Legislative News

Utah, Idaho congressmen team up on federal lands legislation At a meeting of government and education officials in Idaho Monday, Utah Congressman Rob Bishop and Idaho U.S. Rep. Bill Sali discussed legislation crafted to reflect the Council of State Governments-West's Action Plan for Public Lands and Education initiative, which would allow states to use up to 5 percent of federal lands contained within their borders to fund public education.
Coeur d'Alene Press 8/19/2008

Wyoming senator says Endangered Species Act changes needed U.S. Sen. John Barrasso said he believes changes are needed to clarify delisting procedures for species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, and said he supported the Bush administration's plan to make changes to the federal act.
Billings Gazette 8/18/2008

Kempthorne tried changing ESA when he was Idaho senator The changes proposed by the Bush administration to the federal Endangered Species Act are similar to reforms championed by Dirk Kempthorne when he served as Idaho's U.S. senator more than a decade ago, and although that legislation had support from both sides of the aisle in Congress, the political environment today means an uphill battle for Interior Secretary Kempthorne.
Idaho Statesman 8/17/2008

Idaho governor questions survey on women in leadership roles A report by the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society at the University at Albany said that only one in four governor-appointed posts in Idaho are held by women even though they make up half the state's population, but Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter questioned just what the survey looked at and said nearly half the governor's staff are women, and three of the governor's six policy advisers are women.
Idaho Statesman 8/13/2008

Washington county GOP criticizes governor over Areva failure The Benton County Republican Party is running ads criticizing Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is running for re-election, for her failure to help recruit a French company that was considering the state as a potential site for a uranium-enrichment plant; Areva ultimately decided to build the plant in Idaho.
Tri-City Herald 8/13/2008

Idaho congressman to discuss federal wildfire policy today in Cascade U.S. Rep. Bill Sali will be in Cascade to discuss federal wildfire policy on Tuesday at a public meeting set to begin at 9:30 a.m., and the Idaho lawmaker will hold another public meeting in Donnelly at 4 p.m.
Idaho Statesman 8/12/2008

Loss of federal timber payments will leave Idaho county $2.6M short Shoshone County commissioners have until Aug. 18 to come up with a plan to trim the Idaho county's budget by 21 percent, the amount of federal timber payments the county receives, which the county will have to do without if Congress does not approve an extension of the Secure Rural School and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000.
Coeur d'Alene Press 8/8/2008

As more Idahoans opt for ethanol blends, state's gas tax revenue falls In the first four months of 2008, 44 million gallons of gasohol sold in Idaho, 11 million more gallons than sold in all of 2007, and if that trend continues, by Dec. 31, nearly a sixth of all gasoline sold this year will contain ethanol, which would cost the state $3.3 million in fuel tax revenue.
Idaho Statesman 8/7/2008

Homeland security chief, Interior secretary tour Idaho fire center Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff were in Idaho to tour the National Interagency Fire Center on Wednesday, where Kempthorne said the call to scale back wildfire suppression efforts just didn't make sense given the number of homes now built in the wildland-urban interface.
Idaho Statesman 8/7/2008

Idaho congressman plans to join GOP energy protest Friday U.S. Rep. Bill Sali is in Iraq this week, but the Idaho Republican said he intends to return to Washington D.C. on Friday to join other GOP congressmen who have refused to leave for August recess to protest inaction on legislation that would lift a ban on offshore drilling.
Idaho Statesman 8/7/2008

Idaho wildlife official given lesser position after criticizing wind project After Idaho House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke contacted Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter to complain about Idaho Fish and Game Regional Supervisor David Parrish's criticism of a proposed wind-energy project, the Idaho department demoted Parrish.
Twin Falls Times-News 8/7/2008

Idaho governor in Twin Falls today to talk about road needs The public forum tonight in Twin Falls is the sixth Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has held in the state on transportation needs.
Twin Falls Times-News 8/5/2008

Kempthorne agrees to turn over Idaho gubernatorial documents Two years after he left the position of Idaho governor, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has agreed to turn over his gubernatorial papers to the state by September.
Idaho Statesman 8/5/2008

Project Vote Smart bus tours the West, beefing up political info Project Vote Smart, a Montana-based nonprofit that maintains a comprehensive database on federal and state officials, has had a bus on the road since October, and the bus is now touring the West, with stops in Colorado and Utah, and is now headed to Idaho to inform voters about elected officials' votes, donors and ratings from interest groups.
Salt Lake Tribune 8/4/2008

