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December 28, 2012

Sen. Keough: Idaho Must Define ‘Adequate And Thorough’ To Fund Education

North Idaho lawmaker Shawn Keough just started her 9th term in the Idaho Legislature. For 18 years she’s been representing Idaho’s 1st Senate District, that’s Bonner and Boundary Counties. Keough, a Senate Republican, has spent much of her tenure on the Legislature’s main budget committee, JFAC. In advance of the legislative session that starts Jan. […]

December 27, 2012

Sen. Stennett: Idaho Must Invest In Infrastructure To Be Competitive

Ahead of Idaho’s legislative session we sat down with some key lawmakers to ask about issues we’ve been following here at StateImpact Idaho over the last 18 months. We’re also looking at some of the issues that are sure to be debated once the gavel falls on Jan. 7, opening day. We begin with Senate […]

December 19, 2012

Idaho Tax Commission Releases Comprehensive Report Ahead Of Likely Legislative Battle

The Idaho State Tax Commission has published a comprehensive report detailing the state’s personal property tax. The 51-page report offers a clear picture of just how reliant some city and county governments have become on the business equipment tax. The report is significant, since many lawmakers say the coming legislative session will include heavy debate […]

December 18, 2012

Existing Wind Projects Fare Well Under Public Utilities Commission Ruling, But There’s A Catch

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission today handed a key victory to wind developers currently operating in the state, but it did so while imposing an indirect limit on the amount of wind development Idaho is likely to see in the near future. “There are very different implications for existing versus new wind developers,” the Idaho […]

Idaho Joins Minority In Opting For State-Based Health Exchange

When Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter opted in favor of a state-based heath insurance exchange, he came to a conclusion that many of his fellow governors did not. Only 18 states and the District of Columbia have declared they will build their own exchanges, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Seven states plan to create […]

December 17, 2012

Idaho Rep. Patterson Clarifies Education Background After False Info Spread

A freshman Idaho legislator says online information about his education that was posted until recently isn’t true. Republican Rep. Mark Patterson tells The Associated Press a staffer misunderstood the college he attended, and assumed he graduated. Patterson tells the AP his staffer posted the inaccurate information on Patterson’s Facebook page. That information was then gathered […]

December 14, 2012

For Idaho’s Legislative Record, Should Audio And Video Be Archived?

Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey today wrote this blog post that raises this question: should the video or audio record of legislative proceedings be archived? Since the Capitol’s recent upgrade, nearly every legislative committee hearing, and House and Senate floor session has been broadcast through Idaho Public Television. Those broadcasts are recorded, and according to […]

The Data: Idaho Legislators’ Educational Backgrounds

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been writing about the demographic make-up of the 2013 Idaho Legislature and how demographics can influence policy. We’ve explored lawmakers’ occupations, their ages, the male-female split, religious affiliation, and education. Then, we got this tweet: So, here’s the data.

December 13, 2012

What’s Next, Now That Gov. Otter Has Opted For A State-Based Exchange?

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter recommends Idaho build a state-based health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. In his Tuesday announcement, Otter said there will be a health insurance exchange in Idaho; the only question is who will build it. It’s important, the governor said, for Idaho to have a seat at the table. StateImpact […]

December 12, 2012

Top Idaho Lawmakers Weigh In On Gov. Otter’s Health Insurance Exchange Decision

After years of resisting the Affordable Care Act and months of deliberating over whether Idaho should create a state-based health insurance exchange, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter on Tuesday set Idaho on that course. In a release that lambasted “Obamacare,” the governor said Idaho should build its own exchange. Health insurance exchanges are the online marketplaces […]

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