Ozone, Business Equipment & Elecciones

As the Senate takes up the House passed emission testing bill, the Environmental Protection Agency releases new standards for ozone that put the Boise Valley into excessive levels. The new standards are not as stringent as some scientists would have liked.

A bill to end a weird tax - on stuff businesses own - passed the House tax committee Weds. But the favors to businesses come at a weird time too and schools and counties are very worried about the loss of revenue that is inevitable.

Election consolidation, transportation funding and a Tamarack lawsuit… in today’s Newsrack.

Transit, transportation funding should be linked

Unda’ the Rotunda gets a daily reminder of the state’s overarching fiscal retention as we park our bike in the morning outside the Capitol Annex. The bike rack is in a convenient corner, penned in by the ever-shrinking battery of plastic toilets the state provides to visitors of the temporary People’s House.

Transit Rally, Gilligan’s & God

A deal on local option tax for transit appears stalled now that major transit groups have withdrawn support for the compromise. Valley Regional Transit and COMPASS met Friday and opposed or took no position respectively on running a Constitutional amendment to authorize local taxing. Republican House leaders are moving forward with their plan anyway and it could be up to Democrats to lend support or squash the compromise measure.

While only about six people showed up, a rally for transit and against changing the Constitution in Nampa did get some coverage.

Unda’ the Rotunda deplores legislative prayer, Mary Ann busted and hot supreme court race in today’s Newsrack (which had 200 readers yesterday and is now accepting advertising and donations))

Pee Tests, Emissions and Nampa Sex

Senate committee rejects pee for scholarships bill. Sen. Gary Schroeder: “I don’t want to reward somebody for (not) doing something that they can be arrested for.” Also, it could cost $45 million. $45 million in a rat hole, per Chairman Goedde.…

Rep. LeFavour v. Sen. Darrington on mandatory minimums

In a PaleoMedia.org first we have head to head commentary on mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenders. House Bill 516, introduced Feb. 12, would allow judges to waive mandatory sentences for offenders who would benefit from drug treatment.

Boise cricket featured in S. Indian paper

Boise cricketer Girirsh Cherussery, on a recent visit to Chennai India to get married, told the regional daily about his efforts to establish cricket in the City of Trees.

Emissions, Roads & Crapo’s Wife

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.

Goedde refuses hearing on in-state tuition for undocumented

“We need to take young people out of the politics of immigration and do right by them,” said Taryn Magrini a lobbyist for the Idaho Women’s Network.

Grocery Tax, Mansfield Suit & Primary Jig

The House held its nose and voted for some food tax relief Thursday, giving Otter a little something. Meanwhile, some competing road funding bills gained initial approval and a deal on local option taxing was burned on CD.

Owners of what Otter calls half-way houses are pressuring the governor to veto a bill that lets cities control where they locate and threatening a federal lawsuit if it becomes law. NIMBY at it’s best.

Fish and Game commissioners are in town and approved the state wolf plan and more election announcements coming all the time… Maybe even on PaleoMedia.org… in the Newsrack…

Otter Defeated, Tasers & Gasses

Cue the trumpets: Wednesday’s political theater included letter writing and press baiting at the unnamed venue next to Bardenay. Gov. Otter, who often says he doesn’t want to work things out through the press, worked the press hard at a luncheon with the Idaho Press Club, a group of Boise State University coeds and a man who wants him to run for president.

Otter pulled back his road funding bills saying legislators did not appreciate his efforts to provide them political cover so he’s withdrawing the cover. Legislative leaders said it was fine. The ball is rolling.

Also radioactivity, Tasers and global warming in today’s Newsrack.