ARTICLES BY DAVE GOINS BEE CORRESPONDENT

State lawmakers call it 'sine die' for 2014 session

BOISE — At the end of a long day Thursday, the 2014 Idaho Legislature wrapped up its 74-day session.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Lead

JFAC OKs $300K to expand NIC-Sandpoint

BOISE — State budget writers on Thursday approved North Idaho College’s $302,300 budget request for expanding programs at its Sandpoint Outreach Center.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Panel gives green light to proposed speed limit hike

BOISE — While a lobbyist for AAA Idaho asked state lawmakers to “tap the brakes” on legislation that could lead to higher speed limits, the House Transportation and Defense Committee on Tuesday kept a steady foot on the accelerator.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

'Revenge porn' bill clears panel

BOISE — Despite concerns from the ACLU of Idaho, Rep. Luke Malek’s bill targeting “revenge pornography,” gained the House Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee’s approval Monday.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Idaho budget writers rescue IEN

BOISE — The financially troubled Idaho Education Network broadband program got a $6.6 million bailout Monday from state budget writers.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Mascot issues concern state's tribal leaders

BOISE — Idaho tribal leaders on Friday — including Kootenai Tribe council member Gary Aitken Jr. — expressed concerns about the offensive nature some sports mascots represent to Indian tribes.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Idaho Legislature mulls tax incentive bill

BOISE — State tax incentive legislation — introduced Friday — that borrows a page from Utah’s economic development playbook would make Idaho more economically competitive with the Beehive State, a North Idaho legislator said.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Interest rate legislation clears Senate committee

BOISE — Prejudgment interest rates allowed in state code could be dropped to 7.5 percent from the current 12 percent if a bill currently under consideration at the Legislature gets amended and becomes law.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Crapo: Adopt amendment on rules review

BOISE — U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo on Tuesday urged state senators to pass a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at strengthening the Idaho Legislature’s legal ability to review — and sometimes reject — state agency rules.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Lead

Campus gun carry bill clears committee

BOISE — Riding roughshod over the objections of Idaho’s eight colleges and universities — and the State Board of Education — a state Senate committee Wednesday approved NRA-backed legislation creating exceptions for carrying firearms on college campuses.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Bill would solidify rules review effort

BOISE — While one North Idaho lawmaker questioned why it shouldn’t receive a public hearing, four legislators from the region voted on Monday in favor of legislation to create an Idaho constitutional amendment to solidify the Legislature’s oversight of state agency rules.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Tax committee gives initial nod to rural broadband bill

BOISE — The House tax committee on Friday gave introductory approval to a cable telecommunications industry-backed measure that would provide state income tax credits to individuals and small businesses to help build broadband services.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Bill seeks to halt some EPA rules

BOISE — State legislation to reject some EPA regulations was unanimously introduced in the House State Affairs Committee Thursday after Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, expressed uneasiness about it.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Details sought on proposed speed limit hike

BOISE — Sen. Bob Nonini said he wants more information on a bill introduced Tuesday which would let the Idaho Transportation Board raise freeway speed limits to 80 miles per hour while accelerating top-out levels to 70 mph on state highways.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Keough boat bill looks to sink loophole

BOISE — A bill by Sen. Shawn Keough that seeks to remodel the Idaho Safe Boating Act in regard to the term “grossly negligent operation,” gained introductory approval Monday from a Senate committee.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO