Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s controversial state health insurance exchange legislation won near-unanimous support from a Senate committee Thursday after two days of hearings, a key victory for the GOP governor; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. Opponents wearing swatches of bright pink…
Idaho’s general fund state tax revenues for the month of January came in $0.9 million ahead of forecast, or 0.3 percent ahead, according to the latest general fund revenue report, which is out today. You can read the full report here from the governor’s Division…
There’s an interesting online dustup today in which a reporter for the IdahoReporter.com site disparaged the Senate’s senior member in Twitter posts while the senator spoke at a packed public hearing, and then, when called on it by another reporter on Twitter, responded, “This is…
It’s back to the drawing board for a series of controversial bills to limit Idaho teachers’ collective bargaining rights, reports Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News. “All the bills from the school boards are being redrafted,” Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, told…
Idaho already has a law providing stiff felony penalties – up to 25 years in prison – for assault and battery on certain official personnel, including judges, police officers, prosecutors, bailiffs, prison or jail guards, parole officers, social workers, firefighters, Tax Commission agents, and Emergency…
The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 8-1 in favor of SB 1042, the governor’s health insurance exchange bill. The only “no” vote came from Sen. Branden Durst, D-Boise, who said he was concerned about the lack of legislative oversight in the exchange as proposed. Sen.…
Last to testify from the public this afternoon, speaking 15th, is Janice McGeachin, who until this year chaired the House Health & Welfare Committee. McGeachin said she opposes a state exchange – and she opposes a federal exchange as well. “I think that some legitimate…
Among those testifying this afternoon on SB 1042, the governor’s state insurance exchange bill: Joe Rohner said, “I am a free-market capitalist in every sense of the term. … From this day forth, Mr. Otter owns Obamacare, which shall now be known statewide as Ottercare.”…
Peggy Munson, a retired geriatric nurse and the state volunteer president of the AARP, was the first person called to testify at this afternoon’s insurance exchange hearing. She said while some are saying Idaho should do nothing to comply with health care reform, “These are…
Many in the crowd at the health insurance exchange hearing today are wearing swatches of pink tape; Senate Commerce Chairman John Tippets, R-Montpelier, said they’re doing so to indicate they are opposing the state-based exchange bill, SB 1042. He thanked them for finding a way…
The Capitol Auditorium is filling up once again this afternoon for the Senate Commerce Committee’s continued hearing on the governor’s proposal for a state-based health insurance exchange. The committee is scheduled to vote today at the end of its 90-minute meeting, regardless of how many…
Start-up funding of $1.39 million for the National Guard Youth Challenge program in Pierce won unanimous approval from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, the Lewiston Tribune reports, all from private donations and federal grants; Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, made the successful motion. The Youth…
The House State Affairs Committee this morning rejected a proposal from Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, to create a “rebuttable presumption” that the identity of an online commenter must be disclosed when there’s a defamation or slander suit. Just two committee members, Reps. Ken Andrus,…
The Senate has voted unanimously in favor of SB 1004, to allow Idaho Fish & Game to sell three-year hunting, fishing or combination licenses to both residents and non-residents, rather than just annual licenses. The department has proposed the move to try to draw in…
The Idaho House has loudly and unanimously endorsed SCR 102, the resolution objecting to a Turkish firm’s application to trademark the word “IDAHO” for its agricultural products in its country and abroad, after House Ag Chairman Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, told the House the…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A measure directing the State Board of Education to require cursive handwriting in Idaho schools is headed for a full House vote after unanimously passing the chamber's Education Committee. Bill sponsor Rep. Linden…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted unanimously in favor of HB 55, to let phone companies and other telecoms call their customers to pitch products, even if those customers are on the “do-not-call” list. Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said people have more options…
Former longtime North Idaho state Rep. Jim Clark is back before a legislative committee this morning, this time as a lobbyist for Frontier Communications, which, along with Century Link, is proposing HB 55 to drop a restriction from Idaho’s do-not-call law that now prevents phone,…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho corrections officials in a bid to save money are asking lawmakers to relax mandatory disease testing for inmates slated for release. The law now requires that inmates be tested for diseases like…
Two supplemental appropriations to the state Department of Welfare related to “Medicaid readiness,” covering fund transfers to deal with programming changes and so forth as federal Medicaid rules change, caused a bit of dust-up in JFAC last week, with several members raising concerns that approving…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
