Idaho Legislature To Tackle Unemployment

As state lawmakers head back to work today one of the biggest problems they are expected to tackle this session is the high unemployment rate. Idaho's unemployment rate is at 9.5 percent, higher than the national rate.

A record 71,900 Idahoans were looking for work in December. The number of actual unemployed in the state is even higher considering some have just given up on looking for a job right now. Lawmakers have put the budget and the economy at the top of their to-do lists. The GOP, who will be setting the agenda, said they can create jobs by easing regulations on businesses. Idaho Governor Butch Otter will lay out his agenda this afternoon  during his “State of the State - State of the Budget” address. News radio 1310 KLIX  will carry that address live this afternoon at 1o’clock courtesy of Idaho’s News Channel 7.