Tag Archives: Leon Smith
House passes $35 million tax cut
After lengthy debate on the House floor Thursday, representatives voted 49-20 to pass a $35 million tax cut, a move proponents says will enhance job creation. Critics of the legislation, however, argued the bill irresponsibly cuts revenues when critical government … Continue reading
House leader removes two committee chairmen due to voting records
In a surprise move before the end the 2011 legislative session, House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, announced some shakeups in committee chairmanships, changes that came from voting lapses by two representatives. Denney removed Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, as head of … Continue reading
Palmer replaces Smith as House Transportation Committee chair
Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, started the 2011 legislative session as just another member of the House Transportation Committee, but that’s not how he will end it. In a surprise move Thursday, as the Legislature finished its business for the year, … Continue reading
Legislature signs off on new closed-primary plan
Idaho voters going to the polls in early 2012 could face some changes in the way they choose candidates in party elections. Members of the Idaho House and Senate have approved a measure that would essentially close future primary elections. … Continue reading
Push for greater compliance with Internet sales tax killed Wednesday
Members of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee killed a measure Wednesday aimed at encouraging Idahoans to pay their share of sales taxes on purchases made over the Internet. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Julie Ellsworth, R-Boise, would have made … Continue reading
House clears bill requiring bonding for large load challenges
The Idaho House has passed a measure that will prevent companies carrying large loads through the state of Idaho from being sued by those with objections to the process. The bill centers on last year’s megaload controversy, in which large … Continue reading
House clears first education reform bill, second will wait until Wednesday
It took them nearly three-and-half hours to do it, but House Republicans finally pushed through a plan that would drastically alter teacher working conditions and contract negotiations. The legislation, Senate Bill 1108, removes collective bargaining privileges for teachers, phases out … Continue reading
Transportation committee heads ‘agree to disagree’ on GARVEE
The Republican leaders of the Idaho House and Senate Transportation Committees don’t see eye to eye on the state program that borrows money for several road construction projects, with future road money from the federal government footing the bill for … Continue reading