If lawmakers can get past jokes about too many lawyers in Boise already, the University of Idaho stands a good chance of doubling its programs in the state's capital, AP reporter John Miller writes. Gov. Butch Otter is supporting a $400,000 measure to add a…
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden filed a motion Thursday seeking to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges the state's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, the AP reports, arguing that courts haven't ruled that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right. Wasden filed the motion as a representative of…
Sen. Russ Fulcher is ripping Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal for a new $2 million wolf control fund. “I don’t know what we need to spend $2 million for,” Fulcher said on the Nate Shelman radio show on KBOI radio this afternoon. Fulcher, who is challenging…
After three days of hearings, a special joint legislative committee is scheduled to vote on possible Idaho state employee raises Friday; the Change in Employee Compensation Committee could pass a resolution, or send a recommendation to budget writers, leaving the final call in their hands.…
The motion to accept the governor's revenue estimate - even though every committee member came up with a lower number - has passed unanimously in the joint Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee. Members said the differences between their numbers and the governor's just weren't…
House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said, “I’ll support the motion, because our differences are not that large at this point in the session.” The motion, from Sen. John Goedde, seconded by Sen. Cliff Bayer, would accept the governor’s revenue projection for fiscal years 2014 and…
Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, has moved to accept the governor’s forecast as reasonable. “If you look at the difference between the committee median and the governor’s, over the course of two years we’re within $30 million. That’s really close,” he said That’s out of…
Derek Santos, chief economist for the state, is presenting his revenue forecast to the joint legislative Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee; Santos said he’s lowered his estimated growth for the current year, fiscal year 2014, to 2.1 percent from the previous 5.3 percent that…
A pilot program to begin experimenting with pre-K education in Idaho schools is gaining support, with bipartisan sponsorship and an array of groups, from Idaho Business for Education, to Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney, to the United Way, the YMCA and KidsCount endorsing the move.…
There’s a big “Add the Words” rally scheduled on the state Capitol steps this Saturday at 1 p.m., to push to add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the types of discrimination banned under the Idaho Human Rights Act. “Across the state, people…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In the congressional fundraising horse race, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson says he outraised challenger Bryan Smith nearly four-to-one in 2013's final quarter. Smith announced Thursday that he raised $111,066 in the fourth…
JFAC has started its agency budget hearings this morning, with the Legislative Services Office up first. Legislative Services Director Jeff Youtz said the LSO has a unique staff structure for a state Legislature, with all divisions, including, research and bill-drafting, audits and information technology for…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
