State Government
State Salaries Show Spending Priorities
State Controller Brandon Woolf has launched a great new website called TRANSPARENT IDAHO which shines the light of public scrutiny on how our taxes are spent. He built the site for $28,000 using part of his annual budget to do it. That light was glaring with intensity when the GUARDIAN took a look at HIGHEST […]
Personal Property Tax Repeal Could Open Proverbial “Can Of Worms”
Before the personal property tax repeal has even been considered, the GUARDIAN got a call from a guy who has figured out how to beat the system–with a loophole that will be as bad as the current system. He predicts not only a loss of revenue from personal property taxes, but a steep decline in […]
Winter Doldrums, Not Much New To Blog
The GUARDIAN is still here, but there isn’t much new to share. Even the Statesman has resorted to devoting the front page to news that’s 100 years old–featuring Kuna and Eagle history books that have apparently hit the stores recently. Legislature is in town, Boise State football is over, Repubs and Tea Party still don’t […]
Idaho Gas To Rescue Frozen Montana Town
With temperatures below zero in West Yellowstone, Montana it’s important to heat homes and places like fire stations with tanker trucks of water. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission today granted Intermountain Gas Company emergency authority to sell up to 100,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas from its Nampa LNG facility to aid residents of West […]
No Takers For Honor Code At Lesiglature
Despite coming off a year that included members being charged with or convicted of lying, cheating, and stealing none of the leadership would go on record at a Friday media conference to adopt of a version of the West Point honor code as the foundation for ethical behavior among legislators. The GUARDIAN noted lawmakers will […]
Drug Trade Is Profitable For Those Who Sell
With Obama Care, Fiscal Cliff, Health Insurance Exchanges, Medicare Part A, B, C, Medicaid, Social Security Disability, Indigent Care, and more it’s no wonder we tune out when it comes to understanding who pays what and how much. There has been a string of settlements between drug companies and Idaho’s Attorney General over the past […]
Legislative Ethics Need Honor Code Like U.S. Military Academy
Idaho’s legislature has a crisis in confidence following numerous ethical lapses on the part of members–some have been convicted, some have lost leadership roles, and others have lost face. On the third day of the 2013 session they have devoted considerable time to “ethics training,” and they hired outside counsel. The GUARDIAN has offered perhaps […]
Name Your Favorite Stories For 2012
We trust everyone has opened their Christmas gifts, eaten a hearty meal and is now ready to reminisce about the past year’s news. Without a doubt the Ada-Dynamis energy to trash scandal has dominated the GUARDIAN posts, but there have been plenty of other misdeeds uncovered in government. You can use the search engine at […]
Crapo Joins Politicos Bringing Shame On Idaho
Looks like Idaho Senior Senator Mike Crapo can expect lumps of coal in his Christmas stocking. Santa found out who was naughty and nice. The self proclaimed abstainer wasn’t watching traffic signals close enough. Crapo has joined the ranks of Idaho politicos who have brought shame to the Gem State with his Sunday morning drunk […]
Taxpayers Big Losers When It Comes To “Purchasing Prosperity”
With Wednesday’s news that Micron–Idaho’s largest non-profit company–has failed in its latest government subsidized venture comes a message that taxpayer cash is no ticket to prosperity. The firm announced layoffs of 30 workers and a shutdown of a venture aimed at producing LED lights. The company frittered away $5 million in stimulus money paid by […]
Legislative Ethics? You Gotta Be Kidding!
It’s like: …having Hulk Hogan attend charm school. …The JackAss film crew teaching safety classes. …hiring Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky to babysit. …getting a physical check up from Dr. Kavorkian. What is it? ETHICS TRAINING FOR THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE! According to BETSY RUSSELL at the Spokesman newspaper, the legislators will be subject to several […]
Idaho Has History Of Ignoring Citizens
It should have come as no surprise when the Garden City Council ignored the vote of the people and repealed an initiative requiring public approval regarding green belt use. Consider just these measures which come to mind: –Boise City refused to put the “Ten Commandments” monument removal on the ballot, despite a huge number of […]
High Tech Devices Pose Issues For Government
When we posted the story about BOISE CITY COUNCILORS collecting $150 monthly for in-town automobile and cell phone use, we reasoned the text messages and phone records would be public. Their numbers should also be public. Third District Court in Caldwell was ahead of us as it turned out. During the trial of former prosecutor […]
Guv Observes Free Speech
We don’t normally drop “f-bombs” on the GUARDIAN, but this display of free speech with the familiar face of Idaho Guv Butch Otter is an example of democracy in action. It was sent to us by a reader who got the viral image from Face Book.
Share Your Voting Stories
As an election day special the GUARDIAN will post your stories about voting today. Just make a comment and we will transfer it to this page. Tells us about meeting friends, long lines, short lines, parking, ANYTHING about the election. PHIL McCRANE, Ada election chief–Reminder to Voters: Early reports show that some voters are heading […]
Former Director Opposes F&G Ballot Amendment
HJR 2, the proposed constitutional amendment to “insure hunting, fishing and trapping rights,” has language buried within which could potentially eliminate minimum water levels aimed at protecting Idaho fish. “Shall Article I, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended by the addition of a New Section 23, to provide that the rights […]
Big Ben Chimes Zero Hour For Secret Finance Committee
Kudos to Idaho Secretary of State Big Ben Ysursa who has filed suit in 4th District Court in an effort to force disclosure of the names of those who have donated more than $50 to a group called Education Voters of Idaho. “The voters made it clear when they passed the Sunshine initiative, that public […]
I-84 In Caldwell Hosts “Forest” Of Weeds
Looks as though the financial settlement with former Idaho Transportation Department director Pam Lowe has cut into the state highway maintenance budget. Caldwell Mayor Garret Nancolas has made several attempts to get the ITD to cut unsightly and dangerously tall weeds in the I-84 median within Caldwell City limits to no avail. The worst area […]
No Income Tax For Major Ada Employers
NOTE–Boise State Radio is part of a project called “StateImpact Idaho” which does some good non-partisan research. A recent post at Boise State PUBLIC RADIO provides an interesting interactive map of Idaho counties which shows just how much government impact we have when it comes to jobs. Of particular note was Ada County where the […]
Ada Sheriff: Probation Takeover Smooth
One week into the new fiscal year and Ada Sheriff Gary Raney tells the GUARDIAN the transition for misdemeanor probation from a private company to the Sheriff is going smoothly. “We handled hundreds of people last week with few glitches even though we had no control prior to them walking through the door,” said Raney. […]
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