Policy

Background

Exploring the policies and politics that help or stand in the way of job creation.

Latest Posts

Follow this topic

July 13, 2012

Idaho Could Save Money By Expanding Medicaid

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter said this week that he will form working groups to study the two big questions arising from the Supreme Court’s health care ruling. Those are: should Idaho establish a state-run health insurance exchange? And should it adopt the Medicaid expansion provided for under the Affordable Care Act? One of the main […]

July 12, 2012

House Republican Leader Ken Roberts Appointed To Tax Commission

House leader Ken Roberts (R-Donnelly) has been appointed to be the fourth member of the state Tax Commission. The commission oversees state revenue collections and tax laws. Here’s the press release from the governor’s office: Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced the appointment today of Ken Roberts, Republican Caucus chairman in the Idaho House of Representatives, […]

July 11, 2012

Retired Probation Officer Leads (Modest) Fight For Idaho Medicaid Expansion

Last week, Boise resident Will Cavanaugh, 77, found an email in his inbox. It was from left-leaning political action group MoveOn.org. Would he like to write a petition about anything? “Sure,” he thought. Healthcare was on his mind, given the recent Supreme Court ruling. “How about the Medicaid expansion?” So Cavanaugh, who describes himself as […]

Idaho Labor Department To Recover $6.8 Million In Jobless Benefit Overpayments

The Idaho Department of Labor says it has started to withhold federal unemployment insurance benefits from people who’ve been overpaid. Department spokesman Bob Fick says the agency had been collecting overpayments by withholding half of a jobless person’s weekly benefit payment, now the department is able to withhold the entire benefit.

July 10, 2012

Gov. Otter Favors “Further Study” Of Health Care Decision

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter will form working groups to “research and carefully examine” Idaho’s options in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the main components of President Obama’s health care law. That’s according to an opinion piece distributed to media by the governor’s office this afternoon. The court’s ruling thrust large decisions […]

Department Of Commerce Unveils Three Year Plan To Grow Idaho’s Economy

The director of the Idaho Department of Commerce and members of the Idaho Economic Advisory Council are meeting in Pocatello this week to tour area companies, talk with local county and city leaders, and explain the director’s plan to grow Idaho’s economy. Director Jeff Sayer took the helm of the Commerce Department in October 2011. […]

July 9, 2012

As Texas Rejects Medicaid Expansion, Idaho Weighs Its Options

Texas Governor Rick Perry said Monday he will not expand his state’s Medicaid program or create a health insurance exchange, leaving 6.2 million Texans without health insurance. That’s according to Reuters, which also reported Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured people in the country. “The announcement makes Texas the most populous state that has […]

July 6, 2012

If Idaho Opts Out Of Medicaid Expansion, Low-Income Adults Could Be In Limbo

Last week’s Supreme Court ruling on the federal health care overhaul left states with important decisions to make. One of the main questions is whether to go along with the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. So far, Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is not among the ten Republican governors swearing off the expansion. But if Idaho […]

July 4, 2012

Governor’s Housing Panel To Consider Selling Hilltop Mansion

After a dust-up over an email budget vote, the Governor’s Housing Committee has agreed to fund maintenance of the vacant governor’s mansion. That’s on the condition the committee hosts a public meeting in mid-September to discuss the possibility of selling the donated house. Senator Les Bock (D-Boise) raised concerns last week that the committee violated […]

July 2, 2012

Idaho Democrat Questions Governor’s Mansion Funding Process

A public meeting has been scheduled for the Governor’s Housing Committee after a Democratic lawmaker on the panel said the chairman violated Idaho’s open meetings law by conducting a vote via email. In the email vote, the committee approved the annual $177,400 budget for maintenance of the governor’s mansion. In a 3-2 vote, Both Democrats […]

About StateImpact

StateImpact seeks to inform and engage local communities with broadcast and online news focused on how state government decisions affect your lives.
Learn More »

Economy

Oklahoma