Legislative & Political News

Idaho lawmakers OK new leasing rules for state lands On Wednesday, the Idaho House and Senate Resource committees approved rules developed by the Idaho Land Board last year that create new categories of leases for state lands, set out procedures for contested leases, and allow multiple leases on the same acres as long as they do not conflict; the rules take effect immediately.
Idaho Statesman 2/4/2010

Idaho parks board backs away from closure decisions The Idaho Parks and Recreation Board said Wednesday that it would reverse its decision to close some state parks to deal with proposed budget cuts; the board told said work was under way to find ways to keep all 30 state parks open.
Idaho Statesman 2/4/2010

Debate over Northern Rockies wolves all about the numbers The lawsuits over wolf management in the Northern Rockies focus primarily on the number of wolves needed for a sustainable population; Idaho and Montana say their population goals will do that, but wolf advocates disagree and dispute the science on which the numbers are based.
Missoulian 2/4/2010

Idaho water agency reports to Legislature on budget cuts Gary Spackman, interim director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, told members of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee how his agency will deal with the recommended budget cuts and the loss of 27 full-time and 21 temporary workers over the past two years.
Twin Falls Times-News 2/4/2010

Idaho House panel advances tax break for homeless shelters On Wednesday, the Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee sent a bill that would provide a two-year sales-tax exemption to nonprofit homeless shelters in the state to the full House for action, with a recommendation that the legislation pass.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 2/3/2010

Idaho Senate, House will debate state grazing leases today The resource committees of the Idaho House and Senate will debate proposed new rules that would allow sporting and environmental groups to bid for grazing leases on state lands.
Idaho Statesman 2/3/2010

Idaho state lands agency wants to raise timber harvest levels George Bacon, the director of Idaho's Department of Lands, told members of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee that he is recommending increasing timber harvests on state lands from 212 million board feet to 247 million board feet annually, a 16.5 percent increase.
Idaho Statesman 2/2/2010

Idaho lawmakers have plethora of parks plans to ponder Idaho Parks will present a new business plan to lawmakers today that include a wide range of proposals to make parks more self-sufficient.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 2/2/2010

Idaho cuts water quality contract with USGS Idaho's budget crisis has poured over into its water-quality monitoring contracts with the U.S. Geological Survey, forcing the state to end those contracts.
Idaho Statesman 2/1/2010

Idaho lawmaker tries again on bill to prevent hiring of illegal workers Idaho state Sen. Mike Jorgenson again presented legislation that would penalize companies that knowingly hire illegal workers; his legislation is one of three to address the issue this session.
Idaho Statesman 2/1/2010

Idaho senators submit bill for water work in wilderness areas Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch submitted a bill Thursday to give the U.S. Forest Service authority to sanction work by private landowners on water facilities in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness; a similar bill passed in the U.S. House this week.
Idaho Statesman 1/29/2010

Idaho schools chief asks lawmakers for $53M from reserve fund In order to fend off a 10 percent cut to public schools in 2011, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna proposed pulling $53 million from the $90 million Public Schools Earnings Reserve Fund administered by the Idaho Land Board.
Idaho Statesman 1/29/2010

Idaho Democrats roll out six bills to create jobs The "Idaho Jobs and Opportunity Blueprint," or I-JOBS, unveiled by state Democratic lawmakers, contains provisions to cut regulations for renewable energy projects, provide tax credits to employers that hire new workers and pay them more than $35,000 a year.
Idaho Statesman 1/28/2010

Idaho's newest college unlikely to get additional funding The College of Western Idaho has been in existence for just three semesters, but low-cost tuition and a flood of laid-off workers needing new careers has quadrupled enrollment at the school in Nampa; lawmakers said Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's recommendation for an additional $1 million for the overcrowded school won't be forthcoming because the state simply doesn't have the money.
Idaho Statesman 1/28/2010

Governor Otter gets earful on rural woes Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter held his 36th Capital for a Day in Shoshone on Wednesday, and rural Idahoans discussed the economy, proposed cuts to Idaho Public Television and state parks, as well as health care reform with the governor and his staff.
Idaho Statesman 1/28/2010

