Legislative News

Idaho wolf foe says decision will aid his wolf-removal initiative Ron Gillett, the head of the Anti Wolf Coalition in Idaho, said now that the wolf is back on the federal endangered species list, he'll try again to get an initiative calling for removal of wolves back on the ballot.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/23/2008

Idaho attorney general finds nothing illegal in tax commission's actions The veteran tax commissioner who complained that Idaho's four tax commissioners routinely settled tax protests with corporations, many from out of state, panned the opinion of the Idaho's attorney general office that said the compromises broke no laws.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/17/2008

Risch, Minnick hold cash advantage over rivals for Idaho seats Republican Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch has raised four times the cash Democrat Larry LaRocco has in the campaign for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Sen. Larry Craig's retirement. But Democratic contender Walt Minnick has the financial edge over incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Sali in the race for Idaho's 1st Congressional District seat.
Idaho Statesman 7/16/2008

Idaho governor's road show opens to a packed house in Caldwell In the first of six public meetings Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has planned across the state to discuss transportation projects and how to pay for them, dozens of people packed the meeting room at The College of Idaho in Caldwell to share their ideas.
Idaho Statesman 7/15/2008

Nevada senator takes plea for FLDS investigation to Congress Nevada Sen. Harry Reid will appeal to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee next week to launch a federal criminal investigation of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Salt Lake Tribune 7/15/2008

Idaho reports $221M surplus at end of fiscal year 2008 Sales tax collections and revenue projections didn't meet expectations this fiscal year in Idaho, but state officials said the year closed with $221.8 million in surplus funds.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/15/2008

Idaho governor takes transportation dilemma on the road Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, members of his staff and Idaho Department of Transportation officials will hold the first meeting of the "Building Roads, Building Bridges, Building Consensus" tour designed to gather public input on how best to pay for upgrading and maintaining the state's roads.
Coeur d'Alene Press 7/14/2008

Colorado Wild warns of unintended consequences of Udall bill U.S. Rep. Mark Udall's proposed amendment to the 1986 law governing ski-area permits on federal lands to provide other year-round outdoor recreational opportunities is too vague, said Colorado Wild Director Ryan Demmy Bidwell, and he said the amendment could open up such areas to such things as roller coasters and water parks.
Durango Herald 7/11/2008

Candidates for Idaho's U.S. Senate seat to discuss strategy today Democrat Larry LaRocco and Independent Rex Rammell will hold a joint press conference today in Boise to discuss holding a series of live debates across the state, and are challenging Republican Jim Risch to join them.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/11/2008

U.S. House sends catastrophic wildfire funding bill to the Senate On Wednesday, the U.S. House passed the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, which creates a special federal fund for fighting catastrophic wildfires; the bill now moves on to the Senate for action.
Idaho Statesman 7/10/2008

Bush administration opposes bill to compensate ranchers for wolf kills Legislation sponsored by Montana Sen. Jon Tester and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso would provide matching federal funds to state programs designed to compensate livestock producers for animals killed by wolves, but at a hearing Wednesday on the bill, Interior officials said the federal government should not be responsible for such payments.
Casper Star-Tribune 7/10/2008

Idaho man to take the helm at American Petroleum Institute Former Mud Lake resident Jack Gerard will take the post of president of the American Petroleum Institute on Nov. 1; the Idaho native has also served as the head of the National Mining Association and president of the American Chemistry Council.
Idaho Statesman 7/9/2008

Idaho orders independent audit of state tax commission decisions After a 28-year Idaho State Tax Commission auditor charged that the state's tax commission members routinely settled corporations' tax protests contrary to state law, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter announced retired Boise accountant P. LaVern Gentry will conduct an independent audit of the state panel's decisions.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/9/2008

Idaho governor wants nonmotorized watercraft to be registered Idaho's 880 square miles of water, its teeming rivers and creeks, are a draw for watercraft, motorized and human-powered, and Idaho's consideration of a proposal to require all watercraft be registered has roiled the waters of public debate.
Los Angeles Times 7/6/2008

High court's ruling on gun ownership resonates in Idaho An Idaho man who co-authored a paper cited in Justice Antonin Scalia's majority opinion on gun rights was particularly pleased with Thursday's Supreme Court decision.
Idaho Statesman 6/27/2008

