Treasured Valley

Posts Tagged ‘Politics Brief’

Someone thinks they’re too busy, RECA, AARP and voters will get a say…

Media:

• Kevin Richert: He’s busy. Extremely busy.
• Idaho senators join bipartisan group to introduce RECA Amendments Act of 2010. Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined with a bipartisan group of senators to introduce the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2010. The legislation would provide expanded restitution for Americans sickened from working in uranium mines or living near atomic weapons tests.
• Idaho Reporter: AARP study reveals political makeup of Idaho’s seniors.
• Voters will get say in the future of Warm Springs Resort near Idaho City. East Boise County residents will vote on whether to create a recreation district to lease and/or acquire the Warm Springs Resort, a regional landmark for generations of families.
• Eye On Boise: First lady to fill in for Guv at Giuliani event tonight.
• First lady expects Gov. to leave hospital Wednesday. Otter campaign manager Debbie Field told The Associated Press that Idaho First Lady Lori Otter will fill in for her husband and host the $1,000-a-plate campaign dinner with Giuliani on Tuesday night.
• Sen. Mike Jorgenson of Hayden Lake challenges opponent Steven Vick. Sen. Mike Jorgenson of Hayden Lake says he’s not giving up even though his initial attempt to get his Republican primary challenger tossed off the ballot has failed.
• Wilder voters pass school tax levy. Voters passed a  $210,000 one-year supplemental levy for the Wilder School District Tuesday night, by a vote of 45-40.

Blogs:

• IdaBlue: Statesman, hoist on its own petard.
• Dennis Mansfield: How sick is Butch? If Debbie Field says he’s getting better, then he is.
• Boise Guardian: Homeless Panhandler Problem–Any Ideas?
• 43rd State Blues: Another Idaho Wingnut Makes the National Stage.
• Fort Boise: Looking for better angels.
• Idaho Speaks: April Pancakes and Politics.

Investors worry, Revolution is not a Tea Party, Salzberg drops out and independents get a break…

Media:

• Idaho ‘angel investors’ worry about new financial regulations. As Congress debates sweeping new financial regulations of Wall Street, some Idaho investors think a small piece of the 1,400-page bill could curtail investment in small businesses with big potential.
• Michael Boss: Revolution is not a Tea Party.
• Kevin Richert: Salzberg drops out of GOP congressional race.
• Idaho Reporter: Land Board, Wasden react to lawsuit over lakefront leases.
• Eye On Boise: Tax Commission seeks $15M transfer from general fund for tax refunds.
• Canyon County commissioners launch listening tour. Canyon County commissioners launched an eight-city budget tour of the county Monday with a town hall in Wilder. Leaders want residents’ input on potential budget cuts, plans for a new jail and more.
• Independents get a break from judge. U.S. Magistrate Ron Bush said Idaho’s law setting tougher standards for ballot access for independent presidential candidates is unconstitutional.
• Ada Democrats to caucus Tuesday. Democrats elect delegates to the state convention in June and hear from gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred of Eagle. Allred’s opponent in the May 25 primary, Lee Chaney of Preston, also has been invited to speak.
• Groups decry socialism at Boise Patriots Day rally. Warnings against socialism and Marxism, a charge that the U.S. government is a criminal syndicate and numerous references to God and the Bible were part of a rally of self-described patriot.
• McCall Caregivers Term H&W Closure as a “Crisis”. Blame the economy. Blame lawmakers. No matter the fault, McCall will be hit hard by the pending closure of its Health and Welfare office. Boise State Radio’s George Prentice brings us part one of our special series of reports from Valley County.

Blogs:

• 43rd State Blues: Wayne Hoffman Compares IFF to NAACP Fighting for Civil Rights.
• Fort Boise: Symms sighted.
• Idaho Conservative Blogger: Americans Apathetic On Terror 8 Years after 9/11? Hope Not.
• Idaho Freedom Foundation: Mainstream media outrage over conservative-sponsored news outlets.
• morialekafa: Explanations of sorts.
• The Johnson Post: Yup, It Really Was About Slavery.

