Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick is the lone Democrat in Congress named a “Taxpayer Hero” by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste for 2009 and the first Democrat so honored since 2006.

Idaho Republican Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch also earned “Taxpayer Hero” status for voting with the group between 80 percent and 99 percent of the time.

Rep. Raul Labrador owes the Idaho Associated General Contractors an apology for accusing them of seeking “corporate welfare,” says Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick’s campaign manager.

The GOP congressional nominee said he sees no need for an apology and criticized Minnick for having hired hands do his dirty work.

In an e-mail to reporters late Monday, Minnick aide John Foster wrote, “I will take this moment to publicly call Raul Labrador a hypocrite for slamming Idaho AGC, and demand that he apologize to the group and its members.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee says it’s beginning “targeted calls” in Idaho Tuesday urging Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick to return campaign contributions collected on his behalf by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

One of Idaho's most prominent political scientists has left Idaho State University after 25 years for the University of Idaho.

David Adler, a presidential scholar, took his new post this week as director of the U of I's James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research.

Jim McClure represented Idaho for 24 years in the U.S. House and Senate; his wife, Louise, was active in politics and a national leader on arts policy. The couple met at the U of I.

Dan Dunham of Boise will work for the Idaho Republican Party and focus on helping state Rep. Raul Labrador defeat incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick.

Active in GOP politics for about 30 years, Dunham has been an Ada County precinct committeeman and District 21 GOP chair.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has enlisted Republican Governors Association President Haley Barbour in an effort to close a financial gap with Democratic nominee Keith Allred.

Barbour, a possible presidential candidate in 2012 and a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, notes that Allred has raised more money in 2010 than the incumbent.

The Twin Falls newspaper published an editorial Monday following up on a column I wrote last week about the 25th anniversary of Idaho's Right to Work law.

Two weeks after opting out of the National Republican Campaign Committee’s “Young Gun” program, Idaho congressional candidate Raul Labrador says he’s decided to sign up after being assured he can continue his “Idaho-focused strategy.”

Labrador said Friday he was encouraged to reconsider by NRCC leaders, including Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., chief deputy whip and the lead recruiter in the effort to win the U.S. House. Labrador met with McCarthy in Washington, D.C., last week.

Breaking with tradition, the Food Producers of Idaho have endorsed GOP Gov. Butch Otter for re-election.

The group's president is Norm Semanko, chairman of the Idaho Republican Party and executive director of the Idaho Water Users Association. Rick Waitley, executive director of the Food Producers, is the father of Kendra Waitley, Otter's campaign finance director.

The Food Producers represent about 40 farm organizations and commodity groups.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is working to repeal a tax increase on investment income among high earners that’s intended to help pay for the new health care law.

Crapo on Thursday became an original co-sponsor of Economic Growth and Jobs Protection Act of 2010, authored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and also co-sponsored by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kans.