Legislative News

Idaho governor lays out revenue plan for roads Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter's chief-of-staff filled in for the ill Idaho governor on Tuesday, giving attendees at an Associated Taxpayers of Idaho gathering in Boise, a preview of Otter's plan to raise revenue to build and repair the state's roads and bridges, which includes raising fuel taxes and vehicle-registration fees.
Idaho Statesman 12/4/2008

Washington, Idaho cut children's programs Budget shortfalls have forced Idaho and Washington state to cut some programs designed to protect vulnerable children, such as the Panhandle Health District's Public Health Nurse Home Visiting Program in North Idaho; in Washington state, the Department of Social and Health Services Children's Administration Region 1 office laid off 27 workers.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 12/4/2008

ProPublica Web site tracks midnight regulations ProPublica, an independent nonprofit newsroom, is tracking the Bush administration's midnight regulations, and includes instructions on how to track such changes yourself.
ProPublica 12/3/2008

Idaho university officials now say they won't seek increase of tuition cap Idaho college presidents asked the state Board of Education on Tuesday to take their proposed request to raise tuition beyond 10 percent off the board's agenda.
Idaho Statesman 12/3/2008

Idaho governor orders state agencies to cut budgets again On Monday, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter ordered state agencies to make another 3 percent cut in their budgets and to put another 2 percent in reserve in case the cuts aren't enough.
Idaho Statesman 12/2/2008

Idaho lawmaker wants to pay parents to teach kindergarten at home Idaho state Rep. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, plans to introduce legislation next year to pay parents who opt to teach their kindergartners at home.
Twin Falls Times-News 12/2/2008

In Congress' waning days, Indian Health bill languishes Congressional leaders acknowledged that it's doubtful they'll get legislation that would funnel $35 billion for American Indian health care programs over the next 10 years passed this session, although Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is hopeful the legislation will pass next session.
Helena Independent Record 12/1/2008

Retiring U.S. senators from Idaho, Colorado, N.M. close offices As they prepare to leave office, Idaho Sen. Larry Craig and New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici have closed all of their state offices, and Web sites for Craig and Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard indicate that comments will no longer be taken, while Domenici has shut down voters' email access to him.
Denver Post 11/25/2008

Huntsman, Schweitzer deliver Western govs' energy message to Obama Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer met with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team co-chair, John Podesta, on Friday to deliver the Western Governors Association's energy priorities.
Salt Lake Tribune 11/24/2008

Idaho agencies order employees to take holiday time off - without pay In an effort to cut costs, the Idaho Attorney General's office and the state Department of Agriculture are giving employees extra days off around Thanksgiving and Christmas, without pay.
Twin Falls Times News 11/20/2008

Idaho lawmakers will try again on Owyhee, White Clouds bills U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson said they'll continue their efforts to get their Idaho wilderness bills passed in the 111th Congress, now that it appears unlikely Congress will get to the measures in the waning days of this session.
Idaho Statesman 11/19/2008

U.S. Senate tables Public Lands Omnibus bill for this session On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, that the Senate would not have time to take up the Public Lands Omnibus Bill, which combines more than 150 bills to expand wilderness areas and allow a variety of land trades, this session but said it would likely be one of the first bills to be considered in January by the 111th Congress.
Deseret News 11/19/2008

Hundreds protest California's Prop. 8 at Idaho rally In an event Saturday morning in Boise, timed to coincide with similar events across the nation, hundred turned out to protest the passage of California's Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Idaho Statesman 11/17/2008

Oklahoma senator succeeds in blocking public-lands omnibus bill Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn's filibuster threat has apparently tabled a massive public-lands omnibus bill, although Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said that he intended to fight for the bill, which contains the Wyoming Range Legacy Act and the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act, as well as bills to designate areas of Idaho, Colorado and Oregon as wilderness.
Casper Star-Tribune 11/15/2008

Political, policy changes alter Northwest salmon debate The election of Idaho Republican Sen.-elect Jim Risch and Oregon Democrat Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley, both of whom have said they support a collaborative management plan for the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Bush administration's announced support of the removal of four dams on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, will significantly change the salmon debate in the Northwest. An analysis.
Idaho Statesman 11/14/2008

National property rights groups wrangle over Idaho wilderness bill The American Land Rights Association sent out an alert on Monday calling Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo's Owyhee Canyonlands bill a "land grab," a position another group, Stewards of the Range, called "not right or truthful."
Idaho Statesman 11/12/2008

