After the debate
Post Published: 20 August 2010Here’s a video of Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and Keith Allred talking with the media after their Thursday debate in Idaho Falls. Otter defended the education cuts, calling them necessary, while Allred talked about how The Common Interest and the Legislature have worked together.
The great debate
Post Published: 18 August 2010Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and Democratic challenger Keith Allred will square off at 12:20 p.m. Thursday in Idaho Falls for the first gubernatorial debate of the election season.
The debate will pit Allred against a GOP incumbent with varied experience in elected office: a few terms of Congress, as lieutenant governor, and one term as governor. Allred’s not been elected to an office in Idaho before, but he’s well known in political circles for his work through the Common Interest, a lobbying organization that’s worked with legislators in Boise.
Allred has deep Twin Falls roots and was raised in the Magic Valley. A former Harvard professor, he’s also been stressing his Idaho roots that include working on his grandparents’ ranch in Silver Creek while growing up.
The room at the Idaho State University campus will be packed; it’s booked solid. We’ll be following the debate and live blogging it starting at noon on magicvalley.com.
Idaho Association of Realtors endorses incumbents
Post Published: 12 August 2010U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, Rep. Mike Simpson and Rep. Walt Minnick got endorsements today from the Idaho Association of REALTORS® in their re-election efforts.
“Our Congressional delegation has consistently demonstrated their pro-business, pro-private property rights beliefs in Congress,” said Julie DeLorenzo, of Keller Williams Realty Boise and the 2010 Idaho Association of REALTORS® President, in a statement. “These three individuals are a tremendous asset to the State of Idaho, and the IAR enthusiastically supports their re-election this November.”
The Idaho Association of REALTORS® represents nearly 7000 real estate agents across the state. Job growth and private property rights are two of the key factors that led the Association to endorse Crapo, Simpson and Minnick for re-election, according to their press release.
Olson outlines his campaign for state superintendent post
Post Published: 12 August 2010In a video interview with the Times-News, Stan Olson talks about why he’s running for superintendent of public instruction. The retired superintendent of Boise School District is running on the Democratic ticket against Republican incumbent Tom Luna.
Olson makes stop in Twin Falls
Post Published: 12 August 2010Stan Olson talked about his camaign for superintendent of public instruction. He’s running as a Democrat against GOP incumbent Tom Luna, who is seeking a second term. One major different between the candidates: Olson believes Idaho needs a strategic plan for public education with input from all involved parties; Luna contends that there’s already a plan in place that fills that need.
To read the story, visit here.
By the numbers: 900 teachers didn’t lose their jobs
Post Published: 10 August 2010If you’re tracking the national figures on the education jobs bill that’s putting about $51 million into Idaho schools, the list put out by the feds estimates that it will pay for 900 teachers in Idaho. Overall, the $10 billion for schools is estimated to cover the costs about 161,000, according to the federal government.
But in Idaho, there were relatively few layoffs because all positions were funded with state dollars – just with less money. The bottom line: 900 teachers weren’t laid off in the state, so the federal bill isn’t putting 900 educators back to work.
That makes it hard for school districts or State Superintendent Tom Luna to say what will happen in Idaho. (They’re also waiting for more details.)
Instead, if Idaho gets the money, it will likely to go toward reducing furlough days, putting teachers aides to work, filling positions left open after people left, and yes, hiring back the minority of people who were laid off in the state.
UPDATE: U.S. House passes jobs bill
Post Published: 10 August 2010The U.S. House of Representatives passed a jobs bill that has about $10 billion to pay for educators salaries and benefits nationwide.
Idaho’s share is estimated at about $51 million, though Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said in an interview that he’s still waiting for details before he’ll know if there are any strings attached.
“I’m pretty confident that it’s going to work out,” Luna said, adding he didn’t think Congress would go through the ordeal of passing it in an unworkable way. “I can’t imagine that now it’s going to be distributed in a way that not every state is going to be able to participate. … We’re kind of in a wait and see mode.”
Members of Idaho’s Congressional Delegation broke along party lines, with Republican Rep. Mike Simpson coming out against the bill, and Democrat Rep. Walt Minnick voting in its favor. Both had a different take on the bill’s impact on federal finances.
“The reality is that while Democrats are claiming the bill is paid for with tax increases and future spending cuts, the Congressional Budget Office has said that under Statutory Pay-Go, the bill increases the deficit by $12.6 billion over 10 years. That is simply unacceptable,” Simpson said in a statement.
Minnick said: “Today’s vote will provide much-needed funding for Idaho without adding a penny to the national debt. In these tough times, it is the responsibility of Congress to seek proactive solutions to the problems facing our states. I’m glad we were able to do that today, and do it in a way that is fiscally responsible.”
Congress to vote today on $10 billion education jobs bill
Post Published: 10 August 2010The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote today on a jobs bill that would provide schools nationwide with $10 billion for salaries and benefits of staff, a move aimed at helping avoid teacher layoffs in the economic downturn.
For Idaho, it’s share of the $10 billion is estimated at about $50 million. Superintendents and the Idaho State Department of Education are still waiting for more details, but hoping that the money, if approved, will help lessen the impact of state budget cuts. It’s not an entire fix, but it would help, officials say.
University of Idaho opening law school in Boise
Post Published: 09 August 2010The University of Idaho is opening up a law school in Boise, university officials announced. The university got the go-ahead from the American Bar Association’s accreditation committee.
“We are pleased with the American Bar Association’s affirmation of our third-year program in Boise,” said President Duane Nellis in a statement. “The University of Idaho College of Law has been a vital part of the Gem State for more than a century, producing leaders who shaped the state’s development. We’re proud that our graduates are deeply rooted in the knowledge of what Idaho needs and continue to step into roles that move our citizenry and state forward.”
The U of I Boise center will have about 27 students.
“The third year program in Boise will enhance opportunities for our students and will enable our faculty to provide more direct service to state government, the legal profession, the business community and the public,” said College Dean Don Burnett in a statement.
No word yet on whether the students will watch BSU football games.
Crapo, Risch push for committee hearing into leaked memo
Post Published: 09 August 2010Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are among 12 GOP senators calling for a committee hearing in response to a leaked Department of Homeland Security memo about immigration reform.
Particularly troubling to the senators is a pasage in the memo that calls for “meaningful immigration reform absent legislative action.” You can read the full story, including a copy of the leaked memo, here.