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February 25, 2013

What Idaho Lawmakers Know – And Don’t – When Making Tough Tax Policy Decisions

A left-leaning tax policy group recently put out a short little report about the state corporate income taxes paid by IDACorp. That’s the holding company of Idaho’s largest electric utility, Idaho Power. The report claims IDACorp paid no state income taxes nationwide from 2007 through 2011. It led StateImpact to a larger question: What information […]

February 21, 2013

After Intense Debate On Idaho’s Health Exchange, Some Humor

After six hours of debate over whether Idaho should build a state-based health insurance exchange, one lawmaker paused for a little levity. In his lukewarm support for the state-based exchange, Sen. Marv Hagedorn (R-Meridian) said, “I can’t ride this pig if it’s a federal exchange, I can ride it with spurs on if it’s a […]

Idaho’s State-Based Health Exchange Passes The Senate, Heads To House

After nearly six hours of debate, Idaho Senators voted 23-12 in favor of creating a state-based health insurance exchange. Exchanges, or online health insurance marketplaces, are a cornerstone of the federal health care law. According to The Kaiser Family Foundation, Idaho is one of 18 states with plans to create a state-based exchange. Twenty-six states […]

Debate Over An Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Heads Into Fifth Hour

The Idaho Senate is heading into its fifth hour of debate on a bill written by the governor’s office to create a state-based health insurance exchange. Afternoon committee meetings have been canceled. Debate stopped and started after a motion to send the proposal back to committee to be amended, and a motion to begin amending […]

February 19, 2013

With $140,000 On The Line, Idaho Girl Scouts Try Their Hand At Lobbying

Famous for its potatoes, trout fishing, and blue AstroTurf, Idaho might not have much in common with Hawaii. But here’s one thing: Idaho and Hawaii are the only two states in the country to tax Girl Scout Cookies. Now, some local Scouts are beefing up their sales pitches and learning to lobby.

February 14, 2013

Business Property Tax Bill Surfaces At The Idaho Legislature

Thirty-nine days into Idaho’s legislative session, there has yet to be a bill or any public debate over eliminating the business personal property tax. That could soon change. Chairman of the House Revenue and Tax Committee Gary Collins (R-Nampa) says a bill draft relating to the personal property tax exists, but he won’t divulge details […]

February 13, 2013

State-Based Health Exchange Wins Conditional Support From 16 House Freshman

Sixteen Republican House members, all of them freshmen, this morning announced their support for a bill to create a state-based health insurance exchange. That bill, promoted by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and currently in the Senate, is one of the most controversial of the 2013 session. The first-year lawmakers constitute a key block of support, […]

February 12, 2013

A Sales Tax Exemption For Anti-Abortion Resource Clinics Passes The Idaho House

A bill that would give a sales tax exemption to pregnancy resource clinics that don’t offer abortion services has passed the House. In a 58-12 vote, Idaho lawmakers approved Rep. Kelley Packer’s (R-McCammon) proposal. Packer introduced the bill on behalf of Boise’s Stanton Healthcare, after the organization purchased two ultrasound machines and were charged a […]

February 8, 2013

Many Of Idaho’s Top Business Property Tax Payers Keep Mum On Push For Repeal

Not long ago, Sen. John Tippets (R-Montpelier) found himself in a peculiar spot. This summer and fall, influential lawmakers and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry made it clear that phasing out or eliminating Idaho’s tax on business personal property would be a focus of the 2013 legislative session. Tippets is a public affairs […]

February 7, 2013

Gov. Otter’s Health Insurance Exchange Plan Moves Forward

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s health insurance exchange plan will move forward for a full vote in the Idaho Senate. Lawmakers on the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee spent more than 90 minutes listening to a second day of public testimony and debating the proposal before voting 8-1. The overriding theme: Idaho will be able […]

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