This year broke records in the number of bills introduced and passed -- talk about growing gov't and gov't overreach! It is alarming to see a legislative body, that boasts about fewer laws and regulations, pass more than we had seen in our history. In my 7 years as a legislator, I have never seen so many bills be introduced with so little done. Only a third of all legislation drafted was voted into law -- a lot of time wasted on introductory hearings to make political points, which I think is a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars.
I've seen a few announcements from my colleagues across the aisle, along with the Governor, who have represented this session as something to be celebrated. On July 1 new laws went into effect that don't feel like celebrations to me and, in many cases, hinder democracy and real investments in our community. Legislation like
S1110 which landed in court and is costing
taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to help the gov't take away your rights and access to the ballot. This is the most troubling legislation of the session because it takes power from the people. I voted against it.
This past week, the Governor sent a press release about the benefits of tax rebates provided by this year's legislature. However,
H380 gives a
permanent tax break primarily to the most wealthy Idahoans at the cost of vital services to a state that is experiencing the fastest growth in the country.
What business model divests of itself when it's growing? Tax benefits from this legislation are heavily lopsided. Taking all provisions into account, households with very modest earnings would receive an $82 average tax cut, and the top 1 percent who would receive an average tax cut of $8,883.
We are now closing in on almost
1 billion dollars in "surplus revenue" and instead of investing that revenue in housing, health, and schools to name a few, the legislature cut education funding, refused to accept funding for early learning programs, and spent all their time last session fighting about the Governor's power and some far-fetched notion that teachers were indoctrinating students.
Now, the Governor is talking about more tax breaks...and the next question should be tax breaks for whom? The two largest contributors to Idaho's record surplus are income tax filings, exceeding projections by $469 million, and sales tax collections of $166 million more than forecast. While the Governor claims it's due to fiscal conservatism, I would say
it's more akin to growth! More people equals more buying (sales tax) and more income (income tax). I think it's logical that when there are more people, we need more housing, schools, public transit, and more staff at state agencies to deal with the needs presented by that growth. Cutting services in a time of growth does not make good business sense and it hurts our state.
With all this growth and excess revenue the Idaho legislature still didn't address the number one issue of property tax hikes that are pricing people out of their homes. After the longest session in history, a subpar bill
(H389) that did not significantly address the problem was introduced and rammed through in the last few days of the session. It was a bandaid on a gaping wound that needed a tourniquet. This was the second most frustrated I had been this past session because my colleagues indicated that "not everyone can get everything they want" and that this was a "step in the right direction" and all they could do. As I said on the Senate Floor,
this legislature had the power to cap the homeowners exemption in 2016; it has the power to uncap it, re-index it and make it right with the Idaho people. I voted against this bill because is also
kicked thousands of Idahoans off the circuit breaker. Shameful.
In contrast Democrats introduced the
“Idaho Working Families Agenda” that provides a comprehensive plan to deliver tax benefits to working families and boost critical education investments to children learning basic skills, including reading. The Working Families plan achieves two important goals: boosting working families to grow a thriving middle class and providing funds for our schools and kids. Who could disagree with these much-needed goals?
The Working Families plan includes: increasing the child tax credit, increasing homeowner’s exemption for property taxes, doubling the scale of the property tax assistance program (a.k.a., circuit breaker), optional full-day kindergarten, one-time funding for additional instruction to help kids catch up from the effects of COVID-19, and a sliding scale tax credit. Unfortunately for the Idahoans who need relief, GOP legislators have different ideas on what should be prioritized when it comes to taxes. Idaho is sitting on over a billion dollars of revenue that constitutionally should benefit the health and welfare of Idahoans, like property tax assistance, tackling the crucial lack of transportation maintenance, broadband infrastructure, and crumbling education budgets.