National group will pay for Idaho county's appeal of immigration case Washington, D.C.-based Judicial Watch said it will pay the appeal costs of Canyon County's unsuccessful attempt to use federal anti-organized crime laws to go after Idaho businesses that knowingly hired undocumented workers.
Twin Falls Times-News 8/4/2008

Idaho senator's day in Minnesota court is Sept. 10 A Minnesota appeals court will hear Sen. Larry Craig's case on withdrawing his guilty plea in an airport sex sting on Sept. 10.
Twin Falls Times-News 8/1/2008

Montana, N.D. senators thump IHS director for $16M mess Indian Health Services Director Robert McSwain appeared before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on Thursday to explain the $16 million worth of missing or damaged equipment turned up by a federal audit, which McSwain faulted for treating the missing or damaged equipment as new.
Great Falls Tribune 8/1/2008

USFS pulls ad depicting Smokey the Bear admonishing ATV riders Idaho-based The BlueRibbon Coalition, which advocates for off-road vehicle access to public lands, applauded the U.S. Forest Service's decision to pull an ad that showed Smokey the Bear warning all-terrain vehicle riders that sparks from their ATVs could start a forest fire.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer 7/30/2008

Hundreds of Idahoans respond to Crapo's fuel survey U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo asked Idaho residents to tell him how high fuel prices have affected their lives, and he received 1,200 responses that ranged from giving up vacations to families making decisions between food, medicine or fuel.
Idaho Statesman 7/29/2008

Polygamy focus of U.S. Senate panel hearing today At the request of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat and a Mormon convert, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing today to review efforts to crack down on crimes associated with polygamy.
Salt Lake Tribune 7/25/2008

Nearly all of Idaho's $224M budget surplus spoken for An Idaho financial official said the state controller's touting of a $224-million budget surplus was a little misleading in that all but $50 million had already been allocated.
Idaho Statesman 7/24/2008

Idaho wolf foe says decision will aid his wolf-removal initiative Ron Gillett, the head of the Anti Wolf Coalition in Idaho, said now that the wolf is back on the federal endangered species list, he'll try again to get an initiative calling for removal of wolves back on the ballot.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/23/2008

Idaho attorney general finds nothing illegal in tax commission's actions The veteran tax commissioner who complained that Idaho's four tax commissioners routinely settled tax protests with corporations, many from out of state, panned the opinion of the Idaho's attorney general office that said the compromises broke no laws.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/17/2008

Risch, Minnick hold cash advantage over rivals for Idaho seats Republican Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch has raised four times the cash Democrat Larry LaRocco has in the campaign for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Sen. Larry Craig's retirement. But Democratic contender Walt Minnick has the financial edge over incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Sali in the race for Idaho's 1st Congressional District seat.
Idaho Statesman 7/16/2008

Idaho governor's road show opens to a packed house in Caldwell In the first of six public meetings Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has planned across the state to discuss transportation projects and how to pay for them, dozens of people packed the meeting room at The College of Idaho in Caldwell to share their ideas.
Idaho Statesman 7/15/2008

Nevada senator takes plea for FLDS investigation to Congress Nevada Sen. Harry Reid will appeal to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee next week to launch a federal criminal investigation of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Salt Lake Tribune 7/15/2008

Idaho reports $221M surplus at end of fiscal year 2008 Sales tax collections and revenue projections didn't meet expectations this fiscal year in Idaho, but state officials said the year closed with $221.8 million in surplus funds.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/15/2008

Idaho governor takes transportation dilemma on the road Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, members of his staff and Idaho Department of Transportation officials will hold the first meeting of the "Building Roads, Building Bridges, Building Consensus" tour designed to gather public input on how best to pay for upgrading and maintaining the state's roads.
Coeur d'Alene Press 7/14/2008

Colorado Wild warns of unintended consequences of Udall bill U.S. Rep. Mark Udall's proposed amendment to the 1986 law governing ski-area permits on federal lands to provide other year-round outdoor recreational opportunities is too vague, said Colorado Wild Director Ryan Demmy Bidwell, and he said the amendment could open up such areas to such things as roller coasters and water parks.
Durango Herald 7/11/2008

Candidates for Idaho's U.S. Senate seat to discuss strategy today Democrat Larry LaRocco and Independent Rex Rammell will hold a joint press conference today in Boise to discuss holding a series of live debates across the state, and are challenging Republican Jim Risch to join them.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/11/2008