Essential StateImpact: Top Five Posts of the Week

Each week we compile our stories that got the most views, comments and shares.  So, in case you missed anything, take a closer look.

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  Mascht_T / Flickr

  Bogus Basin Ski Area Cuts Pay, Hours and Jobs: The lack of snow is hurting Boise’s local ski hill.  The Idaho Business Review reports Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area cut all year-round workers’ pay by 10 percent as it heads for the latest opening in the resort’s history.

• Rep. Maxine Bell: We’re Not in a Position to Lower Taxes at This Point: Rep. Bell (R-Jerome) is co-chairman of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee, the committee that crafts the annual state budget.  We spoke with Bell in advance of the session and this is our Q & A with her.
• Liveblog: Legislative Preview: The Associated Press hosted an event this week where state media could ask leading lawmakers and the governor about their agenda’s for the session which starts Monday.  We were there and liveblogged the event.
• Democrats, Republicans Working on Proposals to Boost Idaho Job Growth: Democrats and Republicans agree the state is in need of more jobs, their ideas for creating those jobs differ.  We spoke with leading lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to see how they think jobs can be created.
• Tobacco, Education Lobbyists Top Spenders During 2011 Session: We have a list of the 30 top-spending lobbyists from the 2011 session.  Its no surprise big tobacco and education groups spent the most.  We’ll be tracking results to see how much that changes during the 2012 session.