Legislative & Political News

Idaho conservation leader headed to D.C. for clean energy summit Idaho Conservation League Program Director Justin Hayes will participate in Friday's Clean Energy Economy Forum in Washington D.C., hosted by Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Jackson and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Idaho Statesman 11/19/2009

Idaho governor warns more cuts ahead Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said the state government may be scaled back in size to where it was five years ago, but details about such cuts won't be released until he gives his State of the State speech in early January.
Idaho Statesman 11/19/2009

Idaho congressman's bill would reimburse veterans for travel costs Idaho U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick wants the federal government to reimburse veterans for travel expenses if they have to travel more than 150 miles for treatment at a Veterans Administration hospital or clinic.
Twin Falls Times-News 11/19/2009

Former Idaho Sen. Craig warns cattlemen to stay vigilant Former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig spoke at the Idaho Cattle Association's annual conference in Sun Valley on Tuesday, where he warned attendees that federal legislation, such as the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act, were being interpreted differently than they were intended, and that ranchers needed to stay involved to keep their place on the range.
Twin Falls Times-News 11/18/2009

Idaho congressman wants more focus for federal training programs Idaho U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick and other House Democrats are proposing legislation that would reform federal workforce training programs to focus on training and education that puts workers on paths to "careers in the 21st century economy."
Idaho Statesman 11/18/2009

Former Alaska governor to sign books in Idaho on Dec. 10 On Dec. 10, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will sign copies of her new book, "Going Rogue," at a Fred Meyer store in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Coeur d'Alene Press 11/18/2009

Idaho governor, ranchers dispute slickspot peppergrass listing The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to list slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum), a rare flowering plant found in southwest Idaho's desert and other areas of the state, as threatened on Dec. 7, a decision that is being fought by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and the Idaho ranchers who helped develop the state's "candidate species conservation plan" for the plant that received federal approval.
Idaho Statesman 11/17/2009

Former transportation director files gender-bias lawsuit against Idaho Pam Lowe, Idaho's first-ever female transportation director who lost her job in July, sued the state of Idaho last week, alleging that she had lost her job because she resisted political pressure on awarding contracts, and on Monday, she revised her lawsuit to include allegations of gender bias.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 11/17/2009

In Idaho congressional race, Roberts out, Labrador in Just 90 minutes after Idaho state Rep. Ken Roberts announced Tuesday he would not seek the Republican Party's nomination in the state's 1st District congressional race, GOP Rep. Raul Labrador of Eagle said he would make a formal announcement of his candidacy next week.
Idaho Statesman 11/13/2009

Montana governor, PSC official tangle over transmission line to Idaho Montana Public Service Commission Brad Molnar wants Gov. Brian Schweitzer to provide all computer records on the proposed Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI), a 430-mile transmission line from southwest Montana into Idaho, and the governor's office said they're willing to provide the records as soon as Molnar coughs up the cash to pay for the search.
Billings Gazette 11/9/2009

Group names Idaho senator 'river champion' Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo's Owyhee Canyonlands bill protected 16 rivers in that area as Wild and Scenic, and American Rivers named the Idaho Republican a "river champion" for his work.
Idaho Statesman 11/6/2009

Booted Idaho Transportation official cites political cronyism Idaho Transportation Director Pam Lowe was fired on July 31, and the wrongful termination lawsuit she is filing today against the state alleges that she was fired because of her unwillingness to send contracts and funding to politically connected companies.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 11/6/2009

Idaho's budget woes slice through natural-resource agencies The latest round of general-fund holdbacks announced by Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter hit the state's natural resource agencies particularly hard, with the Idaho Department of Water Resources losing 16 jobs and a hiring freeze leaving 11 other positions open.
Twin Falls Times-News 11/6/2009

Voters in 3 Idaho counties reject jail bond measures Measures on the ballots in Kootenai, Jerome and Canyon counties in Idaho to build or expand jail facilities all failed on Tuesday.
Idaho Statesman 11/5/2009

Streetcar plan an issue in Idaho city's election Across the nation, cities are competing for federal stimulus funds to build out streetcar systems, and the issue has become one in contention in several mayoral races, including in Boise, Idaho.
Idaho Statesman 11/2/2009

Defenders of Wildlife take Idaho, Montana wolf hunts to NYC Defenders of Wildlife is running an ad campaign in Times Square in New York City to get the word out about the wolf hunts allowed in Montana and Idaho.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle 10/29/2009

