Gov. Otter’s pay plan for state workers will raise salaries and cut benefits in order, the thinking goes, to attract younger workers who don’t care about their benefits as much. Idaho schools get more failing grades on national study. And, big surprise, Capitol renovation costs are up. [Refresh browsers throughout the morning for more stories and subscribe here for a daily email from PaleoMedia.]
Otter wants newer, younger state workers. Raise pay, cut bennies. Admin Chief Mike Gwartney: “Basically, we’re saying, ‘Take the state out of the over-65 retiree business.'” Miller, AP in the Statesman. Samantha Wright on Boise State Radio. [Audio]
Otter to bring tribal fuel tax deals to Legislature. St. Maries Rep. Dick Harwood: “I don’t see where we did any negotiation, I really don’t. They just spend the money any place they want to.” Russell in the Spokesman.
Study: Idaho teachers paid on par with other professionals. Accountants, programmers, architects make about the same according to Ed Week study. Not mentioned: Idaho scores D+ overall for schooling (on par with national grade of C). Bill Roberts in the Statesman. State Dept of Ed. not surprised at the score. Jodi Walker in the LMT.
Transit problem numero uno solved. Someone thought to put a bike rack outside the Annex.
Energy Tsar flooded with power proposals. Paul Kjellander: “There are no silver bullets, but that doesn’t mean we do nothing. Conservation and demand-side efficiency gains are available “low-hanging fruit.” Carlson in the IBR.
Tax credit changes proposed. Interim committee suggests eliminating some tax credits including broadband, charitable donations, caskets. Davidson in the Post Register.
Read to Me, what? Otter proposal for library reading program draws little applause. What about Head Start and Parents as Teachers? Hopkins in the Times-News.
7 grumbling reporters. It’s tight, but there is still press access to the floor. Dean Ferguson in the LMT. And a coat rack theft solved.
State liquor sales up 90 percent. In past five years. And they’re buying the good stuff. AP in the Press Tribune.
Talk about the family. Was all talk, no bills. Thayn keeps getting ink though. Hopkins in the Times-News.
East Idaho may get vet cemetery. It’s in Otter’s budget, but no site has been located. Phil Davidson in the Post-Register.
Capitol renovation over budget, corners cut. They won’t use rare brass and will salvage old doors. Miller, AP in the Statesman.
Dems throw stones, Moyle winces. Jaquet: “It has to change in Eagle and Canyon County for us to win statewide. You can’t just have legislators from Boise.” Popkey in the Statesman.
SUV owners unite. Eagle man touts SUV safety, pro-choice for cars. Moeller in the Statesman.
