On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television, Jim Weatherby, BSU political scientist emeritus, brings up an interesting point: That the recall effort launched against state schools Supt. Tom Luna is extremely unlikely to succeed, given the requirements, but opponents of Luna's education bills could…
Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Paul Kjellander to the Public Utilities Commission, to succeed retiring commissioner Jim Kempton. Kjellander is currently Otter's energy chief; John Chatburn, program services manager for the Office of Energy Resources, will step in as interim administrator. Kjellander previously served nine…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Senators voted 26-6 for industry-backed water quality rules governing how Idaho protects its lakes, rivers and streams. The measure already has House approval and now heads to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter. Idaho's Department…
A letter to the editor in the Idaho Press-Tribune from a young woman who's a senior at Moscow High School, entitled, "Student protesters do understand Luna's plan," is making waves today; you can read it here. The student, Celeste Hufford, writes, "I have been involved…
The Senate has voted 24-7 in favor of HB 109, the bill that makes a technical change to prevent Idaho from becoming ineligible for extended unemployment benefits this summer and booting 17,000 unemployed Idahoans off of their current unemployment benefits. The bill earlier passed the…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's Senate vote to make assisted suicide a felony; the billstill must pass the House and receive the governor's signature to become law, but today's Senate passage came on an overwhelming 31-2 vote, after amendments…
The Idaho Senate has voted 31-2 in favor of SB 1070, which makes assisted suicide a felony in Idaho, revokes the licenses of doctors who violate the new law and allows people to get injunctions to block anyone they think might be planning an assisted…
There's a bumper crop of sticky notes on the Senate State Affairs Committee hearing room door this morning, all urging Chairman Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, to hold a hearing on SB 1033, Sen. Edgar Malepeai's bill to expand the Idaho Human Rights Act's non-discrimination protections to…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted 10-7 in favor of HB 191, which allows Idaho's eight live race tracks to transfer their current licenses to hold betting on simulcasts of live races to other locations, to raise money for purses to support the live…
People from Idaho's horse racing industry have been waiting for several days to testify in favor of HB 191, which would allow Idaho's live race tracks to transfer their simulcast betting licenses elsewhere, even out of their county, to raise money for better purses to…
Gov. Butch Otter plans to sign controversial teacher-contract and merit pay bills, SB 1108 and SB 1110, into law, he said Thursday - "Oh yes, I intend to sign 'em," he told reporters - and he criticized the school-reform plan's opponents, saying they're misinformed. “I’ve…
Legislation introduced in the House Revenue & Taxation Committee on Thursday would extend the state's renewable energy sales tax rebate through 2014, Twin Falls Times-News reporter Ben Botkin reports; you can read his full story here in today's Times-News. The current rebate, enacted in 2005,…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
