The House Health and Welfare Committee received an hour-long presentation Wednesday on the benefits of an innovative set of waivers designed by state agencies to address rising health insurance costs and make cheaper private insurance plans available to those in the Medicaid gap.“This approach will make a difference in thousands...
The Idaho Senate voted 34-1 today in favor of SB 1208, legislation from Senate Judiciary Chair Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, to expand the state’s current program that allows inmate labor to be used by Idaho farmers. Lodge, who also sponsored the original legislation in 2014,…
Concerned about soaring health care costs, Idaho on Wednesday revealed a plan that will allow insurance companies to sell cheap policies that ditch key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the AP reports. It’s believed to be the first state to take formal steps without...
Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Burdick’s voice broke as he announced to the House today that two Idaho judges have recently died – 5th District Judge Randy Stoker on Jan. 8, and 4th District Magistrate Judge William Harrigfeld on Dec. 13. They’re just the latest in an unprecedented string of judicial vacancies in the state...
Singer and actress Cher has endorsed Democratic state Rep. Paulette Jordan in the race to become Idaho's next governor. Cher tweeted Wednesday that she met Jordan at the Las Vegas women's march and said Idahoans would be well served under Jordan's leadership...
When a routine bill from the state Tax Commission came up for a vote in the House today – to conform 2017 Idaho income tax laws to federal changes, which is expected to have only minimal fiscal impact in Idaho – Reps. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg,...
Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, today endorsed conservative activist and end-times author Michael Snyder of Bonners Ferry in the 1st District GOP congressional primary, which already is crowded with a slew of other better-known Idaho Republicans. Snyder held a press conference on the Statehouse steps today...
The two major budget requests for next year from the University of Idaho – for Phase 2 of a library expansion for which lawmakers funded the first phase last year, and for funding and 3.8 positions to address needs of students with mental health issues…
University of Idaho President Chuck Staben told lawmakers in his budget presentation this morning, “The U of I has made great progress as an institution. … My presidency remains focused on growing U of I’s enrollment and leading an improvement in Idaho’s college-going culture.” Staben…
The Idaho Statesman, in a front-page story today, reports that public records requests have revealed that a harassment complaint from a teenage House page last year wasn’t just about “mildly flirty” comments from Rep. James Holtzclaw, as previously reported; it also included complaints about the…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
