Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how controversial legislation to protect those who cite religion as a reason to deny service to others to whom they object was pulled from the Idaho House on Wednesday, and halted for this year’s legislative…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers are gearing up to debate a plan to eliminate the state- and county-backed fund that pays indigent residents' medical costs. Republican Rep. Tom Loertscher of Iona is slated to introduce his…
All sides, including lawmakers, courts, corrections officials, prosecutors and more, have reached consensus on criminal justice reinvestment legislation, with a new bill that was introduced this afternoon. “This is probably one of the few times when you’ve had all three branches of government working together…
Both the House and Senate debated and passed batches of bills this morning, as they keep up a pace designed to ensure this year’s legislative session ends by March 21. In fact, the way they’ve been pushing this week – with the Senate starting its…
Rep. Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, has named Howard Rynearson of Payette as a sub for him in the House through Monday. Rynearson, the current Payette County GOP chairman, is running for Denney’s seat in the May GOP primary; Denney is running for Secretary of State.
Idaho’s state-based health insurance exchange has now enrolled 38,000 people in health insurance, state Department of Health & Welfare Director Dick Armstrong told lawmakers today. And another 56,000 are “in the queue,” in the process of enrolling. “Our original target was 42,000,” he said, for…
After his presentation to the House Health & Welfare Committee today on the “private option” for Medicaid expansion funds in Idaho, state Health & Welfare Director Dick Armstrong said he’s not seen any indication that enabling legislation to accomplish that would be proposed this year.…
The Senate has voted 34-0 in favor of SB 1332, legislation from Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, to penalize officials who knowingly and willfully order Idaho law enforcement officers to seize guns or ammunition under a federal order or law, in violation of the Idaho…
The House has agreed unanimously to return HB 427, Rep. Lynn Luker’s religious freedom expansion bill, to the House State Affairs Committee. Luker told the AP this morning that the bill likely won’t come up again this session. “HB 427 has been on the amending…
A day after the AAA of Idaho called the Idaho Trucking Association’s proposed three-year, six-cent fuel tax increase a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” saying motorists would bear the brunt rather than truckers, the Trucking Association has responded that a small fuel tax increase is a…
Idaho currently has about 77,000 able-bodied adults who can’t afford health insurance and have no options to help them get it today, state Health & Welfare Director Dick Armstrong told the House Health & Welfare Committee this morning, and one way to address the problem…
How about a potato chip topped with chocolate and bacon, with or without blueberry sauce on top? It's the annual Buy Idaho show in the state Capitol today, with 89 Idaho businesses displaying their products in the first, second and third-floor Statehouse rotunda. They’re describing…
Idaho’s veterans’ homes are seeing turnover among nursing staff of nearly 50 percent, Rep. George Eskridge said this morning, largely because pay rates aren’t competitive with other nursing jobs. So when the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee set the budget for the Veterans Services Division this morning,…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate Health and Welfare Committee rejected a plan to dump the program that pays medical bills for uninsured Idaho residents. Republican Sen. Steve Thayn asked the committee to shift money from the…
Idaho Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, has joined with two retired senators from his district to form a new PAC that will interview legislative candidates and endorse and support those with the most skill at economic development. Henderson is joining former GOP Sens. Jim Hammond…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
