Legislative News

Diverse groups to fight wolf delisting in Wyoming The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to again remove wolves in the Northern Rockies from the federal endangered species list before President Bush leaves office, and if the decision leaves Wyoming out of the mix, as some say it might, ranchers, conservation groups and even the state of Wyoming are prepared to fight the decision.
Casper Star-Tribune 1/5/2009

Idaho governor to name new lieutenant governor Tuesday Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is expected to name Lt. Gov. Jim Risch's successor on Tuesday, the same day Risch will be sworn in as Idaho's new U.S. senator.
Idaho Statesman 1/5/2009

Idaho lawmakers expected to OK new mining rule on water A new rule proposed by the Department of Environmental Quality Board that will need the approval of the Idaho Legislature will allow naturally occurring elements, such as selenium, to enter groundwater under mining and reclamation sites and require mining companies to monitor groundwater to ensure such pollution doesn't migrate off-site.
Idaho Statesman 12/31/2008

Hundreds turn out in N. Idaho to talk with governor Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter began his "Capital for a Day" program in 2007 to expand access to his office across the state. On Wednesday, 250 Idahoans traveled to Rathdrum to share their concerns about the economy and cuts to state services with the governor.
Coeur dqAlene Press 12/18/2008

Idaho senator discusses his priorities in 111th Congress U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo said Wednesday he was dismayed by the shift in focus in Congress, where lawmakers used to work to be more frugal than each other, to the situation today where lawmakers are fighting to outspend the other. The Idaho Republican said he would not vote for the next economic bailout program proposed.
Coeur dqAlene Press 12/18/2008

Idaho group not pleased with Salazar's Interior nod Hailey-based Western Watersheds Project is one of the environmental groups that isn't excited about the prospect of Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar taking the helm of the federal interior department. The Idaho group cited Salazar's ties to the ranching and mining industries as its cause for concern.
Twin Falls Times-News 12/18/2008

As Idahoans drive less, fuel tax receipts dive High gas prices across the nation curbed driving, and in Idaho, as in other states, the drop in miles driven has torpedoed fuel tax receipts, and the transportation budgets dependent on that revenue stream.
Idaho Statesman 12/17/2008

Idaho governor asks agencies to slash budgets again Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter asked state agencies to take another look at their budgets and see what they would look like if they were 6 percent smaller in 2010.
Idaho Statesman 12/17/2008

Federal officials downplay effect of midnight regulations While environmental groups and watchdogs protest the administration's final efforts to change federal policies that they said will have detrimental effects on public lands and species, officials at federal agencies said the changes have been in the works for years or are being made to satisfy statutory requirements.
Denver Post 12/15/2008

Idaho compiles list of projects ready for federal funding Idaho's $2.5 billion list of infrastructure projects ready for federal funding under President-elect Barack Obama's proposed stimulus plan contains $805 million of highway construction projects.
Twin Falls Times-News 12/12/2008

Idaho governor skeptical about federal stimulus funds As other states in the Rocky Mountain West prepare their "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects that would be funded by the federal stimulus package proposed by President-elect Barack Obama, Idaho's Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has remained on the sidelines, concerned about the overall effect on the country such an aggressive economic approach may have.
Idaho Statesman 12/11/2008

Dozens in contention to be Idaho's new lieutenant governor Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is expected to name a new lieutenant governor on Jan. 6, when Lt. Gov. Jim Risch takes his U.S. Senate post.
Idaho Statesman 12/10/2008

Minnesota appeals court rejects Idaho senator's request The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's ruling denying Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's effort to withdraw a guilty plea on misdemeanor charges arising out of the senator's 2007 arrest in a Minnesota airport men's restroom in an undercover sex sting.
Washington Post 12/10/2008

Kempthorne reviews his tenure as interior secretary Former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne took time out to look back at the two and a half years he has served as interior secretary, the places he got to visit and his accomplishments.
Idaho Statesman 12/9/2008

Rule change on guns in national parks takes effect in January The Bush administration successfully overturned a 25-year-old federal rule that restricted loaded guns in national parks, and a new rule will take its place that bases rules on guns in parks to mirror the rules on guns in the states in which the parks are located.
Casper Star-Tribune 12/6/2008

