The House Health and Welfare Committee has agreed to consider a bill that would whack $39 million from the state Medicaid budget, set new eligibility rules for clients and impose changes in the way health and treatment services are provided, the Associated Press reports. The…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's court decision declaring Idaho's open primary election system unconstitutional, ruling that it violates the right of the state's Republican Party to ban anyone who's not a party member from voting in its primaries. The…
The Idaho Demcratic Party is accusing the state Republican Party of "purging their ranks" with the push to close GOP primary elections in Idaho. Larry Grant, new Idaho Democratic Party chairman, said, "Idaho is the loser today. “Public elections are not meant for private clubs.…
Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa said he hasn't yet consulted with the Idaho Attorney General on how best to proceed in light of today's federal court ruling declaring Idaho's open primary election law unconstitutional, so he doesn't know if an appeal or other move…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill headed to the Idaho House would make it easier for farmers to enlarge their feedlot operations, but more difficult for opponents to challenge those plans in court. The House Agricultural Affairs…
Here is Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko's statement in response to today's federal court ruling declaring the state's open primary law unconstitutional: “This decision will allow the Idaho Republican Party to decide how to conduct its Primary elections. It reaffirms the basic Constitutional right,…
The Idaho Democratic Party announced today that its central committee has elected Larry Grant as it new state party chairman. Grant, a former congressional candidate and former vice president and general counsel for Micron Technology, is from Payette. Click below for the Democrats' full announcement.
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how eight North Idaho lawmakers helped lead an unsuccessful move in the House today to boot 17,000 unemployed Idaho workers off their federal extended unemployment benefits - a move that would have cost those workers…
Here's how the House voted on HB 109, the measure that makes a technical change to prevent Idaho from becoming ineligible for $65 million in extended federal unemployment benefits this summer; had the bill failed, 17,000 unemployed Idahoans would have lost their benefits. The bill…
After much debate, HB 109 has passed the House on a 41-28 vote; if the bill had been killed, 17,000 unemployed Idahoans would have been booted off their extended federal unemployment benefits over the next nine months. Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, the sponsor of HB…
Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton, debating against HB 109 on extended unemployment benefits, said, "My problem isn't with the hand out or the hand up. My problem is with the length of time. ... How long are we going to extend it out? It's kind of…
Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, urged support for HB 109, the bill to make a technical change required to keep Idaho from becoming ineligible this summer for $65 million in federal extended unemployment benefits. "I don't support a welfare system," Eskridge told the House. "I appreciate…
The Idaho House is currently debating HB 109, a measure that makes a technical change to prevent Idaho from becoming ineligible for extended federal unemployment benefits this summer. Numerous House members have debated against the bill. There are currently 17,000 Idahoans receiving those extended benefits;…
The state State Board of Education, which held a special meeting in Lewiston today, has announced the hiring of Tony Fernandez as president of Lewis-Clark State College, where he's been serving as interim president since last April; before that he was vice president and provost.…
Idaho state schools Supt. Tom Luna is addressing the Idaho Press Club today. His big point: "As far as SB 1113, I think that reports of the death of that bill have been greatly exaggerated. ... I don't agree that it's dead or on life…
U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill has declared Idaho's open primary election system unconstitutional with respect to the state's Republican Party primary, which the party passed a rule saying it wants to close. "An important corollary of the right to freely associate is a right not…
The Senate has voted unanimously, 35-0, in favor of SB 1107, which extends Sunshine Law requirements for campaign finance reporting to candidates for community college boards of trustees. Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, said among existing trustees, "Some are in favor, some are against, but…
KBOI2-TV reports that 100 or more South Junior High students walked out of class this morning and walked about two miles to the state Capitol to protest the school reform plan; you can see their story here, and an Idaho Statesman report here.
So far today, 23 people have testified on SB 1108 and SB 1110, 21 of them against, and two in favor. There are 39 more signed up to testify, all against the bills. Jolene Gunn of Eagle told the House Education Committee, "We don't need…
Kendon Perry, a business owner from Sandpoint, 37-year Idaho resident and father of two school children, asked the House Education Committee, "Will professional, passionate, hard-working teachers flee Idaho? Could Idaho become what I call the minor leagues or the training ground for teachers? And will…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Officials in Boise County say they may file for bankruptcy in the wake of losing a federal lawsuit and getting hit with a $4 million judgment in the case. Commissioners in the southwestern…
Scott Nicholson, who described himself as a Vietnam veteran and a Republican, said he congratulated state schools Supt. Tom Luna on Election Night on his re-election, because he fought for education. But Nicholson said he's against SB 1108 and 1110. "I'm a tad tired of…
Longtime Boise school trustee Janet Orndorff told the House Education Committee, "Please remove sections 6, 10, 11 and 12 from SB 1108. Sections 10 and 11 impose rules on districts that are heavy-handed and impose unnecessary bureaucracy. Section 10 removes the 99 percent floor. ...…
Among testimony so far at this morning's House Education hearing on SB 1108 and SB 1110, the teacher contract and teacher merit pay bills: Ryan McFarland, a tax attorney and parent from Boise, decried "fictions" about the bills, including that existing teachers' contracts would be…
Today's House Education Committee hearing has opened, and in addition to all those who signed up yesterday to testify and haven't yet gotten a chance, there are 53 more people signed up to testify today - all against the bills, SB 1108 and 1110. Rep.…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
