Politics/Policy

Supporters of an effort to add the words "sexual orientation and gender identity" to the Idaho Human Rights Act will try again this year to get lawmakers on board. Draft legislation surfaced Friday that would protect against discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

More polling spots for early voters. Online registration.   These are some of the proposals Idaho democrats in the legislature unveiled today.

It’s called the Voting Opportunity and Trustworthy Elections, or VOTE, initiative.  Sen. Elliot Werk (D-Boise) says it’s time to update the way Idaho holds elections.  “The horse and buggy elections of our founders day simply do not work in today’s society.” 

Here’s how this five-part plan breaks down:

A pastor from Boise has been sentenced to 8 years in an Iranian prison.  Saeed Abedini was convicted over the weekend of attempting to undermine state security in Iran.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate has given its consent to the person tapped by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter to be the new state controller.

The Senate unanimously confirmed the appointment of Brandon Woolf in a vote Monday.

Woolf was appointed to the post by Otter in October after elected controller Donna Jones retired to focus her energy on rehabilitating from injuries suffered in an auto accident. Jones is a former Republican lawmaker from Payette and was in her second term as controller.

The head of Idaho's state parks is asking lawmakers to double the agency's share of general fund revenue in 2014.

Department of Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Merrill also told budget writers Monday the agency kept all 30 state parks open last year — thanks in part to a legion of volunteers who provided 86,000 hours of free work last season.

The department got $1.3 million from the general fund in 2013. Merrill asked for an increase Monday, requesting $2.8 million to help with the agency's budget next year.

Recent mass shootings in Oregon and Connecticut have thrust mental health issues into the spotlight. Some Oregon lawmakers and mental health advocates hope there's enough momentum to keep the conversation front and center. Unlike gun control, there is a consensus that appears to be emerging on funding mental health programs.

The head of Idaho Public Television had some good and bad news for budget writers at the Idaho Legislature today. 

General Manager Peter Morrill said IPTV won 53 national and regional awards last year.  One of its premiere programs, Antiques Road Show, is coming to Boise to film several shows.  And…“Late last week we were informed by the good folks at Nielson and Track Media that we are in fact the most watched, most viewed PBS station in the U.S.," Morrill said.  "This is great news.” 

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill intended to give Idaho insurance brokers an opportunity to help clients shop for health insurance is headed for debate in House committee.

The measure introduced in the House State Affairs Committee Thursday would give brokers access to customers looking for coverage through the health insurance exchange. The exchanges — a byproduct of the federal health care overhaul — will be set up like an online marketplace for insurance products for individuals and small businesses.