Rising legislative resistance to Common Core?
Here’s another sign that the 2014 Legislature may take another look at the Common Core standards approved three years ago. Sen. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett State Sen. Steven Thayn has co-written a letter...
View ArticleA preemptive strike in the Common Core debate
It’s no news that Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde and House Education Committee Chairman Reed DeMordaunt support Common Core. For starters, the chairmen were two of 31 members of Gov....
View ArticleDurst resigning from state Senate
State Sen. Branden Durst will step down from the state Senate, effective Dec. 1, “to focus on his family’s needs,” the Idaho Democratic Party announced Wednesday. Sen. Branden Durst For more than two...
View ArticleRep. Ward-Engelking to seek Durst Senate seat in Southeast Boise
Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, says she will submit her name for appointment to complete the second year of the term of Sen. Branden Durst, D-Boise. “I’m hoping I can be a strong voice for...
View ArticleShoshone leader says they will fight for their homeland
The people who want Idaho to demand the federal government transfer 32 million acres of public land to the state base their case on what they perceive as a promise by the federal government to dispose...
View ArticleBalukoff’s financial disclosures may revive effort to require candidate...
The debate over adding personal financial disclosure by candidates to Idaho’s Sunshine Law may get new life with the voluntarily disclosures of Democratic gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff that he...
View ArticleRep. Ward-Engelking tops list for vacant Boise Senate seat
Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking is the first choice of Southeast Boise Democrats to fill the vacancy left by the Dec. 1 resignation of Democratic Sen. Branden Durst. Ward-Engelking is a retired teacher who...
View ArticleNew Plymouth schools chief running for Idaho House
New Plymouth district Superintendent Ryan Kerby has filed paperwork for a possible run for the Legislature. Last week, Kerby named a campaign treasurer. This move is a precursor to raising money for a...
View ArticlePatterson’s seat to be vacant as Legislature opens
Boise GOP Rep. Mark Patterson’s decision to resign 12 hours before the 2014 Legislature convenes guarantees his seat will be vacant for a period not to exceed 30 days. Such a lengthy vacancy is...
View ArticleNominees to replace Mark Patterson likely to be named Thursday
District 15 Republicans will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. to choose three nominees to replace former Rep. Mark Patterson, who resigned Sunday after disclosure of his guilty plea in a 1974 rape case....
View ArticleBoise Democrat King’s solicitation of lobbyists raises eyebrows
Rep. Phylis King emailed lobbyists Sunday suggesting they attend Friday’s $25 “Dems Under the Dome” event as “a great opportunity to help Ada County Democrats” — despite a practice that discourages...
View ArticleStatehouse Common Core showdown Jan. 22
Circle Jan. 22 on your calendars. That’s when the Senate and House education committees will hold a joint meeting to discuss the controversial Idaho Core Standards. It’s not going to be a public...
View ArticleOtter appoints Boise lawyer Rubel to Idaho House
Gov. Butch Otter on Wednesday appointed Ilana Rubel to fill the vacant House seat left by Otter’s appointment of Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking to the Senate. Rubel, a graduate of Georgetown University and...
View ArticleRep. Rubel sworn in by Speaker Bedke (w/video)
Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, the newest member of the Idaho House was sworn in Wednesday afternoon by House Speaker Scott Bedke with husband and four children on hand. Rubel, 41, is a Harvard-educated...
View ArticleBeck tops list of nominees to replace Idaho Rep. Patterson
Former Senate Majority Leader Rod Beck was the leading vote-getter among three nominees chosen Thursday night to succeed former Rep. Mark Patterson, R-Boise, who resigned Sunday. The District 15...
View ArticleNothing personal: Beck hopes Otter names him to Idaho House
Despite his efforts to overturn the Republican establishment, former state Sen. Rod Beck says there’s no rancor surrounding his disagreements with Gov. Butch Otter and that he’s hopeful Otter will...
View ArticleTime, ground rules set for Statehouse Common Core showdown
If you have questions about Idaho Core Standards, you have one week to get them written up and sent in. The Legislature’s education committees will take your questions on the controversial math and...
View ArticleOtter fills Patterson vacancy with former US Marshal Patrick McDonald
The West Boise seat left vacated by GOP Rep. Mark Patterson’s resignation over his criminal record has been filled by a retired state policeman and U.S. marshal, Patrick McDonald. Gov. Butch Otter...
View ArticleBerch — Boise Democrat who lost to Patterson — says he’s running again
West Boise Democrat Steve Berch, who lost the 2012 race for District 15 House by 6 percentage points, announced Wednesday that he’ll try again in 2014. Berch likely would have preferred a rematch with...
View ArticleAnalysis: Tom Luna’s renewed push for Internet sales taxes
When Tom Luna started talking about new taxes Wednesday, he revisited a recurring theme from his 2010 re-election campaign. And, perhaps, took a subtle step with an eye to the November 2014 general...
View Article