Idaho Legislature this week in photos 2/23-2/27/09

Here is the seventh week of the Idaho Legislature's 2009 session in photos

Section:Gallery

Sat., Feb. 28, 2009

The Idaho Legislature's joint budget committee begins a week of hearings on what's in the federal economic stimulus for Idaho, 2/23/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
The hearing room is packed on Monday morning for a public hearing on legislation to raise Idaho's beer and wine taxes for the first time in more than four decades. Keith Allred, a former Harvard professor who heads the good-government group The Common Interest, presents the bill to the committee to begin the public hearing, 2/23/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
George Dillard of the Idaho Good Sams testifies against legislation to raise Idaho's beer tax, saying, "You're hitting the retired community kinda hard."

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, cast the only vote against HB 137, a measure to allow the state Parks Board to regulate discharge, but not possession, of firearms in state parks. Sponsors said last year's strict pre-emption bill, which sharply limited regulation of firearms in Idaho by anyone other than the Legislature, kept the parks board from banning shooting at campsites and the like to protect public safety. The bill passed the House 66-1 and headed to the Senate.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, and other members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee hear a presentation from legislative budget analysts suggesting that federal economic stimulus funds won't be enough to stave off the state's first-ever cuts in public schools next year.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
A second day of hearings on the proposed increase in Idaho's beer and wine taxes drew another big crowd, on both sides of the issue. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Puzzled members of the House Transportation Committee quiz Gov. Butch Otter's aides about one of his transportation proposals, adding fees to specialty plates, which then stalled in the committee amid an array of questions.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, tells legislative budget writers that cutting an early retirement incentive for teachers might actually cost the state money, rather than bring savings.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, tells legislative budget writers that education budget cuts likely will come in 2011 if they're avoided sooner, and that his committee favors spreading that impact out by looking at cuts next year.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, tells the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to spend federal economic stimulus money on shovel-ready road projects around the state that wouldn't be funded otherwise - like the Dover Bridge in North Idaho.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
House Health & Welfare Chairwoman Sharon Block urges the House Revenue & Taxation Committee to pass much-debated legislation to raise Idaho's beer and wine taxes - unchanged for more than four decades - to fund substance abuse treatment services in Idaho.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, speaks out against legislation to raise Idaho's beer and wine taxes to raise money for substance abuse treatment. The bill died in committee.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Legislative budget analyst Amy Castro presents a bewildering array of information to lawmakers about the impact of the federal stimulus on health and human services in the state. The rules are complex and vary, but the state could receive millions. Among those listening are JFAC members Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, and Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, 2/26/09

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Idaho state schools Supt. Tom Luna, photographed at a news conference Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, in Boise, says he's now convinced Idaho needs to cut up to $62 million from public schools next year despite federal economic stimulus aid. Luna, just back from a White House meeting about the stimulus package, said schools will see increases in federal money for specific programs like special education.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, sponsored legislation that passed the Senate 34-1 on Thursday to help law enforcement officers who are permanently disabled in the line of duty with health insurance costs for their families. Jorgenson worked on the bill for five years, after Coeur d'Alene police officer Mike Kralicek suffered critical injuries when he was shot in the face by a fleeing suspect in 2004; Kralicek lost the health insurance he used to provide for his family once he was no longer employed, so the family has to buy its own insurance. The bill funds the program entirely through slightly increased retirement contributions from the officers it covers.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Legislative budget analyst Paul Headlee briefs lawmakers about federal stimulus money for transportation and how it'll affect Idaho. Nearly all of the state fits the federal definition of "economically distressed" areas and therefore qualifies for priority funding for infrastructure improvements, Headlee said - except for the Ketchum-Sun Valley area.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review
Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, explains SB 1059a to other senators who had questions about the measure to allow higher incentive payments to Idaho Lottery retailers based on sales. Despite opposition, including much from opponents of the lottery who said they don't want sales pushed, the bill passed 19-14 and now moves to the House.

Betsy Russell The Spokesman-Review