Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, spoke with the Idaho Press-Tribune on the eve of a closed-door Senate GOP caucus to discuss whether he'll continue in his Senate leadership post, as majority caucus chairman, after the bizarre Father's Day incident in which he was arrested for DUI…
2nd District Congressman Mike Simpson has announced four regional finance chairmen for his re-election campaign; they are: Kirk Sullivan, Damond Watkins, Doug Sayer and Mitch Watkins. You can read his full announcement here. Simpson, a Republican, is a seven-term congressman and a former speaker of…
As the 61st Idaho Legislature's second regular session lurches into gear, AP reporter John Miller reports today on an odd prospect: That the most-liberal members of the House Democratic caucus could vote with the most-conservative Republicans against creating a state-run health insurance exchange. Click below…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how Idaho Gov. Butch Otter's budget proposal for next year wouldn't restore any of the steep budget cuts Idaho's made in the past three years of economic downturn, with just one exception: Partial restoration of…
Legislative Democrats gave their response to GOP Gov. Butch Otter's State of the State and budget message this morning, and they weren't happy. "The governor has talked about budget, education, taxes, employment and reserves. All of these issues are important, but it is really hard…
Among the questions legislative budget writers have had this morning about the governor's budget proposal: Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, asked if cuts to mental health and substance abuse services that are becoming a problem for law enforcement and local governments will be restored; Wayne Hammon,…
Gov. Butch Otter's budget is aimed at reducing the amount of one-time money that's targeted at ongoing needs, Wayne Hammon, Otter's budget chief, told lawmakers on JFAC this morning. His budget anticipates a $103.5 million balance at the end of fiscal year 2012. That one-time…
Wayne Hammon, Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief, is presenting the governor's proposal to JFAC this morning, but JFAC Co-Chair Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, noted that Hammon's wife is expecting a baby at any time, their second; with that warning, lawmakers will know why if he abruptly…
Here's a link to my story in today's Spokesman-Review on Gov. Butch Otter's agenda, as laid out to lawmakers yesterday. Today, the legislative session is under way; the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is meeting this morning to begin digging into the governor's budget proposals.
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
