When the Idaho Legislature convenes on Monday, it’ll have two unaccustomed faces in its midst: Two North Idaho legislators have designated substitutes to fill in for them for the first week or two of the session due to health concerns. Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene,…
Boise’s anti-panhandling ordinance, which was to take effect today, has been blocked in part by a federal judge. KBOI2 News reports that U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge cited the First Amendment in his 17-page ruling today. “Freedom of speech may be the most important right…
Idaho has the worst wages in the nation. The Famous Potatoes state ranks 50th for average annual wage, per-capita income, and for wage increases since 2007. It also has the greatest percentage of minimum-wage workers in America. After hearing those figures Thursday as they reviewed…
Some interesting stats from Bob Fick of the Idaho Department of Labor, who’s presenting to lawmakers this afternoon: Idaho saw a big jump in its 55-and-older population from 2010 to 2012, a 59.3 percent increase, compared to a national increase for that age group of…
Three Idaho university economists – Scott Benson of Idaho State University, Don Holley of Boise State University, and Eric Stuen of the University of Idaho – have developed a forecast for state general fund tax revenues for the next three years, and it calls for…
Idaho state chief economist Derek Santos is reviewing national economic trends for the joint Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee. He began with a bar chart showing the nation’s real gross domestic product growth back to 2007 and forward to 2016, a widely quoted measure…
Holiday decorations are being hauled away, the big lighted tree on the front steps has been dismantled, and lawmakers and staffers are beginning to filter back in to the state Capitol in advance of the legislative session that starts on Monday. The House chamber is…
Vicki Tokita has retired as Idaho's director of human resources, Gov. Butch Otter announced; her retirement was effective Jan. 1. Tokita had worked for the state for 37 years, including 19 in human resources; she was named head of the Division of Human Resources in…
When the Idaho Legislature’s Joint CEC Committee – CEC is legislative shorthand for Change in Employee Compensation – convenes next week for the first time since 2008, the joint committee will consist of all nine members of the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee, plus…
Pay for Idaho state employees has now slipped to 19 percent below market rates, according to the latest state report, a gap that’s been growing for the past decade. Compared to private-sector wages, Idaho state workers are now 29 percent behind; compared to surrounding states,…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
