Politics & Government

2017 Weekly Legislative Update

The Idaho Legislature is the place where laws are made that affect every resident of the Gem State. Each year, 105 lawmakers gather at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise for three or four months to make the important decisions regarding everything from taxes to education to health and welfare.Each week during the 2017 session, we’ll update you on what’s happening in the legislature. We’ll follow bills as they work their way through the Stateshouse to become laws. We’ll take a look behind the scenes at what lawmakers are doing and what it means to you. And we’ll put it all in a broader context, as we examine what other state legislatures are doing around the country.We’ll chat with Gary Moncrief, who has years of experience with state legislatures in the U.S. and Idaho’s lawmakers. He’s a University Distinguished Professor of Political Science (Emeritus) at Boise State University. He is a frequent speaker at meetings of state legislators around the country and is the coauthor or editor of six books, including the new second edition of WHY STATES MATTER, available in February of 2017. So tune in to our 2017 Weekly Legislative Update every Friday morning at 6:44 a.m. and 8:44 a.m. on KBSX 91.5.

Legislative Update: Lawmakers Consider Sanctuary City Bill

Boise State Public Radio News | By Samantha Wright

Published February 3, 2017 at 7:39 AM MST

Ada County Statehouse Capitol Building Entrance Steps

As we wrap up the fourth week of the Idaho Legislature, lawmakers have been bringing forward more bills, covering issues from tax breaks to hunting and fishing fees.

One bill that came up this week was a preemptive move by some state lawmakers who want to keep so-called "Sanctuary Cities" out of Idaho. Boise State University Political Science Professor Gary Moncrief says it’s indicative of the power that some state legislatures have over their largest cities.

But along with the regular business of the legislature, an on-going feud was resolved. House Speaker Scott Bedke re-instated the committee assignments of North Idaho Representative Heather Scott after a period of exile. In our 2017 Weekly Legislative Update, Moncrief says that drama appears to be over.

According to Moncrief, lawmakers are about a third of the way through the 2017 session.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio

Legislative Update: Lawmakers Consider Sanctuary City Bill

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