Idaho Secretary of State candidate Evan Frasure was “flabbergasted” late Monday when he learned that roughly 2,500 of the 2,859 “likes” on his campaign Facebook fan page were people from Istanbul, Turkey. Pocatello City Councilman Steve Brown, a consultant for Frasure’s campaign, said he didn’t…
Less than two weeks after the House killed his bill to ban the use of credit or debit cards to operate “historical horse racing” betting machines on a 36-29 vote, Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, has introduced a new version. The previous, failed bill, HB 380,…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Republican lawmakers including Sen. Russ Fulcher aim to eliminate Idaho's 6 percent tax on groceries starting July 1, 2016. Fulcher, a Meridian Republican running against Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter in the May primary,…
Activist groups are throwing their weight behind a Senate bill to increase Idaho's minimum wage after abandoning an effort to gather enough signatures to put a similar measure before voters next November, the AP reports. The Senate State Affairs Committee agreed today to introduce the…
While Idaho lawmakers mull a bill to loosen gun bans on college campuses, a student was arrested today at North Idaho College for taking a concealed handgun into a classroom. Another student told authorities the man was upset, has used illegal drugs, had purchased 75…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Two Republican senators want to eliminate Idaho's fund that helps pay the medical bills of indigent people, and instead shift part of the funds to community health centers to provide care. Sens. Steve…
Second-term Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton, proposed legislation today to order a halt to all water quality enforcement in the state until the Legislature certifies that a sampling survey has been done of the headwaters of every waterway and tributary, starting with the north and south…
A divided state Senate this morning killed legislation from the state Board of Nursing that would have allowed nurses to be fined for violations of their licenses. Current sanctions include suspension or revocation of licenses, and training or remediation programs. Sen. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, the…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho may have to repay $13.3 million if federal officials determine the state broke contracting rules on a $60 million education broadband project mired in a lawsuit for nearly as long as it's…
With legislation from the Idaho Trucking Association pending to raise Idaho’s gas tax, Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, asked Deputy Transportation Director Scott Stokes this morning, “If you were to get this 2 cents a year for the next three years, how would you prioritize that…
Scott Stokes, deputy director of the Idaho Transportation Department, is making the department’s budget pitch to lawmakers this morning, as Director Brian Ness is out sick today. ITD receives no state general funds, but its budget, which comes largely from state gas taxes and federal…
Sen. Curt McKenzie and Rep. Brent Crane, both Nampa Republicans, want a new law passed to specifically give the Legislature standing to sue to or intervene in lawsuits to challenge or uphold the constitutionality of state laws. McKenzie told the Senate State Affairs Committee this…
A new version of former Rep. Mark Patterson’s bill to criminalize Idaho police officers if they enforce federal gun laws was introduced in the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning; last year’s bill passed the House, but died in the Senate. This year’s measure is…
Close to 40 people attended a Senate State Affairs Committee this morning to indicate their support for legislation to raise Idaho’s minimum wage; the committee agreed to introduce the bill, but there’s no promise that it’ll go any further. “I appreciate you being here,” committee…
Scores of targeted campaign contributions — most of them below the $51 mandatory reporting threshold — have been turned away by top lawmakers on ethics grounds, reports Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey. The donations, from Priest and Payette Lake cabin-site lessees, arrived with letters suggesting…
The Idaho attorney general's office is calling for a criminal investigation into Correction Corporation of America's understaffing of the Idaho Correctional Center after learning that a police investigation announced last year was never done, the AP reports. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden wrote the letter to…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
