News Digest:
Thursday, March 13, 2008 1:43 PM PDT
IDAHO — Senate votes 28-6 for $10M ID Opportunity Scholarship infusion
BOISE (AP) — The Senate voted 28-6 to give $10 million to the Opportunity Scholarship for low-income students, over objections of Democrats who said Idaho should do more.
Governor Butch Otter had wanted $50 million for the scholarship endowment.
Instead, lawmakers cited dour revenue projections — and gave him $10 million, equal to the appropriation from 2007.
Like last year, lawmakers have also set aside a separate $2 million infusion for scholarships this year.
Audit questions use of Idaho’s three-plane fleet
BOISE (AP) — The state may be spending too much money on three airplanes used by Idaho officials, an audit indicates.
‘‘The urgency of trips and itineraries indicate that other less expensive transportation options exist in most circumstances,’’ the audit states.
The largest plane, a 1979 King Air twin-engine turboprop, was used 86 times in the last fiscal year. Gov. C.L. ‘‘Butch’’ Otter accounted for 40 of those trips.
The plane is needed ‘‘in a state that is as rugged and mountainous as Idaho is,’’ said Jon Hanian, Otter’s spokesman. ‘‘It’s not like getting to places in Kansas.’’ He said governors from other states have flown to Idaho in state jets.
Idaho House panel
considers latest election consolidation plan
BOISE (AP) — Lawmakers are considering consolidating Idaho’s election dates to four annually, the 13th attempt at similar reform since 2000. In the past, such efforts stalled after school officials argued that the limitation would crimp their ability to time bond or supplemental levy elections to budgeting schedules.
Currently, Idaho has four election dates in February, May, August and November, but school districts can schedule levy elections whenever they wish.
