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The Idaho Legislature is back up to speed. With parameters set in the budget and tax discussion, lawmakers are rolling again. Today was an excellent day to get a sense of what's going on at the session.
And there's a good place to look for the rundown. Betsy Russell, who blogs (and, uh, writes news stories as well) from the Idaho Legislature for the Spokane Spokesman-Review, has 13 separate posts on mostly separate topics at the legislature today.
So what happened? Among the highlights:
The budget committee (the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee) [context] set the budget for the state Department of Education, approving money for a state data system.
It cut matching money for Idaho Public Television for translator stations.
It zeroed-out the Idaho Rural Partnership.
It zeroed-out the Idaho Women's Commission.
It turned down a proposal to study historic barns around the state.
The House Education Committee voted to permanently end state funding of school field trips.
A committee moved ahead with major changes to the state liquor license system.
The House passed, 51-17, a request that the federal government "cease and desist" invading the state's sovereignty. Specifics were not spelled out, which doesn't matter since the measure is a declaration only and has no practical effect.
A busy day at the Idaho Legislature. Best guess at present is another three to four weeks to go until adjournment.