Angry Idaho lawmaker wants to strip Parks Board's power Idaho state Sen. Gary Schroeder said it doesn't make sense to end state funding for Dworshak State Park in his northcentral Idaho district, while paying 11 park planners at Parks and Recreation Board headquarters near Boise, and submitted legislation that would strip the Parks Board of any authority, making it an advisory only board.
BusinessWeek.com 1/28/2010

IPTV manager sounds warning about a rural blackout General manager Peter Morrill says rural Idahoans will lose their access and three channels will be cut if the agency's funding is eliminated.
Idaho Falls Post Register 1/28/2010

Idaho lawmakers hope to ease public TV cuts Members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee expressed doubts about Gov. Butch Otter's proposal to phase out state funding for Idaho Public Television over the next four years.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 1/28/2010

Idaho Senate panel pushes livestock-waste bill along Legislation designed to regulate how third-parties handle livestock waste was approved Tuesday by the Idaho Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee.
Twin Falls Times-News 1/27/2010

Idaho GOP congressional candidates stake out camps The Idaho Republican Party's distinct establishment and libertarian-conservative wings each have a candidate in the race for the state's 1st District, with state Rep. Raul Labrador and Vaughn Ward vying for the GOP's nomination.
Idaho Statesman 1/27/2010

Idaho legislators may halt expansion of grocery-tax credit Despite Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's vow to keep the planned expansion of Idaho's grocery tax credit on track, lawmakers concede delaying the expansion may have to be considered, given the state's predicted budget gap.
Idaho Statesman 1/27/2010

Idaho audit recommends replacing older prisons An audit performed by the Idaho Legislature's Office of Performance Evaluations found that it would be more cost effective to replace the Pocatello Women's Correction Center and some units of the Idaho Correctional Institution in Orofino and the Idaho Maximum Security Institution and Idaho State Correctional Institution in Boise, because operating costs of those units are so high.
Idaho Statesman 1/27/2010

Partisan politics sinks Idaho water bill Despite the noncontroversial nature of a federal piece of legislation designed to allow 20 private property owners to retain water rights within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho, partisan politics tanked the first version of the bill co-sponsored by Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and Democrat Rep. Walt Minnick, so now a new identical bill carrying Democrat U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick's name first is before the U.S. House.
Idaho Statesman 1/26/2010

Idaho congressman vows no earmarks in 2010 Idaho U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick said he will not submit any bills seeking federal funding for projects in 2010; the Democratic congressman made a similar promise last year.
Idaho Statesman 1/26/2010

Pocatello's Idaho Public TV Fears Closure The future of Idaho Public Television remains up in the air, after a proposal by Governor Otter to eliminate their annual $1.6 million in state funding over the next four years.
KIFI-Idaho Falls 1/26/2010

Idaho groups offer differing opinions on Endangered Species Act Agencies working in Idaho to meet requirements of the Endangered Species Act said they've met a lot of goals in the state, but conservation groups often have different opinions about the goals and processes needed to meet them. Another in a series.
Twin Falls Times-News 1/26/2010

Idaho groups, ranchers await USFWS decision on sage grouse A federal court ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to study sage grouse populations in 11 Western states and issue a decision by next month on whether the species deserves federal protection. Another in a series on the Endangered Species Act.
Twin Falls Times-News 1/26/2010

Thousands Showing Support For Idaho Public Television As the future of Idaho Public Television remains uncertain, one group of Idahoans is now working to ensure the network's signal is not shut off. A statewide campaign known as Save Idaho Public Television has organized in support of the state network.
KPVI-Pocatello 1/26/2010

Endangered Species Act continues to evolve The Twin Falls Times-News reviews the evolution of the federal Endangered Species Act and its impact on Idaho and the species that inhabit the Gem State. Part of a series.
Twin Falls Times-News 1/25/2010

Grazing a ground-zero issue in endangered species debate in Idaho Idaho-based Western Watersheds Project has been a vigorous opponent of public-lands grazing and the effect it has on native species, and the rancor between the Hailey-based group and Idaho ranchers is evident.
Twin Falls Times-News 1/25/2010