Idaho tax panel finds no wrongdoing in corporate tax compromises Members of the Idaho State Tax Commission said their review of the state's compromise agreements with corporations over taxes due found no wrongdoing, and that the settlements, which are not public, are proper and save the state money that would be spent litigating tax protests.
Idaho Statesman 6/26/2008

Cancer claims Idaho state senator Sen. Tom Gannon's wife was appointed to fill his place in the 2008 Idaho legislative session while he fought lung cancer, which claimed the lawmaker at age 62.
Idaho Statesman 6/25/2008

Idaho congressional candidates focus on energy U.S. Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho, said he believes ramping up domestic production of oil is the best way to address increasing energy costs, but his Democratic opponent Walt Minnick said a multipronged approach, which includes domestic drilling, alternative energy and conservation efforts, is a better way to go.
Idaho Statesman 6/23/2008

Humane Society, Idaho lawmakers at odds over horse-slaughter bill Idaho officials, including U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, said legislation supported by the Humane Society of the United States that would put an end to the shipping of horses from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico for slaughter, will lead to more horses being abandoned on public lands, a position with which Humane Society officials do not agree.
Twin Falls Times-News 6/23/2008

Obama's new chief of staff has Idaho ties, too Jim Messina, Montana Sen. Max Baucus' chief of staff who is leaving that position to take the post of chief of staff with Barack Obama's presidential campaign, moved with his family to Idaho when he was three. Messina graduated from Boise High School in 1988, and still has family in the Treasure Valley.
Idaho Statesman 6/17/2008

Idaho Republicans pick a new state leader Norm Semanko ousted two-term Idaho Republican Chairman Kirk Sullivan at the party's state convention on Saturday.
Idaho Statesman 6/16/2008

Push on for Congress to get wilderness bills passed In addition to the bill passed that designated 106,000 acres of land in Washington state as wilderness, the U.S. House has passed five other bills designating more than 500,000 acres of federal land across the nation as wilderness; the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approved another four bills and could pass more. Has a graphic showing current legislation that includes areas in Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Washington Post 6/16/2008

Alliance plans effort to unseat GOP leadership in Idaho this weekend At the Idaho Republican Party's convention this weekend in Sandpoint, an alliance of Ron Paul libertarians, social conservatives and those who want a closed GOP primary plan will work on deposing the party's two-term state chairman.
Twin Falls Times-News 6/13/2008

U.S. House passes Amtrak funding bill by veto-proof margin, too Both the U.S. House and Senate have approved a nearly $15-billion, five-year funding bill for Amtrak by veto-proof margins.
Billings Gazette 6/12/2008

Mexico consulate to open in Idaho later this year Idaho Congressman Bill Sali had tried to delay the opening of a Mexican consulate in Boise until federal officials could provide assurance that the consulate wouldn't aid illegal immigrants by issuing identification cards that they could then use to open bank accounts and access other services.
Twin Falls Times-News 6/11/2008

Leadership challenge arises on the eve of Idaho GOP convention Idaho Republicans will gather tomorrow in Sandpoint and choose their leaders for the next two years, but on Tuesday, Norm Semanko, an agribusiness lobbyist and 2006 congressional candidate, stepped up to challenge Chairman Kirk Sullivan, who has held the post for four years.
Idaho Statesman 6/11/2008

Montana's congressman: Better bill exists to fund rural schools Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg said he voted against Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio's bill to extend federal payments to rural counties most affected by a loss of timber income because that bill tied the payments to oil revenues, but said he would support another bill sponsored by Oregon Rep. Greg Walden that would renew federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes funds and Secure Rural Schools for another four years.
Ravalli Republic 6/9/2008

Bill to extend timber payments to rural counties fails in the U.S. House Although a majority of representatives voted in favor a measure to extend payments to rural counties in Oregon and other states where timber revenues from federal lands are declining, special House rules that did not allow amendments led to the demise of the bill, sparking another round of angry words between Oregon's Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio and his Republican counterpart Rep. Greg Walden.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer 6/6/2008

Bill to end access fees on federal lands remains in Senate committee Montana Sen. Max Baucus' Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act, legislation designed to end federal lands agencies' authority to impose recreational access fees and increase the fees charged at national parks and supported by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, remains stalled in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Twin Falls Times-News 6/6/2008

BLM officials say they need another 10 years on OHV plans At an oversight hearing before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, Bureau of Land Management officials said they'll need at least another decade to complete local travel plans, but Committee Chairman New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman said the agency must get the resources to get plans in place sooner than that.
Billings Gazette 6/6/2008