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July 18, 2013

Idaho Ends Budget Year With $92.3 Million More Than Expected

Idaho ended its 2013 fiscal year with 6.3 percent more revenue than in 2012. The Division of Financial Management, under the governor’s office, reports tax collections for fiscal year 2013 came in at 3.5 percent above projections. Idaho collected $2.75 billion during the budget year that ended June 30. The Division reports all general fund […]

June 25, 2013

Cost Of Living Increases Mean More Idahoans Could Qualify For Food Assistance

A change in income guidelines means more Idahoans could qualify for food assistance through the WIC program. The supplemental nutrition program Women, Infants and Children, or WIC provides certain foods to pregnant or breastfeeding moms and families with children under age five. Starting July 1, a cost-of-living adjustment goes into effect. The Idaho Department of […]

The Minimum Wage In Idaho, 75 Years Later

President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the U.S. minimum wage 75 years ago today. On June 25, 1938, Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act. Since the minimum wage was created, it’s been increased federally at least 25 times. At least 18 states have increased the wage above the federal minimum, but not in Idaho. Idaho’s […]

June 12, 2013

Report Encourages Idaho Lawmakers To Consider All Factors When Making Tax Policy Changes

Idaho lawmakers have a new tool available to guide them in making tax policy decisions. The Legislature’s Office of Performance Evaluations presented a 38-page report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee this morning. The study, a Guide to Comparing Business Tax Policies, was requested by the 2012 Legislature. The report focuses on a couple of […]

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter Works Toward Third-Straight Year Of Tax Cuts

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is spending part of his week in Coeur d’Alene at Idaho’s largest business lobby’s annual convention. Gov. Otter’s spokesman says one of the administration’s main goals for the next legislative session is to pass a third-consecutive year of tax cuts. In 2012, the Legislature lowered corporate and individual income tax rates […]

June 11, 2013

Idaho’s Business Lobby To Set 2014 Legislative Agenda, Including More Tax Cuts

Idaho’s largest business lobby is hosting its annual policy meeting in Coeur d’Alene this week. According to the Coeur d’Alene Press, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is attending the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry retreat, along with about 60 legislators and 130 IACI members. Sure to be on IACI’s 2014 legislative agenda is a complete […]

June 10, 2013

Initiative Campaign Launches To Raise Idaho’s Minimum Wage

A voter initiative campaign has launched in North Idaho to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9.80. The Spokesman-Review reports the wage would phase up over the next four years if the ballot initiative is successful. Idaho has the largest percentage of minimum wage workers in the country. Plus, there are […]

June 3, 2013

Idaho Budget Writers To See Policy In Action

The lawmakers who shape Idaho’s annual budget will tour the northern part of the state this week to get a glimpse of their policy decisions in action. Members of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee, or JFAC, will spend three days at north Idaho businesses, landmarks, and schools. Legislative budget and policy analyst Keith Bybee says […]

May 28, 2013

Uninsured Idaho Veterans Affected By Decision Not To Expand Medicaid

Nearly 4,000 uninsured Idaho veterans would be eligible for health insurance if the state expanded Medicaid coverage. That’s according to new analysis from the Urban Institute, reported by Stateline. Idaho isn’t expanding Medicaid coverage to more low-income residents, although the governor has said he isn’t ruling it out. As Stateline reports, in states that expand […]

May 22, 2013

First Round Of Idaho’s Public-Private Innovation Grant Winners Selected

The Idaho Department of Commerce announced yesterday the first round of Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, or IGEM, grant recipients. The Department reports 18 groups applied for the grant funding. Seven will receive the awards totaling $844,093. An additional $105,907 will go to the Idaho Commerce Business and Jobs Development fund. Here’s the list of grant […]

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