Groceries, Liquor and Elections

A long list of Republican law makers submitted a concept grocery tax credit bill Wednesday that does not quite match the governor’s or Democrats’ notion. It increases the state’s tax credit on groceries for everyone, giving the poor $25 more a year.

Opening liquor stores on Election Day got a nod, but barely, in committee. And Obama will be at Taco Bell Arena Saturday monring… one estimate projects 10,000. One Republican State Senator told PaleoMedia.org he’s not voting for Obama, but he might go see him… PaleoMedia will be out of town, but would consider publishing a first-hand account from the show… [MORE]

Food Tax, Pot & CNN Map

The House will take up a grocery tax bill this morning that apparently has GOP and governor’s support. House Democrats have an alternate, phased in removal of the “food” tax in the wings. Otter underwent hip surgery Tuesday, but was in charge of the state the whole time. A controversy between Fish and Game Commissioner Wright and Western Watershed’s Jon Marvel gets wide coverage. And Hailey is looking for answers on marijuana laws.

Also, Unda’ the Rotunda examines Idaho tax breaks for special interests. Like the dead. In today’s Newrack.

Prison Riot, Immigrant DL & Dogs

Unimpressive prison riot video shown to budget committee raises hackles. But a growing number of counties appear to be looking at building larger newer prisons with the hope of taking some state business housing offenders. Transportation Department drivers license bill first reported on PaleoMedia.org is headed to full House for a vote. Dog fighting felony bill will get a hearing, global warming, not so much. And Obama to swing through Boise this weekend. In today’s Newsrack…

Closed Primaries, Trains and Roads

A theme for last week could be: important bills hung up. A closed primary bill submitted by the Idaho GOP is not really what the primary closers wanted to see. It’s hung up. A bill to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in the workplace is hung up by lawmakers who with hangups. Road funding is hung up in the budget committee (like every year). Ethics probe of Craig, hung up. Nuclear plant in Payette, just hung.

An interesting item in the Seattle Times: a train from Seattle to Salt Lake may be viable once again. Not hung up. In today’s Newsrack…

Urban Renewal, Naturopaths & ‘Rack

Conservative, former Utah governor Lane Beattie was at the Statehouse Thursday talking about how important it is to raise taxes for transportation infrastructure. Senate transpo committee impressed, but House leadership still skeptical.

Also, Post Register reporter asks governor’s office about adding sexual orientation to Idaho Human Rights Act and gets a vaguely supportive response, teacher pay plan public hearings end with full house and Tamarack is fined for stormwater runoff violations. Big fine. Read more.

Prisons, Press and Sex Offenders

Gov. Butch Otter began shopping his plan to begin immediate construction on a privately built and operated prison, but was met with some skepticism from Legislative leaders Wednesday. Funding for a new prison was not in Otter’s budget, but the state would not have to pay immediately if a prison company was contracted for the work. There is a lengthy peice of legislation that would authorize the privately run prison, but it has not been introduced yet.

Also, House and Senate leaders questioned some of Otter’s other spending at an Idaho Press Club luncheon, the annual raft of sex offender bills are getting heard and ACLU chief Jack Van Valkenburgh is moving on in today’s Daily Newsrack. Read more.

Lobbyists, H&W Understaffing, Meth

A survey conducted last fall and released by the Idaho Meth Project Tuesday shows that Idaho youth know quite a bit about meth and are not overwhelmingly concerned about the drug. Talk at the Legislature has turned to Health and…

Orientation, Drug Rehab & Primaries

A measure to add sexual orientation to Idaho’s anti-discrimination law got an initial nod in the Senate, and will likely have a full hearing in coming weeks. Also, an update on GOP fight over Idaho’s open primaries, why Otter didn’t…

Ed Board, Liquor Laws, Pre-K

Last Friday, the interim director of the State Board of Education broached the idea of turning some programs back to the Department of Education… where they used to reside. This week opens with four days of testimony on teacher merit pay in joint…

Drivers License Bill Targets Undocumented

The Idaho Department of Transportation introduced a measure this week that prohibits issuing drivers licenses or identification cards to people who are not in the United States lawfully and limits the expiration date on licenses granted to some immigrants.