Idaho's four members of Congress were among the 245 lawmakers to win the award from the National Federation of Independent Business for their voting records in the last two years.

NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner announced the awards last week, saying,
“Small business owners pay close attention to how their lawmakers vote on the issues affecting their businesses. The Guardian award is a symbol of sincere appreciation from the small business community for votes that supported their ability to own, operate and grow their businesses."

Idaho Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick is among about 10 "moderate Democrats" are are "refusing to commit to supporting" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should Democrats hold the House in November.

The CQ story lists Minnick along with several fellow Blue Dog Democrats and also quotes unnamed Democratic members of Congress.

Read Rocky Barker's analysis of Gov. Butch Otter's television ad on alternative energy at Letters from the West.

State Rep. Raul Labrador's anti-establishment record has put him in some famous company, according to the Washington, D.C., website.

Politico says Labrador's relationship with the National Republican Congressional Committee "remained cool" after he upset Vaughn Ward, the NRCC's choice in the GOP primary for the right to face Democrat Walt Minnick in Idaho's 1st District race.

With GOP Gov. Butch Otter showing weakness in LDS-dominated Eastern Idaho, he'll engage the support of the nation's most popular Mormon politician, former Massachusetts governor and likely repeat presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Recent polls show Democrat Keith Allred's strongest region to be Eastern Idaho, where Romney's appearance should be a boost to Otter.

Romney's father, George, was governor of Michigan and ran for president in 1968. The younger Romney will appear with Otter in Idaho Falls and Boise Oct. 6.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, picked up an endorsement Thursday from the political action committee of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.

Minnick is the only Democrat in Congress to be endorsed by the group, which exposes wasteful government spending. Minnick, the group's press release said, "did not request any earmarks, and has signed CCAGW’s 'No Pork Pledge.'"

Citizens Against Government Waste also noted that Minnick's Republican opponent, Raul Labrador, also signed the pledge and answered the group's candidate questionnaire.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said he "enthusiastically endorses" the "Pledge to America" unveiled Thursday by his Republican House colleagues.

Ada County commissioner candidate Larry Rincover said if elected he will work to restore funding to Allumbaugh House.

The Ada County Board of Commissioners cut the county’s $250,000 annual contribution to the community detox center.

The county said it would restore the funding when Boise, Meridian and Garden City start paying the county for providing them magistrate court services in the Ada County Courthouse.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred began running his second television ad Tuesday about Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s record on education funding. Here’s our analysis.

WHAT ALLRED SAID

“Butch Otter doesn't do his homework. He botched the budget and cut education by 7 percent, the first time in Idaho history. (on the screen it shows 7.5 percent and $128 million.)

Two years after the NRA endorsed GOP Rep. Bill Sali and gave his challenger, Democrat Walt Minnick, a "D+," the powerful gun-rights group says now-Rep. Minnick has cleaned up his act and jumped two full grades.

"Very simply, he has been a solid vote on gun issues and he's been supportive of 2nd Amendment issues since he's been elected," said Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA's director of public affairs.

The GOP nominee, state Rep. Raul Labrador, earned an "A," but the NRA is staying neutral in the race and not making an endorsement, Arulanandam said.