Adopting the platitudes, careful what you wear, affording justice and Crapo bows out of debate…

Media:

• Dan Popkey: Idaho candidates adopt tea party line. Congressional candidate Vaughn Ward fears every fighter in American history will have died in vain if Republicans don’t retake Congress in November. His rhetoric reflects a dire mood, with almost 60 percent of Americans saying the country’s on the wrong track.
• We Don’t Much Care for Sweatshirts Round These Parts. President Barack Obama held a “Beer Summit” at the White House in an attempt to quell tension over the arrest of black Harvard Professor Skip Gates by a white cop who suspected Gates of breaking into his own house. And now, Boise City Councilman TJ Thomson, an ardent Obama supporter, has organized the first ever “Burger Summit” to quell tension over his recent Facebook posting, which has drawn more than 100 comments.
• Welcome to the Tea Party Comrade Minnick. Yesterday was Tax Day, now the venue for an annual tea party protest in Boise and elsewhere, for the second year running.
• How Much Justice Can You Afford. In the May primary in Idaho there are three contested judicial elections; a seat on the Idaho Supreme Court and two District Judge races. Judicial races in Idaho and around the country have attract big money interests. Does that taint the process?
• Reporter gets open government award. Betsy Russell, Boise reporter for the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, has been named the recipient of the 2010 Max Dalton Open Government Award sponsored by the Idaho Newspaper Foundation.
• Extreme Tea Partying. Boise state Radio’s Adam Cotterell talks with tea partiers about the label…extremist.
• Kevin Richert: Crapo bows out of statewide Public TV debate (WITH AUDIO).
• Spending Wisely and Saving Wisely. Boise State Radio’s George Prentice talks with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter about the city’s acquistions of preserved lands, and the ongoing process of budget reviews.
• Idaho Reporter: Labor department officials explain youth jobs program (video).
• Eye On Boise: Furloughs, demotions hit Idaho prison system.
• Otter: Friendly business climate will help state. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter says Idaho’s economy is more diversified than ever and that the list of companies interested in moving to the state has grown from 25 to more than 100 in the past four years.
• Minnick, Ward hold funds lead. Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick has collected more than $231,000 for his campaign coffers since January and outraised his GOP rivals in the traditionally Republican-dominated 1st Congressional District.

Blogs:

• IdaBlue: Sanity from Vaughn Ward? Guess not.
• The Johnson Post: News or Advocacy.
• The MountainGoat Report: Jumping Off the Ledge.
• 43rd State Blues: Boise City Councilman Harrassed for Wearing Obama Attire.
• Fort Boise: Fire up the class warfare!
• Idaho Conservative Blogger: Conservative Learned Not Raised or How ICB Became A Conservative.
• IFF: CEURA takes on additional million dollars’ debt for TVCC project.

Election exodus, tea party rally, Minnick gets an endorsement and some sanity please…

Media:

• Kevin Richert: Elections exodus? Several Valley legislative candidates withdraw.
• Tax Day Tea Party Draws Hundreds. A lot of Idahoans are frustrated with the current administration. Hundreds of people showed up at the Boise Band Shell and the Capitol for a tax day tea party.
• Idaho gov. headlines Spokane WA tea party event. Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter crossed the border Thursday to headline a tea party event in Spokane, Wash.
• ID Educators Answer “Now What?” Amid Budget Woes. With tight state and local school budgets on deck, more than 500 educators are meeting in Boise today (Friday) and through the weekend for the Idaho Education Association Delegate Assembly in Boise. Comments from 2010 “Teacher of the Year,” Kelli Smith – an 8th grade mathematics teacher at Sacajawea Junior High School in Lewiston, and one of the event speakers.
• Idaho Reporter: Mail in census forms by Friday unless you want a knock on your door.
• Eye On Boise: More on tea parties…
• Tea party endorsement catches Democrat Walt Minnick, his challengers off-guard. The most influential national Tea Party group, backed by a $3 million campaign war chest, announced Thursday it is endorsing Rep. Walt Minnick’s re-election bid.

