Last week, it took less than 45 minutes for the Senate to unanimously approve the seven (7) bills that make up the $1.8 billion budget for public schools. On the Monday following the Easter break, it took the House about the same amount of time to address the bills that make up the FY 16…
Representatives of the education stakeholders joined Governor Otter, Supt. Sherri Ybarra, House Speaker Scott Bedke (R-Oakley), House Education Chair Rep. Reed DeMordaunt (R-Eagle), Senate Education Chair Dean Mortimer (R-Idaho Falls), Rep. Julie VanOrden (R-Pingree), Rep. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise), and Sen’s. Janie Ward-Engelking (D-Boise) and Cherie Buckner-Webb (D-Boise) in a bill signing ceremony on Thursday. IEA…
It took less than 45 minutes for the Senate to unanimously approve the seven (7) bills that make up the $1.8 billion budget for public schools on Wednesday. The FY16 appropriation increases state funding by $101 million, which is a 7.4% increase over the current fiscal year. The largest portion of the budget is dedicated…
The full Senate body took little time discussing how to deal with an omnibus tax bill early Tuesday evening. When the Senate reconvened in the late afternoon, Senator Bart Davis (R-Idaho Falls) made a motion to send the bill back to the Senate Transportation Committee for reconsideration, effectively killing the tax cut measure for the…
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved HB 311 Monday. This omnibus bill will increase the gas tax, decrease the income tax rate for Idaho’s wealthiest citizens, remove the grocery tax credit, and eliminate the tax on food. Those debating against the bill reminded lawmakers that with the passage of HB 296—the career ladder teacher pay…