— Reprinted with permission from Redoubt News — For over a month Speaker Bedke and other members of leadership have been railing on Rep. Heather Scott for remarks she made to Judy Boyle on December 1st. 2016. These remarks had to do with her frustration at Rep. Christy Perry receiving a committee chairmanship after scandalous headlines about […]
As the storm in the House of Representatives winds down, there continues to brew questions about the appropriateness of the punishment handed out by Speaker Bedke to Rep. Scott, and so we wonder if there will be a return trip to its epicenter in the near future. Speaker Bedke leveraged his power as speaker in […]
Since 2011, Idaho tax revenue has increased by an average of 5.4% per year. This is strong growth in state revenues following the so-called “great recession.” Now, put this number beside the growth in state spending over the same period. The state’s spending (appropriations) from the General Fund are growing faster and have exceeded revenue […]
One of our legislative Swamp Dwellers who is attempting to run for Lt. Governor named Hagedorn has reared his ugly head and alerted us with one of his Facebook comments which was brought to our attention by a good friend of this publication. Here is a link to the comments. You ask why this is […]
I’m writing this in reply to an article run in the Idaho Statesman on January 21, 2017. Marv Hagedorn hasn’t got a clue about the possible implications of a Constitutional Convention nor do any of the other legislators backing this idea. Mind you this is a man who wants to be Lt. Governor of our state […]
Governor Otter has vowed to stay the course on his education plan. In his proposed budget message, he referred to the governor’s task force recommendations for education. This task force was formed December 2012 following the overwhelming defeat of Props 1, 2, and 3 also known as the Luna Laws. The recommendations were reported September […]
Idaho is a conservative state, but the policies coming out of the State Legislature are not conservative. (See the adoption of Common Core in 2010, the Obamacare exchange in 2014, the huge gas tax and hybrid fee increase in 2015, and the huge spending increases last year and projected again for this year). People across Idaho […]
It appears that Idaho’s House Speaker Scott Bedke is auditioning for a job on ‘The Apprentice’ after he removed Representative Heather Scott from her three committee positions. Bedke stripped her of her assignments for a comment she made in the house lounge with several lawmakers present saying that Women lawmakers get their leadership positions only […]
Governor Otter has proposed several big money education items in his budget. Each builds on previous programs recommended by a task force created in 2012 and operating on information at least that old. None of the task force recommendations implemented to date have been audited to determine if the programs are worth the cost. Furthermore, […]
Idaho’s citizens have the opportunity to help advance proposed legislation for the 2017 legislative session. During the 2016 Republican convention, delegates from throughout the state passed three resolutions advocating specific legislation to be enacted by the Idaho legislature. Now is the time for those delegates and other citizens to remind the Republican legislature that “We […]
It’s not right for Idaho to be bullied into losing protections for Idaho children and families just to keep a few more federal dollars, writes Rep. Ronald M. Nate (R-34) Our dog, Boo, never twirls just because she wants to. But, when my daughter holds a treat in the air and says, “Twirl,” Boo jumps […]
Concern has been raised about the Idaho House Judiciary and Rules committee holding SB 1067. Holding the bill was about protecting the due process and privacy rights of our citizens, and protecting the integrity of our state’s ability to study and analyze issues independent of the coercive threats of the federal government. On the surface, […]