Blogs:

• Boise Councilman Harassed for Wearing an Obama T-Shirt.
• The MountainGoat Report: Minnick: Tea Party Hero (Update 2).
• IdaBlue: Vaughn Ward; can we please have some sanity?
• 43rd State Blues: Up Next: Senator Diarrhea announces he’s running!
• Boise Guardian: GUARDIAN Predicts “Rain Out” On Boise Ball Park.
• Fort Boise: Aced it.
• Idaho Speaks: So You Want to Secede from the US.

Labrador fires campaign manager, no vetoes, no signature and under the hood…

Media:

• Labrador fires campaign manager. As Raul Labrador loses a campaign manager, Vaughn Ward starts TV ads in the GOP race 1st District U.S. House race.
• Boise State sets dates for election do-over. Johnni Wuest, chairwoman of the Election Board at BSU, said Tuesday that student elections will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
• Idaho Reporter: No vetoes from Otter this year.
• Kevin Richert: Bronco Nation’s least favorite congressman.
• NewWest Boise: Qwest Asks for $350 Million in Broadband Stimulus Funding.
• Ridenbaugh Press: And now . . . the ad parade.
• Eye On Boise: Bills become law without guv’s signature.
• 4 new bills become law minus Otter’s signature. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has let four more legislative bills become law without his signature.
• Schools in teacher pay talks under June deadline. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter signed a bill on March 31 that spends $128 million less on public schools during the next fiscal year and declared a financial emergency for all Idaho schools.
• Next Eagle mayor will work full time with reduced salary, city council decides. The Eagle city council voted late Tuesday to set a deadline of 6 p.m., Monday, April 26, for Eagle residents to submit applications to replace former Mayor Phil Bandy.

Blogs:

• interstices: After Cecil Andrus left office as Idaho Governor the…
• 43rd State Blues: Obama Delivers Tax Cuts For Idaho’s Working Families.
• Dennis Mansfield: Electionland meets Zombieland? “More votes….more votes…”.
• Fort Boise: Looking under the Tea Party hood.
• Idaho Conservative Blogger: Mansfield, Political Prophet?
• The Johnson Post: Whad’Ya Know.

Controlling the news, disappointed in failed bill, Gov. Batt, and some 2C legislators endorse Ward…

Media:

• Conservative groups go after news in state capitols. A growing number of groups on the right are bankrolling startup news organizations around the country, aggressively covering government and politics at a time when newspapers are cutting back their statehouse bureaus.
• To Sue or Create a Health Plan. Allred calls for state to create its own heath-care plan, Otter backs suit. Health-care reform is poised to get as much attention in the race for Idaho’s governor as it has on the national political scene. And here, too, candidates are taking some very different approaches.
• Idaho Reporter: Students disappointed in lawmakers for failed bill.
• Eye On Boise: Former Gov. Batt calls for fiscal restraint.
• Eagle City Council will start taking applications for mayor. The Eagle city council voted late Tuesday to set a deadline of 6 p.m., Monday, April 26, for Eagle residents to submit applications to replace former Mayor Phil Bandy.
• Ward’s military background impresses lawmakers. Five Canyon County legislators officially endorsed Marine Corps active reservist Vaughn Ward of Eagle for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District Tuesday.
• Idaho Statesman editorial: Trading with the Taliban: a bad idea from Minnick.

Blogs:

• Dennis Mansfield: Possible Achilles Heels of Vaughn Ward and Raul Labrador in Idaho’s 1st CD GOP race.
• IdaBlue: Best health care in the world.
• Boise Guardian: Mayor Hotline April 3 to 9.
• Fort Boise: Or, sit down and don’t be counted, whatever.
• Idaho Speaks: How Many Patriots…
• I’m With Lucas: Raul Labrador Wins!
• Nemesis Today: Time for a Tax Revolt – Salute!

