COVID-19 RESOURCES AND UPDATES...
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The Governor provided an update on COVID-19 in Idaho on March 18, 2020. Statewide, Idaho is adopting the CDC's guidelines.
- Please stay home if you feel sick and contact your health care provider if you think you should be tested.
- The elderly and immune-compromised should stay home and away from other people for the next few weeks.
- Shop for your needs and no more.
- Don't visit nursing homes or long-term care facilities.
- Avoid discretionary travel.
- Avoid social gatherings of more than ten people.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Work from home whenever possible.
Blaine County is under a mandatory shelter in place order, which means self-isolating. People are still permitted to find essential services and be outside as long as they observe social distancing.
Idaho's Novel Coronavirus website is regularly updated with information about the numbers of cases and testing.
Idaho wants to hear from small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Some small businesses may be eligible for low-interest loans through the federal Small Business Administration.
The Idaho Statesman is providing COVID-19 coverage without a paywall and is translating important articles into Spanish.
Free meals for children are available at approved sites throughout the state. Children ages 1-18 may pick up meals at any site, regardless of enrollment. To locate a feeding site near you, visit the Idaho State School Feeding Site Locator.
Many local food banks remain open to the public, including the Idaho Food Bank.
Anyone who believes they may be in a violent relationship is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
For housing and rental assistance updates, visit Jesse Tree and the Ada County Housing Authority websites. They have closed the offices but are doing their best to keep phone lines open and work remotely to support folks.
President Trump on Wednesday directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to suspend evictions and foreclosures through April as Americans grapple with the fallout of the coronavirus.
"The Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing immediate relief to renters and homeowners by suspending all foreclosures and evictions until the end of April," Trump said at a White House press briefing. "So we’re working very closely with [HUD Secretary] Dr. Ben Carson and everybody from HUD."
The City of Boise has established a website with up-to-date information. On Friday, Mayor McLean announced closure of bars and restaurants’ dine-in operations for 30 days. This does not include drive-thru, delivery or takeout options for facilities.
Idaho Department of Labor is closing its offices to public access starting March 19 through at least April 3. The public can still access the agency's services online, including filing for unemployment, and through the phone at (208) 332-8942, though wait times are currently long.
As of March 19th, 2020, Idaho Commerce and the SBA have received sufficient Economic Injury Disaster Worksheets to activate loan funding for Idaho small businesses. Completing a worksheet is no longer necessary to the process.
Boise School District will begin Grab-And-Go meal services on Monday, March 23 - March 27 (spring break) for children who need nutritious meals while schools are closed. Pick up is 9am - 10am at Grace Jordan Elementary, Morley Nelson Elementary, Whitney Elementary, Whittier Elementary.
Any child ages 1-18 (including toddlers) can receive one breakfast and one lunch per day to eat at home. No identification or proof of school enrollment is required, but the child must be present. Visit COVID-19 Information Page for the latest developments.
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A few weeks ago, I was honored to meet with visitors working with the Global Ties program, visiting the U.S, and learning about government.
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Meeting a friend for lunch, I ran into all these young Planned Parenthood volunteers who were taking a break from testifying in the Statehouse.
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WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED ...
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Beyond balancing the state budget, the Legislature succeeded in passing legislation that protects our youth from unregulated vaping, supports hands-free driving for safer roads, protects renters from last-minute rent spikes, and funds ambulance districts (Representative Sally Toone's bill), which is timely given the current coronavirus pandemic. High traffic congestion areas of the state and local highway district bridges will receive some desperately needed resources.
An incremental wage increase will come to our veteran teachers and our K-3 literacy programs, but our community colleges and universities were fiscally abandoned. My GOP colleagues in the House killed this budget twice until they milked it for all they could get. This will hinder all levels of certification needed for a skilled workforce and smack our economy. There were over 25 property tax relief bills introduced, but none passed, impacting most severely our seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. Many of those bills left in drawers and not heard were Democratic bills with real sol utions to property tax issues.
Unfortunately, the Legislature failed to focus on services that impact every Idahoan, every day. Idahoans demanded that the Legislature provide some property tax relief, improve education funding, provide adequate access to healthcare, and repair roads and bridges. As Idaho's growth continues to escalate at a rapid rate, the State should have a long-term plan for infrastructure and emergency services.
Sen Buckner Webb and Rep Rubel addressed the press on Friday to share their views of the session. Just prior to this speech, the House killed the "Too Great for Heat" specialty license plate.
“The failing vote on the final bill of the session — the Too Great for Hate license plate — is an exclamation point on a legislative session that was full of attacks on under-represented, under-served, marginalized, and vulnerable Idahoans,” Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, told the Statesman.
“After such a hateful session, this plate would have served as a nice reminder to some of the members of the body. The irony is painful,” she said.
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LAST DITCH EFFORT TO HELP SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS
I tried to make call H383 Sexual Assault Protection Act to the House floor for a vote since we had a hearing and never a vote.
You may recall that this important public safety bill was blocked by the NRA and none of the GOP members of the legislature would stand with me and vote on the bill. So I tried to use a rule to pull the bill to the floor without the committee, but that attempt unfortunately failed.
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A few weeks ago....met up with Adams Elementary students who shared what mattered to them: climate change, education, equality, sports, health care!
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Before the CDC warning hits, met up with a dear friend for lunch. Gotta see friends for a boost when you are surrounded by challenges. Love you, Anna!
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And then the House took an unprecedented vote to stop all debate after I struck a nerve when I called into question a photo that is widely circulated of the bill sponsor waving a confederate flag. The “question was called,” i.e., debate was ended and I was cut off, because it was believed that my question was not relevant. As I told the Speaker, it is very relevant since the bill purports equality, but the bill sponsor has proudly defended a photo of her waving a rebel flag, a divisive and racist symbol from the Old South. The content of the bill and the motive of the sponsor are very relevant. A chorus of voices objected and Rep Palmer and Crane called the question and the bill passed on a party line vote. 
