Legislative News

Montana county asks USFS to halt road talks with Plum Creek The Missoula County Commission has asked the U.S. Forest Service to release documents that provide the underpinnings of discussions between the federal agency and Plum Creek Timber Co. on road easements across federal lands and to not hold any more talks with the timber company until the county has had a chance to review the paperwork, but Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey has already said the documents won't be released, and the county is preparing to head to court.
Missoulian 5/8/2008

Idaho superdelegate says he'll decide in June Three of four of the superdelegates of the Idaho Democratic Party are backing Sen. Barack Obama to be the party's presidential nominee, but Keith Roark, the state party's chairman, said he'll make his decision in early June; a fifth superdelegate will be chosen at the party's state convention in June.
Twin Falls Times-News 5/8/2008

Former Idaho governor declines to cede control of his records Dirk Kempthorne left the Idaho governor's office two years ago to become secretary of the Interior, and records of his seven years in the gubernatorial office remain under lock and key.
Idaho Statesman 5/6/2008

Nation's attorneys general talk energy at Idaho summit Attorneys general do not set energy policy, but they do advise those who do, and at a summit this week in Idaho, attorneys general from across the United States will discuss trends, obstacles and solutions to the global energy situation.
Coeur d'Alene Press 5/6/2008

Idaho fights USDA's exclusion of potatoes from WIC program Idaho potato growers concede that it's unlikely the state's congressional delegation will get the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change its policy of excluding potatoes from the list of fruits and vegetables that can be purchased using funds from the federal Women, Infants and Children program this year, but they're hoping to get the tuber on the list in the future.
Idaho Statesman 5/2/2008

Montana, Calif. congressmen team up to help sick veterans Montana U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg and California Rep. Mike Thompson are again trying to get medical coverage for veterans who were unknowingly exposed during biological and chemical weapons tests between 1963 and 1973; similar legislation sponsored by the two was passed by the House last year but failed to make it through the U.S. Senate.
Missoulian 5/2/2008

Interior moves forward with rule change on guns in national parks A proposed rule change published Wednesday in the Federal Register would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry loaded guns into national parks and wildlife refuges in states that allow firearms in parks; the rule change would allow loaded guns in Grand Teton and Yellowstone as Wyoming does not ban guns in parks.
Jackson Hole News & Guide 5/1/2008

Idaho ranchers, environmentalists testify on Owyhee Initiative At a Senate hearing Tuesday on Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo's Owyhee Initiative, ranchers and conservationists praised the bill that would designate an 807-square-mile wilderness in southwest Idaho, while opening up other lands to recreation and grazing.
Idaho Statesman 4/23/2008

Other states monitor latest effort to designate wilderness in Idaho Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo's Owyhee Initiative would designate 517,000 acres in Idaho's Owyhee County as federal wilderness, but it also removes some restrictions on other acres or sells them outright, which has drawn praise from some circles and criticism from others.
Christian Science Monitor 4/23/2008

Wyoming senator sponsors bill to pay ranchers for cows killed by wolves U.S. Sen. John Barrasso's Gray Wolf Livestock Mitigation Act would create a federal grant program to match state programs in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to compensate farmers and ranchers for livestock killed by wolves and grizzly bears. The program would also help cover the costs of fencing, guard dogs and other protections to ward off the predators.
Casper Star-Tribune 4/18/2008

Hunters, anglers team up to lobby for responsible energy development A coalition of hunting, fishing and wildlife groups have formed the Sportsmen United for Responsible Energy Development. The coalition released its 10-point Sportsmen's Bill of Rights, which demands continued access to public lands. This will give hunters and anglers a say in energy development on public lands, and management of those lands to benefit multiple use.
Billings Gazette 4/17/2008

Texas inmate jumps through the hoops, gets on Idaho ballot Idaho Democrats will have three presidential candidates to choose from when they vote in the state's May 27 primary: Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, and Keith Russell Judd, who's doing time in a Texas prison.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 4/16/2008

Presidential hopefuls still on the fence on salmon Republican presidential contender has expressed his support for maintaining the four dams on the lower Snake River in Washington in the past. But neither Democratic presidential contender has waded into the issue, despite the deep divide in the Pacific Northwest over the issue of endangered salmon, dams and water.
Idaho Statesman 4/15/2008

Idaho senator tries again on Owyhee Canyonlands wilderness bill Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo submitted a new version of his legislation that would protect 517,000 acres of Owyhee Canyonlands in the state as wilderness and would designate 315 miles of river as Wild and Scenic Rivers; the bill would also release 200,000 acres of wilderness study lands back to multiple-use management.
Idaho Statesman 4/11/2008