John Miller’s piece in the Statesman that involves the Idaho Freedom Foundation and their media outlet, Idaho Reporter (top link under “media”) does raise some interesting questions. Namely, why do the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press-Tribune continue to promote the Idaho Freedom Foundation when the organization will not disclose who finances it?

I don’t think that Wayne Hoffman’s column should be removed from the paper, but I do think that the local papers have a duty to not print his columns until he shows how he receives his funding. Undoubtedly the money isn’t coming from in the state — readers deserve to know that.

For a group that claims to be all about transparency and accountability, the Idaho Freedom Foundation is lacking in both departments.

Missing votes, medical marijuana in Idaho, the Sarah Palin Camp and proudly leaning left…

Media:

• Kevin Richert: Labrador under fire (again) for missed votes.
• Republican Lawmaker Announces Medical Marijuana Measure. Medical marijuana could become a reality for some Idahoans if a proposal by a North Idaho legislator becomes law.
• The Sarah Palin Camp of the Idaho Republican Party. Here’s a new one. We’ve seen Reagan Republicans for years and a rise of Ron Paul Republicans in the last two years. Now at least one Idaho candidate is calling himself a Sarah Palin Republican. Steven Pankey, a GOP candidate for Lieutenant Governor, tells citydesk: “I guess I’m kind of in the Sarah Palin camp.”
• Idaho Reporter: Crapo promises to ‘look into’ credit and debit card fees.
• Ridenbaugh Press: The great WA > ID shift . . .
• Eye On Boise: Tea Party: Otter was ‘happy as a clam’ to speak in Spokane.
• Idaho governor to headline Wash. tea party event. Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has been tapped to headline a tea party event in eastern Washington.

Blogs:

• Fort Boise: Proudly leaning left.
• Idaho Conservative Blogger: White House Floats Idea of A National Sales Tax; Good Grief!
• IFF: Some good came from this legislative session.

Difference between captive and criminal, law & journalism and Gov. Otter responds…

Media:

• Senator Talks About Idaho Captives Overseas. Bowe Bergdahl and Laura Silsby are two captives being held under two very different circumstances, and Sen. Mike Crapo said their high priorities.
• Minnick hopes prisoner swap will free Bergdahl. “What the family is hoping for and what I’m hoping for is some kind of prisoner exchange that down the road might release him,” Congressman Walt Minnick said on Nate Shelman’s 670 KBOI radio talk show Thursday.
• Law and Journalism. As Boise State Radio’s Adam Cotterell reports it can be a delicate balance when the first amendment, the fourth estate, and the third branch of government converge.
• Idaho Reporter: ACLU legislative director offers her take on 2010 session.
• Ridenbaugh Press: Mediating toward health care?
• Eye On Boise: More bills quietly signed into law.
• Otter responds to critics of his health care fight. Otter said Thursday that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred’s proposed alternative will shift costs back to state taxpayers and federal approval for an Idaho health care plan wouldn’t come easy.
• Canyon County officials resist emissions testing. Canyon County officials in southwest Idaho are still balking at emissions testing of vehicles and plan to meet with state officials Monday.
• Virtual high teen wants political career. Brandon James Scott Scholl, iSucceed Virtual High School senior/University of Phoenix freshman.
• Latinos should have more influence in Idaho politics, leaders say. Maria Mabbutt and caucus Idaho Hispanic Caucus Chairman Alejandro Zamora addressed the group of more than 50 chamber members on the impacts of Latinos on Idaho politics.

Blogs:

• Fort Boise: Mr. Potatoe Head.
• Boise Guardian: GV School Board Needs Major Re-examination.
• 43rd State Blues: Consequences of Violent Republican Hate Rhetoric on HCR.
• Dennis Mansfield: Ideas are timeless. All else fades.
• IdaBlue: Once a clown …
• Idaho Conservative Blogger: Would JFK Be A Blue Dog Today?
• Idaho Speaks: What’s In The Health Care Bill?
• IFF: New lawnmowers for some, while Boise taxpayers foot the bill.
• The Johnson Post: Replacing Justice Stevens.