Legislative & Political News

Labrador, Simpson win GOP primaries in Idaho Idaho U.S. Reps. Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson easily won the Republican Party's nominations in Idaho's first-ever closed GOP primary on Tuesday. Democrat Nicole LeFavour won her party's nod in the U.S. House District 2 primary, and Jimmy Farris led Cynthia Clinkingbeard in the Democratic primary race for U.S. House District 1 race by 579 votes with 932 of 944 precincts reporting.
Idaho Statesman 5/16/2012

Idaho's closed primary makes for busy day at Secretary of State's office Angry voters demanding to know just why election officials required them to disclose their party affiliation kept phones ringing at the Idaho secretary of state's office as Idaho's Republican Party held its first-ever closed primary.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 5/16/2012

Idaho's first-ever closed GOP primary today Idahoans who vote today must register by party, and only those who register as Republicans may cast their votes in the GOP primary.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 5/15/2012

Idaho's first ever closed GOP primary is Tuesday Competition is fierce within the Idaho Republican Party for control, and all eyes are on the polls tomorrow, when the party holds its first-ever closed primary.
Idaho Statesman 5/13/2012

Idaho congressman faces tea party challenger in next week's primary Chick Heileson is again challenging U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson for the Republican Party's nomination, but Heileson believes there is enough voter dissatisfaction with the seven-term congressman that he can defeat Simpson in Idaho's first-ever closed primary next week.
Idaho Statesman 5/10/2012

Utility sends campaign cash to challengers of Idaho legislators Avista Corp. has made campaign donations to the challengers of two longtime North Idaho legislators in the upcoming primary, with a spokesman for the utility saying the company believes it's time for a change.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 5/10/2012

Candidate for sheriff of Idaho's Bonner County says cross-burning misunderstood Shaun Winkler, one of the candidates for sheriff in Idaho's Bonner County, said he's not worried about potential supporters being put off by the cross-lighting Friday night on his family's land near Priest River as he believes his supporters will understand and those that disagree with him about the religious significance of cross-burning probably won't understand.
Coeur d'Alene Press 5/9/2012

Idaho farmers plead with federal government for more foreign workers U.S. senators from Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Florida and Ohio have asked the Department of Labor to expand and streamline the H2-A visa program, which allows farmers and ranchers to hire temporary foreign workers.
Idaho Statesman 5/6/2012

Idaho's regulation of payday loan industry among laxest in nation While other states in the United States tighten regulation of payday loan businesses, legislative efforts in Idaho to do so have not been successful.
Idaho Statesman 5/6/2012

Idaho Gov. Otter touts states' ability to save the country At the Panhandle Pachyderm Club's "One Voice for Victory" dinner Monday night, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said the future of the United States lies with states and their balanced budget approach, and that Idaho is poised to lead that movement.
Coeur d'Alene Press 5/2/2012

'Purity test' splits Idaho Republican Party Leaders of the Idaho Republican Party said a survey that quizzes current legislators and candidates for political offices on a slate of issues simply provides voters a snapshot of candidates' views, but some GOP legislators called the survey a "purity test" that's unnecessary.
Idaho Statesman 5/2/2012

Idaho state Rep. Hart to face 3 GOP challengers in May 15 primary The last time Idaho state Rep. Phil Hart ran for office, the Republican legislator ran opposed in both the primary and in the general election, but much has transpired since 2010, including Hart's much-publicized tax fights, and this year, he has three Republican challengers in the May 15 primary.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 4/29/2012

Western governors urge united front on public lands, water issues At a meeting in Utah on Friday, the governors of Idaho, Wyoming and Utah, along with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, who participated via telephone, said that Western states need to stand united on issues such as management of public lands, water and resources, if the West is to have a voice in negotiations with the federal government.
Salt Lake Tribune 4/28/2012

U.S. House approves bill on water work in Idaho wilderness The U.S. House passed legislation introduced by Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson that will allow the U.S. Forest Service to issue permits to private property owners to do work on irrigation or hydropower systems located inside the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Idaho Statesman 4/27/2012

