Archive for 2012
Draft Environmental Statement Paints Dark Picture For F-35 Fighters In Boise
Based on news from more than a year ago, it appeared the U.S. Air Force had abandoned plans to base the F-35 in Boise. Now, a report dated January 20 has surfaced along with a schedule for hearings in Boise this week. The EARLIER NEWS said Boise would possibly get Italian cargo planes rather than […]
Idaho Power Adopts Growthophobe Philosophy
It reads like a chapter from the GROWHOPHOBE handbook. Idaho Power is happy to expand its transmission lines to take care of growth, but wants those who benefit and create the demand to pay for it, according to a new filing before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Under the proposal, Idaho Power seeks to charge […]
Another Example Of Change To Fit Desire
Take two on the redistricting mess. Republican House Speaker Lawerence Denney wanted to fire his appointee to Idaho’s redistricting commission, former GOP state Rep. Dolores Crow, because party members don’t think she protected their interests. Translation: the lady wasn’t partisan enough. Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, the state’s chief election officer sought advice from the […]
Supremes Nix Redistricting Plan, Governments Just Change Laws To Fit Desires
Two different Idaho panels were unable to come up with a redistricting plan to comply with the constitutional “one man, one vote” ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Idaho Supremes have nixed the latest version after several counties filed suit protesting a split of legislative districts within their counties. This politically charged issue comes […]
All Aboard The Ethics Train
It looks like both the Dems and Repubs are standing on the platform waiting to jump on the “Ethics Train.” After a series of public corruption and criminal cases involving legislators and state officials were reported by the news media, it seems like legislators of both parties can’t get aboard quick enough. Leadership of both […]
ACHD Turns 40, Birthday Party Wednesday
Contrary to popular belief, the GUARDIAN is looking for examples of good governance and one of the best examples we can find on a local scale is the Ada County Highway District–ACHD. The agency turns 40 this week and–not surprising–had its genesis in bad government. They like to say the issue was potholes, but it […]
Boise Attorney Opposed To Dynamis Deal
Boise attorney Jon Steele has released comments critical of the proposed Ada County “waste to energy” currently before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Steele, in a press release was critical of the proposed rate schedule between Idaho Power and Dynamis Energy, the outfit that already has $2 million from Ada taxpayers for the project. PRESS […]
Who Says Crime Doesn’t Pay?
The folks who find themselves caught up in the criminal justice/judicial system–admittedly for committing crimes–got a New Year’s gift from the legislature in the form of a price hike. This from a probationer: With everything going on with ACMPS, I just thought your readers would like to know that ACMPS has raised their supervision fees.“Effective […]
Kuna Mayor Seeks Committee View On Fees
Kuna’s mayor and planning director seem to have come to terms over a disputed $36,000 sewer and water hook up fee for two establishments owned by hizzhonor. Newly elected and former Mayor Greg Nelson owns a restaurant and a bar which apparently never paid hook up fees according to the Planning Director, Steve Hasson. The […]
New Group Vows To Police Boise Coppers
A start up group calling itself BOISE COP WATCH plans to hit the streets this weekend armed with video cameras to record the activities of Boise coppers. Pete Rimkus, the organizer says BCW (Boise Cop Watch) will be on patrol in Boise, Idaho this Saturday Night, January 14th, 2012. Their goal: accountability through transparency so […]
Chinese Communists Pony Up Cash For Hoku Power Bill
The troubled Hoku solar panel plant in Pocatello got a $10 million infusion of cash from its Chinese Communist parent company this week which should allow them to pay their Idaho Power bill before the plug is pulled. In action before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Hoku has sought to amend a contract with Idaho […]
A Relaxed Recall Law Would Be Ultimate Ethics Panel
When Idaho’s Republican senators met Wednesday to determine whether or not to leave Caldwell Senator John McGee in a leadership post, they did something that citizen voters are all but denied–vote on the conduct of an incumbent politico. Under Idaho law, citizens must obtain signatures of 20% of the REGISTERED voters just to get a […]
Local Option Tax Hike Bill Likely In Legislature
A bill to bump up the sales tax by 1%–with voter approval–will probably surface in the coming legislative session. Ironic that local politicos and Chambers of Commerce favor allowing voters to approve a sales tax hike when last year they almost uniformly opposed allowing citizens to vote on long term public debt at airports and […]
Idaho Dept. Of Lands Posts Loss On Commercial Ventures
Thursday we asked Gov. Butch Otter about his thoughts on the land board going into the commercial real estate business. Otter stressed that he was adamantly opposed to the state operating enterprises that would otherwise be found in the private sector. He said as long as the state remained in a LANDLORD capacity and avoided […]
Eastern Idaho Energy Dreams Slowly Crumbling
Eastern Idaho’s grandiose efforts to attract business with “incentives” taken out of the pockets of taxpayers are slowly crumbling despite feeble attempts at life support. First it was the Hoku solar panel plant in Pocatello falling on hard times with plummeting stock prices and Idaho Power ready to pull the plug on its electricity. Now […]
Burning Issues And Libraries Maxed Out
Our GUARDIAN staff tax expert has alerted us to possible funding issues in 2012 for some fire districts and libraries. These taxing districts are limited in their legal ability to levy taxes and as property values declined, they have almost uniformly “gone to the max.” City and county governments can raise budgets up to 3% […]
Dark Days Ahead For Hoku?
Idaho Power still has its finger on the power switch at the Hoku solar panel plant under construction at Pocatello, but the Idaho Public Utilities Commision is telling the utility to wait awhile before cutting electricity. Idaho Power Co. had threatened to shut off electricity after the Honolulu-based polysilicon maker missed a $1.9 million November […]
Forget Convention Center Expansion, Fix What We Have
As 2012 opens the calendar we can plan on all sorts of schemes to attract visitors, create jobs, woo businesses, and otherwise grow ourselves into prosperity. The G-BAD boys and girls have expansion on their collective mind. How about simple fixing up existing Greater Boise Auditorium District facilities and make them better–not bigger? The Wall […]
“Buying” New Business Not Worth The Price
We’ve all heard of the husband who purchased a new boat the couple couldn’t afford so the wife gets even by remodeling the kitchen and installing new carpet they also couldn’t afford. That same silly fiscal policy is being advocated by government and editorial writers from Idaho Falls to Boise–if a business isn’t financially sound […]
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