Idaho governor warns more budget cuts may be necessary Analysts are crunching the numbers in preparation for a meeting next week between Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and state legislative leaders, but on Tuesday Otter predicted state agencies may have to make additional cuts to their budgets.
Idaho Statesman 11/12/2008

Democrat Minnick wins Idaho congressional race Democrat Walt Minnick was declared the victor in the race for Idaho's First Congressional District, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican Bill Sali.
Idaho Statesman 11/6/2008

Republican Risch easily wins race for Idaho's open U.S. Senate seat Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Risch easily defeated Democrat Larry LaRocco in the race for Idaho's open U.S. Senate seat, leaving Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter the task of appointing a new lieutenant governor.
Idaho Statesman 11/5/2008

Idaho congressional race too close to call With about half of the votes counted, Democrat Walt Minnick had 52 percent of the vote in Idaho's 1st Congressional District race, with Republican incumbent Bill Sali holding 48 percent of the votes.
Idaho Statesman 11/5/2008

Interior Dept., groups at odds over federal policy changes The Interior Department has released a number of proposals lately to tweak federal policies on endangered species, management of public lands in Utah and mountaintop mining that the federal agency said are minor, common-sense changes needed to balance environmental needs with the nation's energy policy, but environmental groups said those changes will overhaul, not adjust, policies.
Christian Science Monitor 11/5/2008

Idaho county voters OK conservation measure Blaine County's Proposition 1, which would increase property taxes for two years in the Idaho county to raise money to purchase land or development rights for preservation, appeared to be on the path to approval, while a second measure that would have permanently raised taxes to pay for a consolidated 9-1-1 dispatch center looked like it might fail.
Twin Falls Times-News 11/5/2008

Simpson wins sixth term in Idaho's 2nd Congressional District race Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson held a commanding lead over his Democratic challenger for Idaho's 2nd Congressional District, capturing 70 percent of the votes with 55 percent of the precincts reporting.
Twin Falls Times-News 11/5/2008

Incumbents win the day in south-central Idaho legislative races Magic Valley voters re-elected incumbents in the six contested legislative races in the Idaho valley, with Republican Sen. Dean Cameron, Democrat House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet, Republican Rep. Jim Patrick, Republican Rep. Stephen Hartgen, Republican Sen. Bert Brackett, and Republican Rep. Sharon Block all winning re-election.
Twin Falls Times-News 11/5/2008

Idaho voters have a slate of statewide choices to make, too Voters in Idaho will select their choice of candidates for the U.S. presidency today, but they'll also select a new U.S. senator, with Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Risch battling Democrat Larry LaRocco and independent candidate Rex Rammell for the seat left open by Sen. Larry Craig's decision not to seek re-election, and Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Sali is fighting for another term against Democrat Walt Minnick in the state's lst Congressional District.
Idaho Statesman 11/4/2008

Oregon senator lends Idaho U.S. Senate candidate a hand Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden was in Boise on Thursday to help fellow Democrat Larry LaRocco's campaign for Idaho's open U.S. Senate seat; Wyden participated in a roundtable discussion about health care reform, where he pushed for support of the Healthy Americans Act.
Idaho Statesman 10/31/2008

Idaho governor backs off plan for virtual horse-racing After two state legislative panels objected, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said he will ask the Idaho State Racing Commission to withdraw a temporary regulation that would allow the state to offer pari-mutuel betting on computer-generated horse races as early as mid-November.
Idaho Statesman 10/31/2008

Gun rights an issue in Idaho congressional race Even though Democrat Walt Minnick, who is challenging Republican Congressman Bill Sali, owns seven guns to Sali's five, the National Rifle Association gave Sali an A+ and Minnick a D+.
Idaho Statesman 10/30/2008

Idaho Democratic Party ad campaign shows Sali's Social Security number An ad campaign launched by the Idaho Democratic Party intended to highlight Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Sali's past financial difficulties clearly shows Sali's Social Security number, a detail the Idaho Republican Party says makes Sali the target for potential identity theft.
Twin Falls Times-News 10/30/2008

Idaho lawmakers slam the gate on virtual horse races A panel of Idaho lawmakers voted 5-1 to put the issue of allowing cyber horse racing in Idaho before the full Legislature, pulling the reins on a temporary rule backed by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and the Idaho State Racing Commission to allow betting on virtual races starting Nov. 17.
Idaho Statesman 10/29/2008