Affairs Committee has voted 7-2, along party lines, to approve SB 1007, legislation targeting labor unions by prohibiting them from subsidizing wages to aid contractors in winning bids. "The…
Rep. Marcus Gibbs, R-Grace, isn't at the state Capitol today, because his son and business partner Josh, 37, was seriously injured in a car accident on Saturday and is now in intensive care in a Salt Lake hospital. Gibbs has appointed former state Rep. Cameron…
The Republican District 31 precinct committee has nominated three candidates to replace Sen. Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, the Idaho State Journal reports - and Rep. Marcus Gibbs, R-Grace, isn't among the three. Gibbs announced two weeks ago that he was seeking the Senate seat, which…
On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public TV, I join new host Greg Hahn, Jim Weatherby and Brian Murphy to discuss the events of the week, including the historic public hearing that JFAC held today on health and welfare funding, drawing nearly a thousand people…
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, has introduced legislation to crack down on tax compromises, requiring them to be made public and not to be granted without review by at least three tax commissioners and the tax auditors involved in the cases. She said, "I'm thinking since…
The sales tax rebate that Idaho has been providing to developers of alternative energy projects, including wind farms, may fall victim to its own success, AP reporter John Miller reports. The rebate expires in June, and higher-than-expected claims are giving pause to some state officials,…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's historic public hearing on funding for Health and Welfare programs in Idaho; it drew close to a thousand people to the Idaho Statehouse to decry cuts in services for the disabled. Many called for…
JFAC Co-Chairs Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, and Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, were clearly affected by the outpouring of input that close to a thousand people brought to the Statehouse today on Health and Welfare funding, with most pleading for the state to avoid cuts in…
The heart-wrenching testimony at today's public hearing on funding for Health and Welfare programs moved Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, to tears. "We had some very moving testimony from people that clearly have no other sources for assistance other than their government - that's pretty compelling,"…
At noon, after four hours of testimony from 82 people from all over the state, JFAC has closed its public hearing on Health & Welfare funding. "We appreciate your input," said Co-Chair Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. He encouraged those who didn't get a chance to testify…
The 78th person to testify at today's "listening hearing" on Health & Welfare funding is Brian Dulin of Moscow, head of Latah County Probation. He said behavioral health services provided through the Department of Health & Welfare have helped his department divert kids from going…
Even as dozens of Idahoans are testifying to JFAC that Idaho should look to more revenue - including, many have suggested, possibly taxing Internet sales - rather than cutting services to the disabled, House Speaker Lawerence Denney has single-handedly sidelined a bill that was moving…
Shirleane Abbott of Garden Valley, a psycho-social rehabilitation services provider who survived her own struggles with mental illness, told lawmakers, "What we need is more PSR, not less." Idaho shouldn't go back to relying on hospitalization, she said. "This is really a time to test…
Terri Scarrow of Jerome told of how her 15-year-old daughter, a bright, promising, straight-A student, was hit by a drunk driver and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Now disabled, she lives at home while receiving care, thanks to the certified family home program; Scarrow said…
Doug Loertscher of Boise told lawmakers he's testifying in opposition to the "blunt approach," one of two options for cuts that state Health & Welfare officials have outlined to lawmakers, and that calls for eliminating developmental disability center services and psycho-social rehabilitation services. "I personally…
Jack Hansen of Boise, a young man with disabilities, told JFAC, "I've been in two group homes and I know for a fact that it's not very fun." He said, "You guys are my only hope. I live in a certified family home right now.…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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