Emilie Ritter Saunders was StateImpact Idaho's multimedia reporter until the project merged with the Boise State Public Radio site in July 2013. She previously worked as the Capitol Bureau Chief for Montana Public Radio and was a Senior Fellow with NPR's Economic Training Project from 2009 until 2010. She graduated from the University of Montana School of Journalism in 2007.
The Joint Finance Appropriations Committee has agreed to budget from a figure that’s about $33 million less than Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter’s recommendation.
JFAC agreed with its colleagues in the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee to set its revenue estimate below the Governor’s number. Now, lawmakers will set the state spending plan for fiscal year 2013 with the assumption it has $2.66 billion to allocate. Governor Otter’s budget plan assumed the state could spend $2.7 billion, a difference of about $33 million.
The committee voted along party lines, 16 Republicans for and four Democrats against, to adopt the lower revenue estimate.
JFAC will now start crafting it’s budget for 2013. It hopes to be finished by early March.
Congress is expected to pass a $150 billion economic deal today that would extend a payroll tax cut for 10 months and extend unemployment benefits through the end of the year.
But as The Washington Postreports the deal would reduce those unemployment benefits by the end of the year from the current maximum of 99 weeks to 63 weeks in states that have been moderately affected by the recession and 73 weeks in states that have the highest jobless rates. Continue Reading →
Idaho lawmakers are considering a bill to cap how much interest payday lenders can charge borrowers.
Many payday loan stores charge interest rates of up to 400 percent. House Bill 470 would cap interest rates at 36 percent. Bill co-sponsor Sen. Lee Heider (R-Twin Falls) told the Idaho Press-Tribune, “our society isn’t as well-off right now as it has been, so people are being taken advantage of.” Continue Reading →
The top employer in more than half of Idaho’s 44 counties is a local, state or federal government entity. Sixteen counties have a private company as the largest employer. We’re looking at who some of those private companies are, and in some cases, they’re a bit unexpected.
Click on the map to see Shoshone County's top five employers
Shoshone County is known as the Silver Valley because of its long history of metal mining, but mines aren’t the top employer anymore. A car dealership is.
Dave Smith Motors employs about 400 people, according to data from the state. Hecla Mining, the operator of the Lucky Friday Mine comes in a close second, with about 300 employees, although that mine is shut down for the next year.
Local economic development specialist Vern Hanson says it might be unusual for a county’s top employer to be a car dealership, but it’s been a boon for the local economy. Continue Reading →
EMSI says there are currently more than 11,000 nurse jobs in Idaho
A Moscow, Idaho based economic modeling company has released its predictions for the Gem State’s top jobs in 2012.
Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. or EMSI says registered nurses, nuclear engineers and electrical power-line installers and repairers are the three best jobs to seek this year. EMSI says those three professions have seen some of the best pay and growth over the last five years. Continue Reading →
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum pauses during a rally February 13, 2012 in Tacoma, Washington
As Rick Santorum makes campaign stops in Idaho, two of the Gem State’s top Republican lawmakers stump for Mitt Romney.
Sen. Jim Risch and Governor Butch Otter say the presidential race comes down to straightening out the economy.
“He knows and he understands job creation,” Risch says. “What the government’s role is in that, what the government can and can’t do, and I’m very, very comfortable with that.” Continue Reading →
California & Pennsylvania lead the nation in cocoa and chocolate manufacturing
We all know flower shops and candy makers see a big boost around February 14th, but these businesses operate year round and employ hundreds of thousands of people. The U.S. Census Bureau puts together interesting lists of data for many holidays. Check out some interesting stats on the industries certainly getting some help from Valentine’s Day.
By the numbers
17,124 | The number of florists nationwide in 2009. These businesses employed 75,855 people.
24,973 | The number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2009. In February 2011, these stores sold $2.27 billion in merchandise. Continue Reading →
Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul debate in Florida.
Two Republican presidential hopefuls will be in Idaho this week to campaign in advance of the Gem State’s March 6th caucus. Rick Santorum will host two rallies on Tuesday, one in Coeur d’Alene the other in Boise. Mitt Romney will reportedly host a private fundraiser and a public rally in Boise on Friday.
Idaho’s caucus is just over two weeks away. So we thought it’s time to take a closer look at where the four top GOP candidates stand on basic economic policy.
StateImpact New Hampshire has crafted this easily digestible look at where each of the candidates stands on individual income tax, corporate tax and federal spending.
Keep in mind there are five Republican candidates on Idaho’s ballot: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Buddy Roemer.
On February 22 Buddy Roemer announced he is no longer running as a Republican, instead he’ll seek the presidency on a third party ticket.
Wheat ready for harvest. Wheat is one of Idaho's top ag exports.
Idaho’s Commerce Department reports exports totaled a record $5.89 billion in 2011. According to a press release, the department says exports were up more than 14 percent last year compared to 2010.
Idaho’s top exports include; semiconductors (memory chips), industrial equipment, precious and semi-precious metals, agriculture commodities, processed food, fertilizers, paper products and personal care products. Continue Reading →
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