Here's a link to my full day-after-the-election story at spokesman.com, on how after Idaho voters decisively rejected the "Students Come First" school reform laws on Tuesday, leaders on both sides were calling today for a new start on education reforms in Idaho, with all the…
House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, told Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey today that he's planning to "aggressively" campaign for another term as speaker - though popular Assistant majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, also is seeking the post. "The game is on," Denney said. "We know…
Idaho 1st District Congressman Raul Labrador has released a statement thanking supporters for his "resounding victory" in yesterday's election. "After the results of the national election, I know we are all wondering what to expect for America’s future," he writes. "Well, you and I both…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter spoke with reporters this afternoon about the election results, and he said the call from "Students Come First" opponents to begin new talks with all stakeholders about school reform is "exactly what I want to do." "I think the interest that…
Coeur d'Alene Sen. John Goedde, who's just won re-election to a seventh term in the Senate, says he may or may not continue as the Senate Education Committee chairman. "I would be in line to take the Commerce & Human Resources chairmanship, and that's something…
1st Congressional District Democratic candidate Jimmy Farris, who polled 30.8 percent to GOP Rep. Raul Labrador's 63 percent in the final, unofficial results, has released this statement: “I want to thank the many people who put their faith in me and honored me with their…
I've had several inquiries from readers concerned that now that voters have rejected Proposition 3, that the state would face costs related to the now-canceled $182 million laptop contract with Hewlett-Packard. I can verify that according to H-P's Business and Scope of Work Proposal, which…
Marc Johnson's "The Johnson Post" offers five takeaways from yesterday's election, including a dose of Idaho historical perspective, some demographics, impacts for the two senior members of the state's congressional delegation, and how the election leaves Idaho balanced on its own "cliff," this one involving…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter issued this statement today on the voters' rejection of Propositions 1, 2, and 3, the "Students Come First" school reform measures: “The people have spoken, so I’m not discouraged. That’s how our system works. But it’s important to remember that the…
Mike Lanza, a Boise father of two who chaired the "No on Props 1,2,3" campaign, said today, "I first got involved in this effort because I have a couple of elementary kids and that was my entire motivation for getting involved. ... This election was…
Leaders of the successful campaign to overturn state schools Superintendent Tom Luna's "Students Come First" school reform laws gathered in front of Boise High School today to talk about what's next. "This debate has never been about union control of schools," said Penni Cyr, president…
After all three of his "Students Come First" school reform measures were soundly defeated by Idaho voters yesterday, state schools Superintendent Tom Luna issued this statement this morning: “I still believe that Idahoans want better schools through education reform. I still believe that empowering local…
Other results from last night, with 99% of the vote counted: SJR 102, county probation services amendment: 74.4% yes, 25.6% no HJR2aa, right to fish, hunt and trap: 73.4% yes, 26.6% no Every incumbent state legislator in districts 1-5 who faced a challenge was re-elected.…
With 93 percent of the vote counted, all three "Students Come First" school reform measures are being soundly defeated. That means the laws passed amid much controversy in 2011 are repealed. Here's where they stand: Proposition 1: 42.8% yes, 57.2% no Proposition 2: 42.1 percent…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
