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February 14, 2012

Santorum, Romney Campaign for Idaho’s 32 Caucus Delegates

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 […]

February 13, 2012

The Idaho Caucus Cheat Sheet: GOP Candidates On Economic Policy

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 […]

January 30, 2012

Otter One of “At Least a Dozen” Republican Governors Proposing Tax Cuts

Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter is not alone among governors in pushing for tax cuts as states’ budget crunches begin to ease. This story on NPR’s Morning Edition highlighted Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s push for reductions in the state’s tax on food and the estate tax. According to the story, that plan is drawing criticism […]

Idaho Tax Protester Introduces Gold and Silver Currency Bill

Rep. Phil Hart (R- Athol) wants gold and silver coin to be an alternative to paper money, formally known as Federal Reserve Notes. Hart, who is currently being sued by the federal government for unpaid taxes, wants gold and silver currency exempt from tax. He’s titled the bill the ‘Idaho Constitutional Money Act of 2012’. […]

January 26, 2012

Idaho Ranks 21st in the Annual State Business Tax Climate Index

According to the Tax Foundation’s annual report on state business tax climate, Idaho ranks in the middle of the pack. The Foundation looks at corporate, individual income, sales, property and unemployment insurance tax rates to compare states. You can read more about the methodology here.

January 24, 2012

State of the Union to Focus on Economy

President Barack Obama will deliver his final State of the Union speech of his first term tonight before Congress and a nationally televised audience. It’s been widely reported the President’s speech will focus on the economy. White House Senior Adviser David Plouffe stopped by NPR Morning Edition for a preview of the president’s speech. “The […]

Northwest States Coping with Government Employee Layoffs

This story is a collaboration between StateImpact Idaho and Northwest News Network. Contributing reporters are Emilie Ritter Saunders, Chris Lehman and Austin Jenkins. Across the Northwest, government agencies and schools have laid off thousands of workers. Just like corporate downsizing, those public sector job losses have a human and an economic impact. Northwest States Coping […]

January 23, 2012

Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy Launches Website

The Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy unveiled its website today. The center describes itself as a “non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to providing our state’s citizens and elected officials with fact-based information and analysis to help make informed policy decisions.” Director Mike Ferguson, who served as Idaho’s chief economist for more than 25 years, says the […]

January 18, 2012

At Medicaid Panel, A Personal Story And Calls For Change

Medicaid recipients, their advocates and service providers want to drive home the point that cuts to the program have real effects for individuals and communities. At a roundtable discussion this morning they called for a restoration of services that have been reduced in recent years. At the heart of the broad-ranging discussion was an individual […]

January 13, 2012

State Health Exchange Advocates Say Jobs Hang In The Balance

Under the federal health care law, states are charged with deciding whether to establish their own health insurance exchanges. Those exchanges are often described as transparent marketplaces where people will be able to purchase health insurance. States including Utah and Nevada have already established their own exchanges. In Idaho, lawmakers will come to a verdict […]

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