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Idaho News & Alert Center
Mobilizing Organic Consumers in Idaho
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Intelligent Nutrients:
The Organic Harmonic Science of Health
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Recent Idaho Forum Posts
Idaho News
- 11/18/08 - Cornucopia Institute Underlines Problems with New Proposed USDA Standards on Organic Livestock
- 11/08/08 - Just a Match Away
- 09/17/08 - Restoring Democracy in America's Workplace
- 09/09/08 - Forest Service Approves Plan for Polluted E. Idaho Mine
- 09/08/08 - Deal to Shrink Roadless Areas in Idaho Approved by Bush Admin
- 08/22/08 - Grassroots Direct Action: San Francisco Voters Nov. 4 Will Tell Their Congress Reps to Defund the War
- 08/19/08 - Big Green Groups Sell Out Forest Protection Activists in Idaho Struggle
- 08/05/08 - Idaho Welcomes New Uranium Enrichment Plant
- 07/24/08 - Has Your Town Declared Peace Yet?
- 06/30/08 - States Taking Initiative on Environmental & Climate Crisis while Feds Do Little or Nothing
- 06/28/08 - Industrial Farming: Our Strict, Chemical-Laden Diet
- 06/11/08 - Move Over MoveOn: Grassroots Netroots Alliance (GNA) Launches New Progressive Campaign to 'Press the Politicians'
- 05/16/08 - Study Confirms Lead Fragments in Venison
- 05/15/08 - Center for American Progress: What Are You Paying for the War?
- 05/05/08 - Radioactive Military Waste to be Dumped in Idaho
- 03/20/08 - Nevada Gold Mine Ordered to Close
- 03/15/08 - Study Shows Pristine River Is Polluted
- 02/10/08 - Tamarack Resort Fined $185,000 for Stormwater Violations
- 02/07/08 - Rocky Mountain Gray Wolves in the Crosshairs
- 02/05/08 - In Yellowstone, Drought's Effects Startling, Subtle
- 01/19/08 - Geothermal Energy Set to Double Across Western States
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Sandpoint and Ketchum: Among the First Transition Towns in the US
Sandpoint and Ketchum are among the first towns in the US to tackle climate change and peak oil by bringing the heads, hearts, and hands of their communities together to rebuild the resilience and self-reliance that will make the transition to life beyond oil possible.
Sandpoint Transition Initiative
Ketchum Transition Initiative (Community Rising)
Last Updated 8/21/08
Tell Your Representatives to Support the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act
For over a decade there have been attempts to get Congress to adopt The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA). The act was once again introduced into the 110th Congress by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) as H.R. 1975.
NREPA designates all of the inventoried roadless areas in the Northern Rockies as wilderness areas and protects almost 7 million acres in Montana, 9.5 million acres in Idaho, 5 million acres in Wyoming, 750,000 acres in Oregon, and 500,000 acres in Washington.
Despite being introduced last April, the bill has yet to be acted on this session. Please write your representatives and tell them to pass H.R. 1975 this session.
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More Information
Updated 7/9/08
Idaho's 2008 Legislative Roundup
(From Progressive States Network)
Idaho had an unusually long session, but the majority of lawmakers judged that very little was accomplished, and the most pressing issues were left to be dealt with another day. This was largely due to ever decreasing revenue projections which destroyed any chance of Governor Butch Otter's ambitious spending proposals gaining the support of the legislature. Perhaps that was not the worse outcome given the regressive aspects of some of that spending.
The Governor began the session by proposing $200 million in spending to repair Idaho's roads and bridges -- but with little or no funds for public transportation projects. Legislators did reject many of the governor's priorities, including the Legislature's restoration of 90% or the funding for substance abuse treatment which the Governor tried to completely eliminate, an override supported by even some of the most conservative members of the body.
One important initiative did manage to make it through - the broadband Idaho Education Network,
which will connect public schools in the entire state with each other
and with universities to leverage and distribute educational resources.
Unfortunately, Idaho legislators gave into anti-immigrant rhetoric and limited issuance of driver's licenses to legal residents. This is despite the clear benefits of licensing all drivers.
Incremental progress was made on a few fronts as bills were passed that:
- Require emission inspections for vehicles registered in areas that are near the federal limits for air quality;
- Increase the sales tax rebate on groceries by 500%, from $20 to $100. Though many lawmakers had pushed to eliminate this regressive tax outright, budget woes prevent that from happening;
- Help prevent invasive species made it into law; and,
- Invest more money was in math instruction.
Major issues that were put off include attempts to deal with overcrowded prisons though, fortunately, an effort to bring privatized prisons to the states was not taken up. Budget language trimming Idaho retirees from the state medical benefits plan also failed to garner much support.
Take Action. Support Green Jobs!
The Green Jobs Act of 2007 authorized $125 million per year to create an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program as an amendment to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The Green Jobs Act (GJA) is an initial pilot program to identify needed skills, develop training programs, and train workers for jobs in a range of industries - including energy efficient building, construction and retrofits, renewable electric power, energy efficient vehicles, biofuels, and manufacturing that produces sustainable products and uses sustainable processes and materials. It targets a broad range of populations for eligibility, but has a special focus on creating "green pathways out of poverty."
Congress has not yet appropriated money for the Green Jobs Act. Please contact your Senator today and urge them to fund the Green Jobs Act of 2007!
Read more at Green for All's web site.
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