Copy

Legislature Convenes
Monday, November 15 @ 7:30am 


The Idaho Legislature will reconvene on Monday, November 15 despite questions or concerns about whether it's legal. Since the Senate voted to go Sine Die in May and the House did not, there is still some question about the legality of reconvening the Senate.  The Speaker of the House made the decision to reconvene the House to introduce bills that deal with the ongoing debate about vaccinations and whether businesses can require employees to be tested or vaccinated to retain their employment. The Senate Majority party finally decided to reconvene on Monday as well, but it is unclear what, if any bills, the Senate will hear from the House.  

This coming week the House will address three main topics:

1) They will take up the recommendation from the House Ethics Committee to censure Rep Giddings for publishing a sexual assault complainant’s name. The committee recommended that she should be removed from one of her committees. 

2) The Majority party would like to create another legal defense fund with taxpayer dollars to join lawsuits against Biden vaccination rules. The Idaho Legislature authorized $4M of tax dollars last session to go to the legal defense fund to support litigation and attorney's expenses when they do not want to utilize the Attorney General's Office. 

3) House Ways and Means has received 29 bill to be introduced and heard; they deal with vaccinations and prohibiting schools and businesses from mandating vaccines or masks. 

Click Here to Listen to Rep Rubel provide a quick and dirty summary of what to expect.
Bills Filed Through House Ways and Means

These are all the bills that have been introduced in House Ways and Means for consideration on Monday, Nov. 15.  The Speaker of the House indicated publicly that he would consider any and all bills that were related to vaccines, but no other topic. 

I am deeply concerned with the shear number of bills along with the content. This looks more like a regular session, not a special session. With less than 2 months until regular session, I'm unclear about why we need to meet, other than to help folks on the campaign trail and to appease a vocal minority of extreme views that seem to be threatening health and safety of our communities.  

The loudest voices are those that are upset by the Biden OSHA rules to require weekly testing or a vaccine for federal employees and contractors or private companies of 100 employees or more. 

The President has the constitutional and legal authority to require that federal executive branch employees vaccinate against COVID unless there are valid medical or religious reasons not to do so. He has the same authority as to the employees of federal contractors. Whether he has that authority with respect to businesses employing 100 or more employees is in litigation and the federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily stayed the President’s order for these workers. If the President has exceeded his authority on this the federal Courts will nullify this aspect of his order.  Therefore, the need for a special session while this is being litigated is wasteful and could be null and void once a decision is made. 

Nonetheless, I very much believe there is a moral duty for people to vaccinate against COVID, unless they have valid medical or religious reasons for not doing so. If that's the case, I believe it is in their best interest and the best interests of others (including family, friends, and health care workers) to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Despite the misinformation that has been flooding social media, the COVID-19 vaccine has received FDA approval and has been fully tested; it is safe and effective in combating this deadly virus. In a civil society we don't have the right to harm others; we have a duty to take responsibility for how our individual actions can impact our larger community. 

I'm not sure what to expect in the upcoming convening, but I hope that people can apply reason and scientific research to their decision making and reduce further harm to our citizens. The vitriol surrounding what seems to be a simple thing - take advantage of science and a vaccine to save lives - has turned into a political and very dangerous fight that has resulted in over 3,500 deaths from covid in Idaho, alone, and most of those of people unvaccinated. 

** If you want to testify about a specific bill, be sure to keep an eye on the legislative calendar to see where bills are going.  You can also follow the Idaho House and Senate Democrats on Twitter. 
Senate Statement on Reconvening

Senate Democrats recognize the gray area about convening and question the legal implications.  However, if we are going to have to be there, we would like to propose a different body of legislation to help fight the pandemic instead of fight with each other. 

We have drafted legislation that would "free up federal coronavirus money for a laundry list of needs — including bonuses and a “sick leave bank” for teachers and other school employees."
  • A “sick bank” covering teachers and other public employees who contract the coronavirus, or who are forced to quarantine. As Idaho Education News reported in September, some districts are already using federal money for extended sick leave, but others aren’t.
  • One-time bonuses for essential workers. For example, a $1,000 bonus for teachers would carry a statewide price tag of $20 million, Ward-Engelking said.
  • Rapid COVID-19 testing, including school testing.
  • A COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation program.
  • Mobile vaccination clinics and in-home vaccinations.
We hope that this legislation is given time for a fair hearing and discussion. 

OUT AND ABOUT 
Visit to Riverstone Elementary School
 
I met with fourth graders last week and asked them: 

What matters most to you? 
  • "Knowledge... you have to have a good education and knowledge to make good decisions for the future."
  • "Family and friends" was repeated by most of them
  • "Ecosystems" came up a few times; they seem very interested and concerned about preserving the environment for the future
  • "My Pets!"
  • "Child Protection -- you have to protect kids if we are going to have a future." 
  • "Endangered species" and saving animals
  • "Pollution in water and the oceans" 
  • "My hedgehog"
I was so impressed with this bright and sensitive group of students.  We need to work together to ensure they have a bright future. 
Whittier Kid City - After School Program

I visited Whittier Elementary Community Center where after school programs and the students are thriving through community partnerships.  Suburban Propane worked with the City of Boise and provided a $5K grant to purchase equipment for this program. Strengthening the mind and body are equally important and this donation of robotics kits and sports equipment will certainly support the valuable after-school programming that Kid City provides to so many Boise students.
Proclamation to Recognize In Home Caregivers

I was honored to join Gov. Little and this amazing group of people last week when he signed a proclamation making November National Family Caregivers Month. These caregivers provide vital services in a home setting to keep folks out of institutions. The love and services they provide are invaluable and a lot of that 24 hour a day support isn't really compensated.

I ran a bi-partisan bill last year to provide some modest property tax relief to this group of caregivers who owned homes. The bill didn't pass the House, but we aren't giving up. We will try again and get more support!
Volunteer
Donate
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Website
Email
Paid for by Wintrow for Idaho | Treasurer Anne Kunkel
1711 Ridenbaugh, Boise, ID - 83702

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
Paid for by Wintrow for Idaho | Treasurer Anne Kunkel
1711 Ridenbaugh, Boise, ID - 83702

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.