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January 4, 2013

Sharp Words On Personal Property Tax Ahead Of Gov. Otter’s State Of The State Address

It’s on everyone’s list of key issues of the upcoming legislative session: the personal property tax. Pressure is mounting for the state to repeal it, but even Republican lawmakers who say they are firmly against the tax also say the state doesn’t have the money to get rid of it at this time. Personal property […]

Rep. Bell: Idaho’s Budget Woes And The Push To Repeal The Personal Property Tax Are A “Perfect Storm”

Rep. Maxine Bell, a retired school librarian from Jerome, was first elected to the Idaho Legislature in 1988. She’s the longtime co-chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, which crafts the annual state budget. We spoke December 10. Q: It seems clear that the personal property tax is going to be one of the defining issues […]

Liveblog: 2013 Idaho Legislative Preview

January 3, 2013

Legislative Preview To Cover Hot Topics

The Associated Press is hosting a preview of Idaho’s 2013 legislative session tomorrow, three days before the Legislature convenes. We’ll be liveblogging Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s discussion with reporters and the two panel discussions that follow. Here’s the agenda: 9:00 a.m. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter 10:00 a.m. Legislative leadership: A panel discussion including House Speaker […]

“Fiscal Cliff” Deal Means Extended Jobless Benefits For Long-Term Unemployed Idahoans

The more than 6,000 Idahoans who lost jobless benefits last week, will see those federal payments continue, thanks to Congressional action. As part of the Congressional “fiscal cliff” deal, unemployment insurance benefits for the long-term unemployed will be extended through the end of the year at a cost of $30 billion. The Idaho Department of […]

Federal Government Gives Initial Approval To Idaho’s Health Insurance Exchange

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today gave conditional approval to Idaho’s state-based health insurance exchange. Here’s a news release from HHS: Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that more states are on track to implement the health care law and establish health insurance marketplaces, or Exchanges, in their […]

Rep. Collins: We Don’t Have The Money To Get Rid Of Idaho’s Personal Property Tax

Rep. Gary Collins, a Republican from Nampa, heads the Revenue and Taxation Committee. It’s a powerful position, because all tax bills originate in the House. What’s more, there’s bound to be particular attention focused on the committee this session as the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, the state’s most powerful business lobby, pushes for […]

January 2, 2013

It’s EORAC Time: Idaho’s Revenue Estimating Panel Meets In Boise

Idaho’s revenue estimating panel with a difficult-to-remember acronym meets this week in Boise. EORAC, the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee, meets to come up with a starting-point for Idaho’s annual state budget. The 18-member legislative panel will spend tomorrow and part of Friday getting briefed on Idaho’s finances and economic condition. Then, lawmakers will […]

From Education To Tax Cuts, Idaho’s New House Speaker Weighs In On Key Issues

The Idaho Legislature convenes January 7. Over the last month, StateImpact sat down with lawmakers to discuss the most anticipated issues of the coming session. Rep. Scott Bedke is a rancher from Oakley, Idaho. He was elected Speaker of the House in December, defeating Rep. Lawerence Denney, who had served in that post for three […]

Sen. Goedde: The Best Way To Equalize Idaho Schools Is Through Digital Learning

State Sen. John Goedde is a Republican from Coeur d’Alene. He’s chairman of the Senate’s Education Committee. It’s a panel that will be closely watched during the upcoming legislative session as lawmakers figure out what to do now that voters rejected three sweeping education laws. We spoke with Goedde earlier this month to get his […]

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