Second Democratic contender bows out of Idaho congressional race Larry Grant, a former Micron Technology attorney, announced Thursday that he would not seek the Democratic Party's nomination in Idaho's 1st Congressional District, leaving Walt Minnick as the Democratic presumptive nominee to challenge Republican incumbent Bill Sali.
Idaho Statesman 4/11/2008

GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul to hold rally in Idaho April 25 By nearly all accounts, Arizona Sen. John McCain is the Republican Party's presumptive nominee as the party's presidential candidate, but Ron Paul continues his presidential run which will include a stop in Twin Falls on April 25th.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/10/2008

Legislature treated Idaho's Magic Valley, water issues well The Idaho Legislature has come under some criticism for failing to come up with a solution for the state's $240 million gap in transportation funding, but in the south-central portion of the state, the Legislature's action on water issues appears to balance out the lack of an accord on roads.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/7/2008

Former NPS directors oppose lifting of gun restrictions in parks Seven former directors of the National Park Service have gone on record against an attempt to lift gun restrictions in national parks.
Casper Star-Tribune 4/7/2008

Gavel drops on Idaho legislative session Idaho lawmakers celebrated the end of the 2008 legislative session Wednesday evening, but many lawmakers were disappointed that they were unable to agree on how to raise money for roads and to give local governments the authority to raise sales taxes to pay for transportation projects. Contains a sidebar on legislation passed, including the grocery sales tax rebate and funding drug-treatment programs.
Idaho Statesman 4/3/2008

Anti-wolf initiative in Idaho could return federal oversight of the species The group that is working on a ballot initiative demanding that wolves be removed from Idaho said that they're nearing the requisite number of signatures needed to get the initiative on the ballot, but they're unsure if all the folks who signed the petitions are registered voters, and the initiative, if passed, could require Idaho to once again cede control of the species to the federal government.
Idaho Statesman 4/2/2008

Idaho lawmakers kill bills to clear way for session's end A last ditch effort to raise additional funding for roads died in the House, a Senate committee denied an effort to give cities and counties the authority to raise sales taxes, with voter approval, for transportation projects, and lawmakers were set to try again this morning on a business-equipment tax change as lawmakers try to clear their desks and head out of Boise.
Idaho Statesman 4/2/2008

Idaho senators say they'll resuscitate local option tax measure Just hours after the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee killed a measure that would give local governments authority to raise sales taxes for transportation projects, Senate leaders said they'd revive the measure, in part to give the Senate a bargaining chip in negotiations with the House on amendments to the business equipment tax.
Idaho Statesman 4/1/2008

Idaho governor signs grocery-tax relief bill into law Legislation that boosts the amount of grocery tax rebates to Idaho residents was signed into law on Monday by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter.
Idaho Statesman 4/1/2008

French company set to announce uranium plant site soon A spokesman for Areva, Inc., a French company that plans to build a uranium-enrichment plant in the United States, said it will announce the plant's location either late this week or early next week; sites under consideration include New Mexico's Lea County, near Idaho Falls in Idaho, the Tri-City area of Washington state, as well as sites in Ohio and Texas.
Santa Fe New Mexican 4/1/2008

Idaho vehicle-emissions test bill now on Otter's desk The Idaho Legislature passed legislation that would establish vehicle-emissions testing across the state, and the measure is now on the governor's desk awaiting action.
Coeur d'Alene Press 4/1/2008

Idaho legislative session drags on Despite an optimistic beginning, the Idaho Legislature is still in session, but with most of the major issues either resolved or dead, lawmakers predict the session will wind up mid-week.
Idaho Statesman 3/31/2008

Roads, business tax cut keep Idaho legislators in Boise Idaho lawmakers had hoped to be done with the legislative session last week, but an impasse on funds to build roads and a proposed business tax cut has extended the lawmakers' stint in Boise.
Idaho Statesman 3/28/2008

Idaho lawmakers put plan in place to replace federal timber funds Legislation is headed to Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's desk to replace federal timber payments to schools with state funds if the federal Craig-Wyden legislation isn't reauthorized.
Spokane Spokesman Review 3/28/2008

Local-option tax measure squeaks through Idaho Senate panel vote Legislation that would give Idaho voters the authority to raise local sales taxes to pay for roads and transportation projects narrowly survived a vote in the Senate State Affairs Committee; since the measure amends Idaho's Constitution it must have the support of at least 23 of the state's 35 senators, but 10 have already said they'll vote against it.
Idaho Statesman 3/27/2008

Idaho lawmakers say no to $190M request for new prison Legislation that requested $190 million to build a new prison in Idaho was drafted but didn't get a hearing before the Legislature, and lawmakers told the head of Corrections that there is simply no time for them to even consider the request.
Idaho Statesman 3/27/2008