On tonight’s “Idaho Reports” program on Idaho Public Television, I join Jim Weatherby, Kevin Richert and host Greg Hahn to discuss the week’s developments in the Legislature. Plus, Jim, Greg and I interview Sens. Branden Durst, D-Boise, and Chuck Winder, R-Boise; Aaron Kunz has a…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Supreme Court justices ruled Friday phone consortium Syringa Networks can pursue its claim against the Department of Administration alleging the agency's bidding process violated Idaho statutes governing purchasing. Syringa sued Idaho…
Former Idaho gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell has lost his second appeal over a 2010 elk poaching charge, with the Idaho Court of Appeals ruling unanimously that two lower courts correctly upheld Rammell’s misdemeanor conviction. He challenged it on multiple grounds, nearly all centering around his…
The Senate has now adjourned until 1:30 on Monday, but before doing so, it debated and passed SB 1040a on a 21-14 vote, allowing Idaho school districts to cut teacher pay from one year to the next. That replaces a similar bill to do the…
The most controversial of the Idaho School Boards Association’s array of bills this year to reinstate pieces of voter-rejected Proposition 1 has been withdrawn. Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, asked for unanimous consent of the Senate to return HB 260, the “last best…
When the House got to its committee meeting announcements before its adjournment earlier this morning, Chief Clerk Bonnie Alexander said, “The only one that I have is for Education Committee, will meet subject to the call of the chair.” But House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt,…
HB 65, the “fix-it” bill to restore $30 million to the current year’s public school budget that otherwise would shift to a reserve fund due to the passage of Propositions 1, 2 and 3, has passed the Senate on a unanimous, 34-0 vote. Senate Education…
Here’s how senators voted on SB 1192a, the bill to exempt a state parking garage project near the Capitol from Boise city planning and zoning rules; it passed, 24-11, and now goes to the House: Voting in favor: Sens. Bair, Bayer, Brackett, Cameron, Davis, Fulcher,…
Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, told the Senate that SB 1192a would let the state override the city of Boise’s design review process if appeals can’t be resolved in a timely manner over a proposed state parking garage near the Capitol. “It was not the intent…
The Senate will not take up the two federal lands transfer measures today, HCR 21 and 22. Instead, it will suspend rules to consider three bills now on its 2nd Reading Calendar: SB 1192a, exempting the state parking garage project from local Boise city planning…
The Capitol Giftshop, located off the garden level rotunda of the state Capitol, is holding its “Sine Die Sale” starting today, on everything from “Idaho State Capitol” hooded sweatshirts to books signed by their Idaho authors. The gift shop sale runs through the day today,…
The House had wrapped up its business for the day by 8:35 this morning, and adjourned until 1:30 on Monday – which also happens to be April Fools Day. “There’s a good vibe in the room, and I think it has to do with the…
The House this morning is honoring Peter Morrill, the retiring general manager of Idaho Public Television. “There are just a few things in this vast state of ours that tie us together,” said Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, a co-sponsor of the proclamation, HP 1, along…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
