More transportation silt broke loose Friday when the budget committee approved another round of highway bonding for several Boise Valley projects, and Otter reportedly reached a deal on local option taxing for transportation needs. Otter got credit for his first major scores with the Legislature. Also, emission testing powers for DEQ finally passed the House after four years of effort.
Otter has two wildly popular NIMBY bills on his desk dealing with transitional housing in neighborhoods… he has indicated he may not sign one or both. The Senate Education Committee is holding a bill that would help more undocumented students in Idaho go to college, and more election announcements, galore, in today’s Newsrack.
Legislature tells Canyon County to put up. Bill that will mandate emissions testing for the county passes House with entire Canyon delegation voting nyet. Langhorst: “We will realize we should have done this four years ago.” Barker in the Statesman. Don Wimberly on Boise State Radio.
Roads bonds passes committee. $134 million for next round of road building. Connecting Idaho project is up to half a billion bucks. Miller, AP in the Press Tribune. Statesman gives point to Otter. Deal reached on local option Constitutional amendment, Governor willing to consider gas tax hike. Druzin in the Statesman. Q&A with Otter. Last years chunk went to N. Idaho’s, most of this year’s projects in SW. Russell in the Spokesman.
No legislators have the guts to oppose sex offender housing limits. Bill limits sex offenders to one sex offender roomie. HB 417 gives cities and counties option to override. Senate has also passed HB 465 to limit halfway houses for recovering addicts, felons. Both still requires governor’s sig. Meyer in the Press Tribune.
Frazier bills introduced.Two proposed Constitutional amendments would make it easier for cities and counties to borrow certain money without asking citizens first. Hospitals too as long as they are not using tax money. Stems from Idaho Supreme Court ruling against new Boise parking garage that was not put on the ballot. Fraizer opposes the measures. Hopkins in the Times News. Davidson in the Post Register [subscrip].
Bill to allow undocumented Idaho residents in-state tuition in a drawer. Sen. Goedde accepts alarmist Attorney General’s opinion on in-state tuition bill. Groups still pushing for hearing. Hoffman on PaleoMedia.org.
House State Affairs rejects employer sanctions for hiring undocumented. Modeled on AZ bill that has caused a wave of panic in that state. McKague introduces kinder, less rude John Birch illegal immigration resolution. Shifrin, AP in the Statesman.
Señor Sali starts international row. Questions integrity of Mexican consulates in U.S. including planned consulate for Boise. Which would be Idaho’s first international consulate. Letter to Condi. Kreller in the Statesman.
Crapo’s wife major political beneficiary. List of top U.S. senators paying family for services; Sen. Crapo is numero tres. Susan Crapo reaps $78,514 since last election, mainly as fund raising retainer fee. Craig at top of list for senators who pay themselves. Bolstad in the Statesman. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
25,000 concealed weapons permits in Ada, Canyon and Owyhee counties. Canyon County Sheriff’s Captain Dana Maxfield: “Way back, there were very few (issued), and in order for the sheriff’s office to issue ones, they had to have a legitimate reason… The state statutes have changed dramatically over the last 20 years.” Murrant in the Press Tribune. No time for gun safety programs in schools. Poppino in the Times-News.
New Moscow voters shun scholarship for pee bill. Moscow High seniors don’t want government sniffing their urine for college money. Trail supports it, Ringo doesn’t. Ferguson in the LMT.
Runs. Sen. Mike Burkett out, Rep. Nicole LeFavour running for his seat. Dean Sorensen will challenge Sen. Kate Kelly in Boise District 18. Brian Cronin running for LeFavour’s seat. Paul Woods wants another term at Ada County. All of the North Idaho delegation is running again. Ysursa expects 30% voter turnout for May 27 primary. Russell in the Spokesman. Idaho snores as Hil scores. Andersen in the BW.
Former Hispanic Commission Chair, Republican stalwart charged with three counts of forgery. Gladys Esquivel accused of forging attorney, husband signatures on claim to deed of home. Sven Berg, Times-News.
Jury acquits man arrested in same sting as Craig. Minneapolis man says he was bombarded with overtures from undercover cop in airport bathroom. Most of those arrested have settled, but three including Craig are fighting the charges. David Hanners in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
On the blogs: Rambo Labrador courtesy of Custer County Lefavour.
