News
Idaho Statehouse roundup: Tuition credit bill stalls, leaving school choice debate on ice
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 22, 2023. A bill to provide state-funded private school grants appears dead for the 2023 session. The abrupt move could also bring the Legislature’s protracted debate over school choice to a grinding halt. Senate Bill 1161 — a proposal creating the five-year grant pilot — had […]
Senate passes Idaho Launch bills, as incentive plan nears finish line
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 22, 2023. The Idaho Senate voted Wednesday to create Idaho Launch, a multimillion-dollar postsecondary career incentives plan. The companion bills would allow high school graduates to receive up to $8,000 to attend community college, pursue a career-technical education certificate or complete workforce training. The program carries […]
Moderna plan to hike COVID vaccine price to $130 a dose rebuked at U.S. Senate hearing
WASHINGTON — The CEO of Moderna on Wednesday defended the company’s decision to drastically increase the price of its COVID-19 vaccine later this year, arguing that an expected drop in demand, changes to its distribution process and the overall benefit of the vaccine warrant the higher cost. That decision was met with bipartisan condemnation from […]
U.S. Senate committee postpones vote on Denver airport chief’s nomination to lead FAA
The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee postponed a scheduled vote Wednesday on Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington’s nomination to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. The panel’s chairwoman, Washington Democrat Maria Cantwell, said the vote would be held at an unspecified future date and offered few details about why it was pushed. The […]
Idaho Legislature’s JFAC rewrites failed Medicaid budget
The Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Wednesday morning rewrote the fiscal year 2024 Medicaid budget that the Idaho House of Representatives killed on Monday. The budget includes funding for five programs, including expanded Medicaid coverage for adults making under 138% of the federal poverty limit, which 60.6% of Idaho voters approved via a 2018 […]
Idaho House passes bill allowing judges to shield their home address, phone number from disclosure
The Idaho House of Representatives unanimously voted Tuesday to pass a bill that would establish a process to shield the home addresses and telephone numbers of judges and their families from public disclosure. If passed into law, Senate Bill 1059 would allow judicial officers to submit an application to have public agencies exempt their street […]
Idaho House kills bill that would have eliminated use of affidavits for voting
The Idaho House of Representatives narrowly killed a bill Tuesday that would have eliminated registered voters’ ability to sign sworn affidavit to verify their identity and vote in elections. House Bill 137 would have repealed a section of Idaho law that allows registered voters to provide their name and address and complete a signed, sworn […]
Biden officially designates new monuments in Nevada and Texas at conservation summit
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden stressed that his administration’s efforts to conserve the nation’s land and waters are an expression of fundamental American values at the White House Conservation In Action summit Tuesday afternoon. Biden also announced the designation of two new national monuments in his address, Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in southern Nevada, […]
Idaho Legislature’s budget committee approves day care grants through June
This story was first published by Idaho Reports on March 21, 2023. The Joint Finance Appropriations Committee approved $28 million in federal child care grants on Tuesday. The child care grants, made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act, expire on June 30, the end of fiscal year 2023. The federal government made the funds […]
House passes bill to allow Oregonians to pump their own gas
Oregon drivers who for decades have been banned from touching gas pumps could soon have the right to fuel their own cars, under a bill the state House overwhelmingly approved Monday. Only Oregon and New Jersey ban self-service gas, though Oregon in recent years allowed people to pump their own gas in some rural counties […]
Idaho Senate signs off on property tax overhaul
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 20, 2023. A complicated property tax overhaul is headed to Gov. Brad Little’s desk. After an hour’s debate, the Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 292 — which promises up to $355 million in immediate property tax cuts, but also carries heavy short- and long-term implications for […]
Biden signs bill declassifying information on the origin of COVID-19
WASHINGTON — The U.S. director of national intelligence has three months to declassify information on potential links between China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of COVID-19, after President Joe Biden signed legislation Monday. The bill was one of the first Biden has signed since a 118th Congress split between the two parties began […]