State Government
City To Hike Electricity Tax By 20%
Those pesky politicos in both Boise and Nampa are raising the tax on your electricity by 20%. The local “franchise fee” only applies if you use electricity and it will increase from 1.25% to 1.50%–an increase of 20%. Currently, 92 municipalities charge the “fee” which is really a tax paid by consumers. It is an […]
New State Park Passport Is $10 Annual Bargain You Can Add On Vehicle Fee
If you are one of those who visit or launch a boat at State Parks like Lucky Peak, Cascade, Bruneau Dunes, or any one of 30 state parks, a new check off box on your vehicle registration will allow you to get an annual pass for a mere $10 extra. The program starts October 1. […]
Group Drops Another Bombshell On Dynamis-Ada Deal, Law Should Allow AG To Investigate
Those “Safe Idaho Citizens” dropped yet another bombshell today on the Dynamis-Ada trash to energy project, claiming the Ada Commishes ponied up $71,000 in public money for a lobbyist on behalf Dynamis. They have provided public records documents obtained from Ada County to back up their claim that former Dirk Kempthorn aide and Tamarack promoter […]
Kudos To Statesman For Commish-Dynamis Story
Kudos to the DAILY PAPER for some good old fashioned journalism on the Ada Commission coverage in today’s paper. No sense in us attempting to match reporter Cynthia Sewell on this one. She simply “told it like it is.” It is a long read by today’s news standards, but she covered the 12 minutes of […]
Private Eye, Former Boise Ombudsman Investigator To Probe Ada Commish-Dynamis Deal
Verna R. Kessler, a former investigator for the Boise Office of Ombudsman, has been assigned to the investigation of the Ada Commishes and Dynamis Energy. The “hot potato” investigation has been passed off from the Ada Sheriff, Ada Prosecutor, Attorney General, Bannock Sheriff, Boise Police, and now a private investigator. Perhaps the sixth time will […]
Most Ada Salaries Top Those Of State Officials
Look for state elected officials and local coppers to pitch salary hikes during future legislative and city council meetings, comparing state and local salaries as justification for pay hikes. Ada County Commishes approved a budget crowding $200,000,000 last week and bumped up the salaries of elected officials including a 15% hike for Sheriff Gary Raney, […]
Dynamis Hot Potato Investigation Flipped (or mashed) Yet Again
The “Hot Potato” investigation of the Ada County-Dynamis trash to energy deal has been tossed once again thanks to the withdrawal of Boise PD from the case. Sadly, it was only after the GUARDIAN informed readers of the BPD involvement that Mayor Dave Bieter called them off the case. Several potential witnesses contacted the GUARDIAN, […]
Dynamis “Hot Potato” Probe Lands At Boise PD
The “hot potato” investigation of the Ada Commishes and Dynamis which no one wants to handle has finally landed in the lap of the Boise Police. The inquiry was begun when a CITIZENS GROUP wrote letters to the County, State, and Federal prosecutors demanding action The GUARDIAN started getting tips during the past week saying […]
Lowe Got 3/4 Million Settlement
Betsy Russell of the SPOKESMAN reports former Idaho transportation director Pam Lowe ened up with $.75 million when she settled her suit with the state. Details of the detail were filed in U.S. District Court. A payment of $34,594.38 was recently paid from the Department of Administration to the law office of Holland & Hart […]
Lowdown On Lowe Settlement
Still no official word on the amount of the settlement between former Idaho Transportation chief Pam Lowe and the state. She sued for unlawful dismissal and gender discrimination, but agreed to settle out of court. In response to a GUARDIAN (and other) record request, the State Controller’s office tells us: 1.) Currently, our system does […]
Yet Another Unintended Political Consequence?
One of the GUARDIAN’s political junkie readers has come up with an interesting twist on the recent appointment of a Boise County prosecutor to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dem Ron Twilegar, the itinerant lawyer who runs wherever he can find a vacancy. Twilegar is running as a Democrat for Ada County […]
90% Of Priest Lake Cottage Leases Held By Non-Residents, 90% of Payette Sites Are Held By Idahoans
We got this note recently from a North Idaho reader following the Idaho Supreme Court decision which calls for open bidding on state owned cottage sites around North Idaho’s Priest Lake and Payette Lake near McCall. The Statesman and other media have reported frequently and rather sympathetically about lease rates being raised to a level closer […]
State Denies Request, Keeps Settlement Secret
The State of Idaho has refused to honor a request from the Boise GUARDIAN for the settlement agreement between former Transportation Director Pam Lowe and the State of Idaho. Lowe was terminated and filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court. The case was settled out of court and both sides have declined to reveal how […]
ITD Covers Up Expenditure Of Public Funds In Secret Deal
The State of Idaho has spent public money in a secret settlement deal over the firing of former Transportation Director Pam Lowe. The GUARDIAN is less concerned about the settlement than with the secrecy surrounding the agreement. When public money is expended, government has an obligation to disclose the recipient and the amount spent. Anything […]
Drug Firms Swallow Bitter Pill Over Pricing
Idaho”s Attorney General continues his winning ways against drug companies with his latest settlement claiming overcharges through false price statements. It may be time for some of the drug firms to take a pain pill. Prescription drug manufacturers Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Watson Pharma, Inc., agreed to pay $1,700,000 in a legal settlement resolving Idaho’s […]
Hoku On Trickle, Zonda Misses The Bus
The Pocatello Hoku plant that was set to make photovoltaic cells is in its death throes as the NASDAQ stock exchange has forced the firm to delist its stock which most recently has been listed for less than a dime. While it is sad to see any company go under, the GUARDIAN feels we don’t […]
AG Explains Ethical Conflict In Ada Probe
The office of Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden told the GUARDIAN Wednesday the “potential appearance of a conflict” prompted the staff to decline to investigate the Ada Commishes (see previous post). One of the major complaints was centered around possible violation of Idaho’s open meeting law. Deputy Idaho Attorney General Brian Kane is the lawyer […]
More On Supreme’s Cottage Lease Decision
A long history of protecting old Idaho families and ranchers from having to make competitive bids for state leases has been threatened by the recent Supreme Court decision over cottage leases on state land. The Idaho Land Board–comprised of statewide elected officers–administers state land through the Idaho Dept. of Lands as well as the endowment […]
Supremes Say Cottage Lease Law Unconstitutional
In a ruling released Friday the Idaho Supreme Court eliminated the “home field advantage” for cottage leaseholders on state land at Payette and Priest Lakes. We have to hand it to Attorney General Lawrence Wasden for suing his fellow land board members over the issue–a 1990 law giving current lessees priority for lease renewals. He […]
Dynamis Power Project Continues To Short Circuit
The group calling itself Idaho Citizens for a Safe Environment and a Transparent Government (Idaho Citizens) Thursday requested State County and Federal attorneys to investigate the Ada County Commission-Dynamis deal. The six page document prepared by private attorney Andrew T. Schoppe appears to have enough substance to warrant an investigation. However, under Idaho law only […]
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