On tonight’s “Idaho Reports,” I join Jim Weatherby, Bill Dentzer, and co-hosts Aaron Kunz and Melissa Davlin to discuss the events of the 11th week of the legislative session, and to analyze Davlin’s timely interview with Gov. Butch Otter this week, which is featured on…
Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador cast one of just 37 “no” votes in the House this week on a measure that included funding for reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides millions to rural, timber-dependent Idaho counties for schools and roads. The bill passed,…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the public school budget set in JFAC today, which, at $1.48 billion in state funds, matches Gov. Butch Otter’s call for a 7.4 percent increase and fully funds the first year of a five-year plan…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho would have the ability to enter into an interstate compact to pursue transferring control of federal lands under a proposal making its way through the Statehouse. House lawmakers voted 45-23 on Friday…
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected claims from attorneys for multiple murderer Joseph Duncan that the killer was incompetent to waive appeals of his death sentence, and dismissed the appeal that defense attorneys filed on his behalf. The attorneys still could seek...
Idaho schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra is praising the budget for public schools set by JFAC today, saying she has “deep appreciation” for it; the budget matches Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation for a 7.4 percent increase in school funding next year. Ybarra had requested just 6.4…
Artists from Treefort are performing in the first-floor rotunda of the Capitol right now, as part of an offshoot of the indie-rock music festival dubbed “Treefort.” Here, Alicia Murphy performs, filling the rotunda, all the way up, with sound; people are gathered here and there...
The Senate has confirmed Col. Ralph Powell for another four-year term as director of the Idaho State Police, on a unanimous voice vote with no debate. Senate Judiciary Chair Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, praised Powell’s service and qualifications; that was followed by a quick voice…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has voted along party lines in favor of HB 311, the sweeping tax bill proposed by House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, and House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, to lower the top income tax rate, remove the sales tax...
On a divided voice vote, the Senate State Affairs Committee has approved HB 301, the concealed-carry bill, which revises and streamlines Idaho’s laws regarding concealed weapons permits, removes any requirements for permits outside city limits, and leaves as-is the current exemption from the permit law…
SB 1066, to authorize a new presidential primary election on the second Tuesday of March, hasn’t passed the House yet, but JFAC this morning voted 14-6 to authorize the up to $2 million in funding that would be needed if the bill passes. If it…
JFAC has moved on to other year-end budget items, with today likely its last meeting. A proposal from Senate Finance Vice-Chair Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, to allocate $27 million for firefighting costs in next year’s budget passed on a 16-2 vote. Typically, lawmakers would wait until...
A big settlement the Idaho Attorney General’s office obtained in February from Standard & Poor’s Financial Services will be tapped to cover unexpected increased costs for public schools in Idaho in the current year, under a plan that won unanimous support in the Joint Finance-Appropriations...
So how does the public school budget crafted by members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee manage to hit the governor’s recommended figure of $1.47578 billion in state general funds, a 7.4 percent increase, despite a big, unexpected jump in the number of students in the…
For the Operations division of the public school budget, both competing proposals in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning included a $5 million increase – a 66 percent increase – for classroom technology next year, vs. the $11 million increase recommended by Gov. Butch Otter;…
The budget for the Teachers division of the public school budget also has won unanimous, 20-0 support from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. It includes full funding for the first year of the new teacher career ladder, at $33.5 million. It also provides for 3 percent…
The public school budget is divided into seven budget bills: Administrators, Teachers, Operations, Childrens Programs, Facilities, and Central Services. A bipartisan group of seven JFAC members proposed the motion for the first division, Administrators, and it passed unanimously, on a 20-0 vote. That division includes…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has reconvened this morning, with the top agenda item to set the public schools budget. It’s the single largest piece of Idaho’s state budget; it comprises about 48 percent of general fund spending.
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