Idaho governor lays out revenue plan for roads Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter's chief-of-staff filled in for the ill Idaho governor on Tuesday, giving attendees at an Associated Taxpayers of Idaho gathering in Boise, a preview of Otter's plan to raise revenue to build and repair the state's roads and bridges, which includes raising fuel taxes and vehicle-registration fees.
Idaho Statesman 12/4/2008

Washington, Idaho cut children's programs Budget shortfalls have forced Idaho and Washington state to cut some programs designed to protect vulnerable children, such as the Panhandle Health District's Public Health Nurse Home Visiting Program in North Idaho; in Washington state, the Department of Social and Health Services Children's Administration Region 1 office laid off 27 workers.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 12/4/2008

ProPublica Web site tracks midnight regulations ProPublica, an independent nonprofit newsroom, is tracking the Bush administration's midnight regulations, and includes instructions on how to track such changes yourself.
ProPublica 12/3/2008

Idaho university officials now say they won't seek increase of tuition cap Idaho college presidents asked the state Board of Education on Tuesday to take their proposed request to raise tuition beyond 10 percent off the board's agenda.
Idaho Statesman 12/3/2008

Idaho governor orders state agencies to cut budgets again On Monday, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter ordered state agencies to make another 3 percent cut in their budgets and to put another 2 percent in reserve in case the cuts aren't enough.
Idaho Statesman 12/2/2008

Idaho lawmaker wants to pay parents to teach kindergarten at home Idaho state Rep. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, plans to introduce legislation next year to pay parents who opt to teach their kindergartners at home.
Twin Falls Times-News 12/2/2008

In Congress' waning days, Indian Health bill languishes Congressional leaders acknowledged that it's doubtful they'll get legislation that would funnel $35 billion for American Indian health care programs over the next 10 years passed this session, although Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is hopeful the legislation will pass next session.
Helena Independent Record 12/1/2008

Retiring U.S. senators from Idaho, Colorado, N.M. close offices As they prepare to leave office, Idaho Sen. Larry Craig and New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici have closed all of their state offices, and Web sites for Craig and Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard indicate that comments will no longer be taken, while Domenici has shut down voters' email access to him.
Denver Post 11/25/2008

Huntsman, Schweitzer deliver Western govs' energy message to Obama Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer met with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team co-chair, John Podesta, on Friday to deliver the Western Governors Association's energy priorities.
Salt Lake Tribune 11/24/2008

Idaho agencies order employees to take holiday time off - without pay In an effort to cut costs, the Idaho Attorney General's office and the state Department of Agriculture are giving employees extra days off around Thanksgiving and Christmas, without pay.
Twin Falls Times News 11/20/2008

Idaho lawmakers will try again on Owyhee, White Clouds bills U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson said they'll continue their efforts to get their Idaho wilderness bills passed in the 111th Congress, now that it appears unlikely Congress will get to the measures in the waning days of this session.
Idaho Statesman 11/19/2008

U.S. Senate tables Public Lands Omnibus bill for this session On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, that the Senate would not have time to take up the Public Lands Omnibus Bill, which combines more than 150 bills to expand wilderness areas and allow a variety of land trades, this session but said it would likely be one of the first bills to be considered in January by the 111th Congress.
Deseret News 11/19/2008

Hundreds protest California's Prop. 8 at Idaho rally In an event Saturday morning in Boise, timed to coincide with similar events across the nation, hundred turned out to protest the passage of California's Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Idaho Statesman 11/17/2008

Oklahoma senator succeeds in blocking public-lands omnibus bill Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn's filibuster threat has apparently tabled a massive public-lands omnibus bill, although Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said that he intended to fight for the bill, which contains the Wyoming Range Legacy Act and the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act, as well as bills to designate areas of Idaho, Colorado and Oregon as wilderness.
Casper Star-Tribune 11/15/2008

Political, policy changes alter Northwest salmon debate The election of Idaho Republican Sen.-elect Jim Risch and Oregon Democrat Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley, both of whom have said they support a collaborative management plan for the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Bush administration's announced support of the removal of four dams on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, will significantly change the salmon debate in the Northwest. An analysis.
Idaho Statesman 11/14/2008