The Senate Education Committee is hearing introductions and presentations from education stakeholder groups today; three of them, the Idaho Education Association, the Idaho School Boards Association, and the Idaho School Administrators Association, appeared together. “Over the past few years, we’ve worked very hard to find...
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it's investigating after Idaho officials reported inadvertently putting tracking collars on four wolves during recent helicopter flights into a central Idaho wilderness restricted to putting collars on elk....
Idaho’s state agencies have been suffering from “wage compression,” Jani Revier, Gov. Butch Otter’s budget director, told lawmakers on the joint Change in Employee Compensation Committee this afternoon; you can listen live here. “Employees have not been progressing through the pay grade, and this has…
Idaho Rep. Pete Nielsen of Mountain Home has been cited with unlawful possession of an elk. The Republican lawmaker entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday in 4th District Magistrate Court. Officials...
With no discussion, the House State Affairs Committee has voted unanimously to introduce the second bill it’s considered this year, a proposal from the state Liquor Division to ban powdered alcohol. That move clears the way for a full hearing on the bill. Jeff Anderson,…
The first bill proposed to a legislative committee this session – a pipeline safety program fines bill from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission – has been rejected. As he began his presentation to the House State Affairs Committee this morning, Idaho PUC Commissioner Paul Kjellander,…
Idaho’s all-GOP congressional delegation gave President Obama’s final State of the Union address last night the thumbs-down, will all four issuing statements decrying the president and his message. “Instead of attacking Americans’ liberties, the President should work with Congress to secure our borders and protect…
Reps. Heather Scott, Sage Dixon and Judy Boyle held an impromptu press conference in the Capitol just now to discuss their trip over the weekend to visit protesters who have taken over a federal wildlife refuge near Burns, Ore. Dixon, R-Ponderay, said the armed protesters...
Idaho legislators are undergoing civil discourse training today, working with the National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona. The institute has worked with 12 other states, but Idaho is the first to schedule a Legislature-wide training session backed by leadership; Maine is...
When three Idaho state representatives joined lawmakers from Washington and Oregon over the weekend to visit the armed protesters occupying a federal wildlife refuge near Burns, Ore., they also met with law enforcement officials, said Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, who was among the group. “We...
Organizers have just announced “with deep regret” that they’re cancelling a presentation on refugee resettlement in Idaho featuring law enforcement, resettlement and faith leaders that had been set for this Thursday evening, at the same time as a competing event featuring two anti-Islam speakers in...
The Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is hearing this morning from Jani Revier, the governor’s budget director, on Gov. Butch Otter’s budget proposal. The room is full – standing room only – but you can watch live here. Otter's $3.3 billion general fund budget proposal would...
Idaho must change its trapping rules, because current rules are violating the Endangered Species Act in North Idaho by allowing inadvertent trapping of federally protected Canada lynx, a federal judge ruled today. Patrick Carney, president of the Idaho Trappers Association, told the Associated Press that…
The state Board of Education met today, and voted unanimously to endorse the education budget and initiatives Gov. Butch Otter outlined in his State of the State address this afternoon. Board President Don Soltman said in a statement, “Today, Gov. Otter outlined education initiatives to…
Education dominated Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s 10th State of the State message to lawmakers on Monday, as he laid out an aggressive plan to boost public schools and higher education in Idaho after years of lagging; here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com.…
Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, the new Senate co-chair of the budget-setting Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, is welcoming Gov. Butch Otter’s revenue estimate that underlies his budget proposal for next year. Otter set his revenue projection at 4.9 percent growth in the general fund for fiscal year…
Minority Democrats from the House and Senate said in their response to Gov. Butch Otter’s State of the State message this afternoon that the governor’s not going far enough to restore education funding or address the health coverage gap. “If this is the right thing…
A coalition of 120 organizations called “Close the Gap Idaho” held a press conference in the 4th floor rotunda of the Capitol this afternoon to say Gov. Butch Otter’s $30 million health care plan won’t close Idaho’s health coverage gap. “This can’t be the total…
Taking questions from reporters after his State of the State speech today, Gov. Butch Otter was asked if his education proposals come because he’s concerned about his legacy as governor. “I don’t know if you’re going to believe this, but I haven’t spent five minutes...
Idaho state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra was ebullient after Gov. Butch Otter's State of the State address, in which he backed several of her major proposals, including restoring operational, or discretionary, funds for schools back to 2009 levels. "I think that it's a great time…
Gov. Butch Otter has concluded his State of the State message to a joint session of the Legislature; as he shook hands with Supreme Court justices on his way off the dais, he joked "Get me outta here!" Otter's address touched on an array of...
Gov. Butch Otter spoke out on the need for raises for state employees in his State of the State message. "They take great pride in being public servants and in being responsive to the needs of Idaho citizens," he said. "That’s why I’m so pleased…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter says he’s set aside $5 million in his proposed state budget for next year to address public defense reform. After a short pause, lawmakers greeted the news with applause. It followed a strong statement from Otter about the need for the…
Idaho “cybersecurity” efforts are bringing in the military, Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers. “The Idaho Cyber Operations Squadron will include 71 Air Guard personnel, including 15 who will be working full-time on this important new mission. The Squadron also will be a great resource for…
Former state Commerce Director Jeff Sayer received sustained applause after Gov. Butch Otter recognized him in his State of the State message this afternoon, lauding his work. “The team he’s built and the programs he’s launched will continue to have a great impact on Idaho’s…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Dec. 2016 | Nov. 2016 | Oct. 2016 | Sept. 2016 |
| Aug. 2016 | July 2016 | June 2016 | May 2016 |
| April 2016 | March 2016 | Feb. 2016 | Jan. 2016 |
