Politics/Policy

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — U.S. government officials are rolling out a Native American land buyback program as part of a $3.4 billion settlement over mismanaged royalties.

The 10-year, $1.9 billion program is meant to purchase individual allotments from willing Indians and turn over the consolidated parcels to tribes.

Program manager John McClanahan said Tuesday it could be up to a year before the first land sales are completed.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is opting for a state-based health insurance exchange.

The Republican governor’s office distributed that news late this afternoon in a release that criticizes Obamacare, but says the state must assert its “commitment to self-determination” and fulfill its “responsibility to the rule of law.”

The decision is subject to the Idaho Legislature’s approval.

Almost half of the legislators in Idaho work in agriculture or business when they’re not making policy in Boise.

Over the last month, StateImpact Idaho has collected basic demographic information on the 2013 Idaho Legislature.  Some of the information we gathered came directly from lawmakers. Some of it was gathered from Project Vote Smart, the Idaho Legislature, or Nexis.

Sunday was the first day marriage certificates were signed in Washington state since the passing of the same-sex marriage law. One Spokane couple said “I Do” to each other for the second time. 

Brandon Betty and Victor Rapez held round one of their wedding in September before the law passed. They always planned to have another celebration if same-sex marriage became legal.

“So we decided that standing on our stoop on the front porch, and our friends standing down in the front yard. Just couldn’t be a more quaint, more intimate way to say I do to somebody,” says Betty.

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and prominent state legislators have lined up behind the idea of eliminating or scaling back Idaho’s personal property tax.  The issue was high on the agenda as local government leaders came together at an Association of Idaho Cities meeting on Friday.

After three terms in the speaker’s chair, Representative Lawerence Denney lost the top House spot in the Idaho Legislature Wednesday night.  Representative Scott Bedke of Oakley was elected Speaker of the House during a secret vote at a dinner at a Boise country club. 

Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey has been following the ongoing rivalry between these two lawmakers. He says several issues led to Denney losing support from his Republican colleagues.  

Clark County's auditor estimated some thirty gay and lesbian couples lined up to get marriage licenses this morning in Vancouver, as Washington's new  same-sex marriages law takes effect.

First in line were Paul Harris and James Griener . Harris manages the department that issues marriage licenses for Clark County, so Auditor Greg Kimsey sent him to the front of the line.