Politics/Policy

Famous for its potatoes, trout fishing, and blue AstroTurf, Idaho might not have much in common with Hawaii. But here’s one thing: Idaho and Hawaii are the only two states in the country to tax Girl Scout Cookies. Now, some local Scouts are beefing up their sales pitches and learning to lobby.

Idaho lawmakers didn’t stop for President’s Day Monday. Gun rights, education and state employee paychecks  are all issues that will come up this week.  Betsy Russell writes the Eye on Boise blog for the Spokesman Review. We caught up with Russell to get her take on how this week will play out at the statehouse. Russell says she's watching the debate over raises for state employees today.

A same-sex couple from Eugene has received the first-ever waiver to be buried together at a national cemetery. It comes after the death of one of the women.

Same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships are not recognized by the federal government, so a spouse of these military veterans can’t be buried at a national cemetery. After a 12-year battle with cancer Nancy Lynchild of Eugene died December 22nd. She was 64.

For the last month, attorneys, experts and a U.S. District Court judge have been in a Boise courtroom trying to determine the past mental state of a serial killer. 

Five years ago, Joseph Duncan III was sentenced to death in federal court for killing a 9-year-old boy in 2005.  He soon waived his right to appeal the sentence, fast-tracking his own execution.
 
Duncan later changed his mind, and his attorneys Thursday wrapped up their effort to convince a judge their client wasn't mentally fit to make such a decision.

It’s a busy week for Idaho lawmakers.  Education, budgets, health insurance exchanges – these issues will all come up in the next few days.  Betsy Russell writes the Eye on Boise Blog for the Spokesman Review.  She’s been covering the Legislature, as she does every year.  Samantha Wright caught up with her Monday afternoon after the Senate rejected Governor Butch Otter’s candidate for the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.  We sat in an empty committee room to talk about the week ahead, starting with the Senate Education Committee.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho tribes want the Legislature to tell counties to quit taxing tribal government land on the state's reservations.

Helo Hancock, a lobbyist for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe in northern Idaho, told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee Monday the issue first arose in 2006.

Then, Idaho tribes received a "flurry of assessments" on land that had once been homesteaded, but later re-acquired by tribal governments.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter says the history of disagreement he has with Congressman Raul Labrador represents differences of opinion not conflict. 

For cookie connoisseurs, this might be the best time of year. It’s Girl Scout cookie season. Starting next week, Idaho Girl Scouts will be canvassing neighborhoods and their parents’ offices to take orders for boxes of Thin Mints, Samoas, and all the rest.