AP analysis finds stimulus-created jobs overcounted The Associated Press reviewed data from the first reports filed on federal stimulus spending, and found that the federal government overstated by thousands the number of jobs created or saved with federal stimulus funds, including in Colorado, where Englewood-based Tele Tech Government Solutions said 4,231 jobs were created, a figure that has been downsized to fewer than 1,000.
Denver Post 10/29/2009

New Yorker challenges Idaho U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo William Bryk, a bankruptcy attorney from Brooklyn, N.Y., has filed to run as a Democrat against incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Crapo in 2010, and Idaho law will allow him to do that as long as Bryk is a resident of Idaho on the day of the November general election in 2010; Bryk has a history of running for office at various levels of government in various states.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 10/29/2009

Scofflaw bidder on Utah leases wants Andrus, Hansen to testify Tim DeChristopher, the University of Utah student who bid and won 14 energy leases in Utah at a Bureau of Land Management auction in December, is claiming his bogus bids were a volley in the fight against climate change, and has listed former Interior Secretary and Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus and NASA climate scientist James Hansen, who have been warning about greenhouse gases and climate change for decades, as expert witnesses.
Salt Lake Tribune 10/27/2009

West's transmission capacity topic of discussion at Wyo. conference At the Western States Energy and Environment Symposium in Wyoming, representatives agreed that the region needs expanded transmission capacity to accommodate new renewable energy projects, and that getting those transmission lines built is proving to be nearly impossible.
Billings Gazette 10/27/2009

Change to gun policy in national parks broader than envisioned Several National Park Service employees and legal experts said the change in gun policy in national parks signed into law this year by President Obama and set to take effect Feb. 1 was broadened by a rider Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn attached to credit card legislation to include anyone who visits a national park or wildlife refuge, not just those who have concealed weapons permits, and in Wyoming, that means anyone who visits a park can carry a gun openly.
Jackson Hole News & Guide 10/21/2009

Idaho U.S. Rep. Minnick collects $290K for re-election run A Federal Election Commission report filed Thursday by U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick said that the Idaho Democrat had raised $290,000 for his re-election campaign; GOP contenders Vaughn Ward and Ken Roberts said they have raised $110,000 and $54,920 respectively.
Idaho Statesman 10/16/2009

Idaho community fights subdivision on former golf course The residents of Pleasant Valley who bought their homes around the Pleasant Valley Golf Course more than a decade ago, said they did not trust developer Carl Feldhusen and told Scott Allen, a senior planner with The Land Group, and two Realtors from Magic Valley Realty, that they did not want houses built on what was the back 9 holes of the Idaho golf course, and that they wanted the course restored.
Twin Falls Times-News 10/16/2009

Idaho spends $12.8M in federal stimulus funds, creating 492 jobs In a report filed with the federal government, Idaho agencies reported spending $12.8 million in federal stimulus funds and that 492 jobs have been created so far with the money.
Idaho Statesman 10/15/2009

Idaho lawmakers hear grave message about budget At a meeting Wednesday of the Idaho Senate and House Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, state legislators heard that despite recent, additional budget cuts the state is still facing a $40 million budget deficit.
Idaho Statesman 10/15/2009

NRA asks Montana court to let it into wolf-delisting lawsuit The National Rifle Association filed documents in federal court in Montana last week asking that the group be allowed to join the lawsuit regarding the removal of wolves from the federal Endangered Species list, alleging that if the 13 conservation groups fighting the species delisting are successful, NRA members will be deprived of their right to hunt and enjoy recreational opportunities in Montana and Idaho "due to the threat to themselves, their pets and their prey from problem wolves."
Helena Independent Record 10/14/2009

Idaho's federal lawmakers open up about their insurance coverage With the national focus on health care and the cost of medical insurance, Idaho's congressional delegation released the details of their coverage - which is not, as rumors would have it, free.
Idaho Statesman 10/12/2009

Idaho governor to tour Magic Valley this week Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter will tour the Hilex Poly Co. plant in Jerome on Wednesday; address the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon that day; and end his visit to the Magic Valley with a visit to the Jerome High School Library to see a demonstration of a new seismograph.
Twin Falls Times-News 10/12/2009

Groups: Obama administration's salmon plan contains nothing new Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe, conservation groups and salmon fishermen filed formal responses to the Obama administration's plan for saving threatened and endangered salmon that criticized the plan for not taking immediate action to help salmon, such as increasing water releases from Columbia River dams at times when young fish are migrating downstream.
Idaho Statesman 10/9/2009

Anti-nuclear group in Idaho celebrates 3 decades of work The Snake River Alliance was formed in 1979 to watch over the activities at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory, with the Alliance's first campaign focused on preventing the U.S. Department of Energy from injecting waste into the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer.
Idaho Statesman 10/9/2009