WASHINGTON -- The Washington Post has this fascinating chart that shows two statistics from each congressional district: how much money each member collected for their campaigns from health care interests, and how many people are uninsured in their districts. It also shows which way they're likely to vote on the bill.

Making sure the Idaho Transportation Department is accountable and
transparent in using taxpayers' dollars and is providing extraordinary
customer service through its employees are among the initiatives launched
today by new Director Brian W. Ness.

“My vision for the department is this ‹ to become the best transportation
department in the country,” Ness said in a press release. “Achieving this
vision will promote responsible government, enhance economic opportunity and
empower Idahoans to be our partners. We realize we are entrusted with the

Ada County positions up election this year for include Commissioner District 2 (north), Commissioner District 3(central/south), Assessor, Clerk, Coroner and Treasurer.

All of these positions are currently held by Republicans.

So far five of the six incumbents have filed to run for re-election — Commissioner Rick Yzaguirre, Commissioner Fred Tilman, Assessor Bob McQuade, Coroner Erwin Sonnenberg and Treasurer Cecil Ingram.

Only one newcomer has filed, Vicki Oleksey McIntyre, Republican, for Treasurer.

The filing deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

Both of Idaho's Republican senators voted last night for a one-year ban on earmarks, even though the measure failed by a wide margin. Earmarks, which allow congress to direct spending to specific pet projects, are a small portion of the overall federal budget, but have come to represent out-of-control spending practices in Washington.

Read more at Editorial Page Editor Kevin Richert's commentary blog.

WASHINGTON – They’re among the 39 most sought-after people in Washington this week, the Democrats in the House of Representatives who voted against health care last year, but who might be persuaded to change their minds.

But not Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, who already has announced he’s not voting for the health care bill.

Boise State University appears on the verge of a $40 million residential construction project for students, after a Senate committee approved a tax-exemption bill that already passed the House unanimously.

The measure would allow BSU to engage a Texas company to build 900 units of student housing and have the project exempt from property tax. Construction could begin this summer, if the bill becomes law.

Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, sponsored House Bill 650, which would require school districts with 300 or more students to post all of their expenditures on the Internet in a .pdf format by the end of the year.

It would also require, by the end of 2011, that those documents be searchable.

“This is not much to ask for the benefit of the taxpayers,” Hart said.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, on Monday echoed a familiar complaint by Republicans who are unhappy with legislation coming out of a Democratic-led Congress and backed by the White House.

It's simply moving too fast, Crapo said of a financial regulatory bill introduced Monday by Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., the chairman of the Senate Banking committee that Crapo also sits on.

A compromise bill to replace new rules governing production of raw milk in Idaho has won backing from the Idaho Department of Agriculture, the $2.1 billion conventional dairy industry and small producers of raw milk.

“Everybody’s on board,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Trail, R-Moscow on Monday.

The House Ways & Means Committee on Monday agreed to introduce the bill authored by Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs. A bill number will be assigned Tuesday and Trail plans a hearing on the new measure Thursday at 1:30 p.m.