Idaho’s two U.S. congressmen are split over whether the American people need another taxpayer-funded “cash for caulkers” plan, formally called the Home Star program. 1st District Rep. Walt Minnick voted “yes” earlier this month on HR 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, while 2nd District Rep. Mike Simpson voted against the bill.
government spending
Minnick, Simpson differ on $6 billion winterization program
May 20, 2010 | posted by Jay Howell inSchool districts dip into reserve funds for raises
March 29, 2010 | posted by Jay Howell inDespite the 2009 legislature freezing funds for time on the job pay raises for the state’s public school teachers, Idaho’s two largest school districts awarded the increases anyway. They were obligated by multi-year contracts with local teachers’ associations.
Greetings from Spokane, Idaho!
January 08, 2010 | posted by Jay Howell inThere they go again…the same people that brought 34 new congressional districts to Idaho, have now moved the cities of Spokane, Portland and Great Falls to the Gem State!
Chili cook-offs and gift cards: Coeur d'Alene spends $4,500 on "Employee Recognition"
December 15, 2009 | posted by Jay Howell inThe Coeur d’Alene city government spends thousands of taxpayer dollars every year to show city employees they are appreciated. In fact, according to public records obtained by the Idaho Freedom Foundation, expenses under the heading of “Employee Recognition” totaled $4,489.42 in FY2009.
Salaries of many state department heads outpace inflation
December 08, 2009 | posted by Jay Howell inWhile many people who have managed to hang onto their private sector jobs this year have done so by taking pay cuts, some state employees are receiving pay raises larger than the annual inflation rate. According to state records, payroll costs (salary + benefits) grew from $888,790,878.02 in FY99 to $1,339,354,569.40 in FY08. That amounts to an increase of about 50 percent, or an average of 5 percent per year. Nationally, inflation was 28.27 percent, or
Lobbyists on the public payroll
December 02, 2009 | posted by Jay Howell inYou may not realize it, but your taxes help pay the salaries of some Statehouse lobbyists. Many pubically funded organizations and agencies contract with outside lobbyists, or send staff members to the legislature, to push their agendas. Among them are city urban renewal districts, school systems, universities and highway districts.
Are taxpayer-funded Christmas parties legal?
November 25, 2009 | posted by Jay Howell inThanksgiving is here, and the holiday season has begun! That means Christmas, New Year’s and other holiday parties and celebrations are the order of the day, in peoples’ homes, at work, and in the halls of government.
Small town, big question
November 20, 2009 | posted by Jay Howell inJust because a town is small, or the amount of taxpayer dollars in question is small, doesn’t mean big philosophical issues don’t arise from time to time. In New Meadows, the question is whether giving the city’s four full-time employees the day after Thanksgiving off as a paid holiday is a well deserved token of appreciation, or a misuse of taxpayers’ dollars?
Idaho's "new" Congressional districts
November 17, 2009 | posted by Jay Howell inIn addition to the money that Idaho has received under the federal stimulus plan, the state was apparently awarded a number of additional congressional districts…34 to be exact!
Art for art's sake: the $20,000 question
October 23, 2009 | posted by Jay Howell inThe aesthetics of downtown Boise have gotten a $20,000 boost, in the form of decorations on five traffic control boxes. Acording to city records, the money came from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant program, the same source that was tapped for $25,000 to install 15 bike lockers downtown.
