David Woolsey
Monday, January 11th, 2010

CANYON COUNTY - As the 2010 legislative session gets under way today, lawmakers who represent Canyon County will continue to wield considerable power through the process and traditions of state government.

A key element of their influence is committee chairmanships.

John McGee, R-Caldwell, is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, is chairwoman of the Health and Welfare Committee. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, is chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee. Robert Schaefer, R-Nampa, is chairman of the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee.

Chairmanships are important because the committee chairs control the agenda.

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$14 million dedicated to battle bark beetles in Idaho

Becky Kramer, The Spokesman-Review

January 14, 2010

The U.S. Forest Service will get an additional $14 million to battle bark beetles in Idaho, where the bugs have chewed through 1.3 million acres, leaving mountain sides covered with red and dying trees.

Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, made the announcement Thursday. The additional funding was hailed by Idaho Congressmen Walt Minnick and Mike Simpson, who lobbied for the money.

The $14 million will be used to improve watersheds, restore forest health and treat affected acres.

Bark beetles lay their eggs inside of trees, eventually killing them by restricting the trees' ability to draw water. Though endemic to the forests, beetle outbreaks have increased in recent years as a result of milder winters.

A new higher tech one-part driver's licence and new, multi-year Autopac renewal system are now available for Manitobans, Manitoba Public Insurance President/CEO Marilyn McLaren announced today.

"The one-piece driver's licence will improve customer service by eliminating the current two-part licence, bringing Manitoba in line with other North American jurisdictions," said McLaren.

This new durable licence card will be made of sophisticated tamper-proof material and will comply with the standards set out in the Canadian Driver's Licence Agreement.

Starting today, Manitobans who apply for or renew a drivers' licence will receive Manitoba's new one-piece driver's licence. Those Manitobans who wish to obtain the new, one-piece licence before their renewal date can make a special application and pay a $10 replacement fee.

All Manitoba drivers will be fully converted to the new, one-piece drivers' licence by Feb. 28, 2011, explained McLaren.

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Montanans respond to Schweiter's request for budget suggestions

By the Associated Press | Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 11:00 am |

HELENA - Montanans are already responding to Gov. Brian Schweitzer's request for ideas on how to trim the state budget.

The 70 ideas received by Thursday included not replacing state computers as often, installing programmable thermostats in state buildings and imposing a four-day work week for "nonessential" state employees.

With the projected budget surplus for mid-2011 now estimated at less than $17 million, Schweitzer last week asked executive branch directors for proposals to cut their budgets by 5 percent.

This week, he asked Montanans for their suggestions. The winner gets a palladium coin worth about $400.

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Newt Gingrich enlists Gov. Schweitzer's help on finances

By MATT GOURAS Associated Press | Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 12:00 am |

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he likes what he sees in Gov. Brian Schweitzer's handling of state finances, and is enlisting his help in a good government project.

The conservative Republican called Schweitzer Thursday morning and invited him to help with the American Solutions for Winning the Future project, which is looking for governing ideas for the economy, education, energy and budget issues.

Schweitzer, a Democrat, told Gingrich he would be happy to participate.

The governor told Gingrich that Montana is doing better than other states financially because it set some money aside during good times and was prudent with its budget. 

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Merkley promotes locally inspired energy-efficiency plan

Financing for some home energy improvements could be part of new federal stimulus funding

By Steve Law, Tigard Times

January 14, 2010

An energy efficiency plan inspired by a Portland lawmaker and the city of Portland's new Clean Energy Works program could go national in a second-round economic stimulus bill being fashioned in the Senate.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon's Democratic junior senator, in a Monday afternoon appearance before the Portland Tribune editorial board, said "it's very likely" that the Oregon model for financing home energy-efficiency improvements will make it into the bill.

Merkley proposed the idea based on a law enacted by the 2009 Legislature and pushed by state Rep. Jules Bailey, D-Portland. The city of Portland became the first local government to experiment with the idea with its Clean Energy Works program.

The idea is to enable people to get low-cost loans to make home energy-saving projects, and pay back the money on their monthly utility bills. If payments are structured as envisioned, the savings on energy bills could equal the monthly loan repayments, so there is no additional monthly cost, or minimal cost, to the homeowner.

PGE plan suggests shorter time frame to close

By Ted Sickinger, The Oregonian

January 14, 2010, 7:56PM

Oregon could be coal free by 2020

Portland General Electric Co. would shut down the state's only coal-fired power plant 20 years earlier than planned under a proposal it hopes to finalize with state and federal regulators in the coming months.
 
In a letter Thursday to the Oregon Public Utility Commission, the state's largest utility said it is pursuing an alternative to its existing operating plan for its Boardman coal plant, located about 150 miles east of Portland. That plan calls for PGE to invest more than a half billion dollars in pollution controls at the plant by 2017 to comply with federal and state clean air regulations, then keep it running until 2040.
 
Instead, the company hopes regulators will allow it to make a $45 million investment next year to partially clean up its emissions of mercury and oxides of nitrogen, then operate the plant only until 2020.

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By Angela Hall, Leader-Post

December 21, 2009

REGINA - A dispute that dates back 80 years is netting the province the title to some mineral rights and almost $33 million in cash.

The Saskatchewan government said Monday it's getting the title to more than 34,000 hectares of federally-owned minerals located in the province plus an immediate payment from Ottawa.

"This new agreement is good news for our province," Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd said.

The deal brings to an end a lawsuit the provincial government had brought forward in 2003 related to ownership of minerals at one time held by the Soldier Settlement Board.

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Gov't eyes further slip in potash cash

Revenue projections may be revised lower as industry's sales lag

By James Wood, The StarPhoenix

January 15, 2010

When it comes to potash revenue, the Saskatchewan Party government almost has nothing left to lose.

But Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer said revenues may be revised downward yet again when the government releases its third-quarter financial report, likely next month.

Since last spring's budget projected a whopping $1.9 billion in taxes and royalties from potash, the government has knocked the figure down twice by a total of $1.8 billion -- leaving a scant $109 million from the pink rock.

But with no deal in sight between Saskatchewan potash export consortium Canpotex and China as the end of the fiscal year draws near, Gantefoer said Thursday it's possible that figure may get even closer to rock bottom.