The Senate has voted 31-4 in favor of SB 1410, the single largest piece of the state budget: The public school budget for next year. The appropriation bill includes a 4.6 percent increase in state general funds, but just a 0.4 percent increase overall.... »
The Senate has voted 17-17 on Sen. Mitch Toryanski's motion to send HB 464, the oil/gas bill, to the 14th Order for amendments; Lt. Gov. Brad Little then broke the tie, voting yes, and the bill will go to the amending order. In the debate, Sen. Monty P... »
Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, told the Senate he favors state control of natural resources. “We haven't used our natural resources to our benefit. That's why the economy of Canada is doing so well when we continue to suffer.” But he read from the rul... »
Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, asked a series of questions of Sen. John Tippets, R-Montpelier, about HB 464, the oil/gas well bill. Among them: On what basis could the state deny a permit? Cameron said he met with the state Department of Lands, and was t... »
The overall budget proposal for public schools for next year crafted by majority Republicans on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee would mean a 4.6 percent increase in state general funds, to $1.28 billion, but a total-funds increase of just 0.... »
As the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee gathered for its early-morning work session today on two big budgets - public schools and corrections - the usual crew of committee members, staffers and reporters were joined by two lobbyists, Skip Smyser ... »
HB 464, the controversial oil and gas development bill that limits local county authority over well siting, has passed the Senate Resources Committee on a 6-3 vote after a hearing that stretched for more than three hours, and after a substitute motion ... »