Public lands on agenda of governors' meeting in Utah The governors of Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada will meet with Gov. Gary Herbert in Utah on Friday to discuss a unified strategy in dealing with the federal government on control of public lands.
KHQ.com 4/26/2012

GOP incumbent in Idaho House District 23 faces 2 challengers Republican Rep. Pete Nielsen is facing two GOP challengers, Matthew Bundy of Mountain Home and Steve Millington of Buhl, in Idaho's May 15 primary in the race for one of two House District 23 seats.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/26/2012

Magic Valley businesses give Idaho legislators mixed reviews on 2012 session Members of the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce met with legislators from the Magic Valley and shared their approval and disappointments of this past legislative session in Idaho where two of the businesses' top agenda items--creation of a health insurance exchange and personal property tax changes--got scant attention.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/25/2012

Candidates in just one of Idaho's 4 congressional races to debate Idaho Public Television will broadcast a debate between incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Simpson and challenger Chick Heileson on Sunday, May 13 at 7 p.m., but candidates in the other three congressional races have been unable to get their opponents to commit to a debate.
Idaho Statesman 4/24/2012

Farmers face off in GOP primary for Idaho state House seat Clark Kauffman of Filer and David Funk of Hansen will face each other in the Republican primary for Idaho's newly redrawn House District 25.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/22/2012

Incumbent Idaho congressman leads race in campaign funds U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, who faces a Republican challenger in the primary, has raised considerably more campaign cash than any of the other five candidates in the Idaho race.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 4/18/2012

Report questions Idaho's changes on school funding Nearly 70 percent of Idaho's 117 school districts will ask voters to approve levies this year, and a new report released by the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy questions lawmakers' decision to move school funding from property tax revenues to revenues raised from sales and income taxes.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/18/2012

Idaho Democrats pledge their support for President Obama At caucuses across the state on Saturday, 98 percent of Idaho Democrats pledged their support for President Obama.
Idaho Statesman 4/16/2012

Federal lawmakers join call to stop drilling near Utah's Desolation Canyon After six of his Democratic colleagues, including U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado and Raul Grijalva joined the campaign to block oil and gas development near Desolation Canyon, Utah U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson said he had read the drilling plan and that appropriate measures have been taken to protect the Utah canyon.
Salt Lake Tribune 4/13/2012

Idaho legislator gets Ku Klux Klan application bearing Montana postmark At least eight Idaho legislators have received an application for membership in the Ku Klux Klan, but Thomas Robb, national director of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan based in Arkansas does not know why legislators received the application, which is readily available online, and at least one mailing to a lawmaker had a Great Falls, Mont. postmark.
Idaho Statesman 4/12/2012

Ku Klux Klan group sends application to Idaho's only African-American legislator Idaho state Rep. Cherie Buckner-Webb, the state's lone African-American legislator, recently received an application to join the Ku Klux Klan.
Idaho Statesman 4/10/2012

Idaho governor signs more than 100 bills into law Idaho now has a felony animal cruelty law as Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed that bill into law this week, along with more than 100 others.
Idaho Statesman 4/6/2012

Gov. Otter signs bill banning texting while driving in Idaho For three years, legislators tried to get a law passed in Idaho that would ban texting while driving, and this year the bill passed, Gov. Otter signed it into law this week, and the law will take effect July 1.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 4/6/2012

Federal judge nixes Idaho legislator's claim of immunity in IRS lawsuit Idaho state Rep. Phil Hart's effort to claim legislative immunity in a lawsuit with the Internal Revenue Service was dismissed by a federal judge on Tuesday, who also set a November trial date in the lawsuit.
Coeur d'Alene Press 4/4/2012

Idaho has spent more than $500K defending ITD director's firing A federal judge's ruling that said Idaho must provide a reason for firing Idaho Transportation Director Pam Lowe clears the way for Lowe's two-year-old wrongful termination lawsuit to continue, and means the state's legal bill for fighting the suit, which has already hit $540,479, will only go higher.
Idaho Statesman 4/3/2012

Larry Echo Hawk to leave BIA for LDS church post The assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Larry Echo Hawk, announced Saturday he was leaving that post he's held for three years to take a leadership post with the Mormon Church.
Deseret News 4/2/2012