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I was honored to address the Idaho press corps last Thursday along with Rep Necochea as they asked questions about our priorities and thoughts about the upcoming session. It became clear that Medicaid, taxes, and vouchers were top of mind with my GOP colleagues. I only wish we were on the same page with how we approach each of these....
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DEFENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM VOUCHER SCHEMES
The Legislative session hasn't even started and GOP lawmakers have announced their intentions to run a new scheme for school VOUCHERS disguised as a "tax credit." This voucher tax credit proposal is a clear end-run around the education committee that rejected voucher schemes last year because they are bad for students. Whether the Tax Commission or another agency cuts the check for vouchers, they are still a bad idea and poor use of our precious, limited public dollars. READ OUR RESPONSE ...
SCHOOL FACILITIES BACKLOG
Last year, the Idaho Legislature received a report on the condition of our school buildings that said it would take almost $1 billion just to bring them up to "Good" condition. (OPE Report, see page 21). We may see some attention to this matter, but I'm guessing it won't even come close to the amounts that are needed.
TAXES
The $2.1 billion surplus is gone, with over half of it having been turned into income tax rebate checks last year (most of the money going to corporations and the very wealthy). Revenue for 2024 is now running behind projections. Despite this, there is talk of yet another reduction in the income tax rate, which has gone from 7.4% to 5.8% in the last six years. Every 1% drop in the income tax rate reduces annual state revenue by over $600 million. That means there’s less funding for public schools, roads/infrastructure, and vital services.
It is also being suggested that all state agency budgets be frozen. This will make it impossible for the legislature to meet many of the fiscal responsibilities it has been ignoring for years, including:
- $1 billion in desperately needed public school building maintenance,
- $500 million backlog in road/bridge maintenance and new construction,
- $500 million for a new, updated state prison, and
- tens of millions of dollars to provide vital services for many Idahoans and their families.
MEDICAID
A bill was introduced late last year that would repeal Medicaid Expansion in its entirety. It will probably be introduced again this year. If it becomes law, it will eliminate healthcare coverage for tens of thousands of Idahoans – especially mental health services which are woefully lacking throughout the state. Efforts will likely continue to further reduce the Medicaid budget and remove people from receiving benefits.
Cutting holes in the social safety net doesn’t save money, it just shifts the cost from the state to local government – and directly onto you via increasing local taxes, reduced services, or both.
PERSONAL FREEDOMS UNDER ATTACK
There will likely be more divisive bills that target and censor libraries, museums, teachers, public performances and the LGBTQ+ community. H71 that passed last session denying gender affirming care for children experiencing gender dysphoria is in court and there is a stay, which means that kids can continue to receive care until the case is settled in court. Unfortunately, some extremists legislators have stated publicly that they will try to bring more bills to harm our neighbors.
I will continue to fiercely fight against homophobic, sexist, racist bills that harm Idahoans.
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WOMEN'S HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS
Last year the legislature made it illegal for a doctor to terminate a troubled pregnancy to protect the health of the mother. There are rumblings about addressing this debacle due to all the negative press that Idaho has received, most recently in the showing of "On the Brink," with Diane Sawyer. She interviewed women, including an Idaho mother, who had to travel out of state for abortion care when their health and safety were in jeopardy. If you missed it, you can view it on Hulu and see prominent Idaho legislators clearly state that the "life of the unborn is more important than the life of the mother." I'm still appalled by this statement.
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Since these abortion bans have gone in effect, we have seen terrible impacts to our health care system:
- Many red states have 6 or 12 week abortion bans, but Idaho’s total ban with no health or fatal fetal anomaly exception puts us at the outer fringe of oppressive legislation.
- Idaho is the only state to make it a crime to transport a minor to have a legal abortion in another state (this is being fought in court).
- Idaho is the only state where doctors have been threatened with criminal penalties for simply telling patients they can get an abortion in another state (this is also being challenged in court).
- Idaho is the only state with a total abortion ban that does not provide 12 months of postpartum maternal Medicaid coverage.
- Idaho is the only state without a maternal mortality review committee. GOP legislators shut it down this year. Our outrageous abortion laws are likely to lead to more women’s deaths, and they apparently didn’t want a committee collecting that data.
- Since Roe was overturned last year, Idaho has seen two hospitals shut down labor and delivery services.
- Idaho has lost half our fetal-maternal medicine specialists, and a survey showed that 73 of 117 ob-gyn doctors are considering leaving Idaho because of our abortion laws.
- Doctors can be sued by a rapists family member, which means there is no rape exception.
- Idaho is struggling to recruit physicians to our state due to the threats of criminalizing physicians, WHICH HARMS THE ENTIRE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
As if this isn't enough, there are GOP legislators who have commented in the press that they will do more to restrict abortion care.
The policies of this legislature are oppressive and demeaning to women and girls, and make it dangerous to be pregnant in our state.
I have spoken to lots of people who were thinking of having children, but they current climate makes it "too dangerous," they said. I warn them that many of my colleagues want to make it tougher to get contraception. I tried 2 years in a row to expand access to prescription contraception and both times, the bills were killed.
I will continue to fight for the reproductive rights and freedoms of all Idahoans for AS LONG AS IT TAKES!
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Idaho Democrats Prioritize Working Families: a letter from Chair Lauren Necochea
"The Idaho State Capitol is not just a building; it’s the People’s House. Regular Idaho families don’t have lobbyists and can’t afford big campaign donations, but their interests should always be front and center. As the legislature reconvenes, Idaho Democrats are prioritizing the working families who are too often left behind.
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First, we are committed to thriving Main Streets with economic opportunity in towns big and small. A fundamental building block of a strong economy is education. Democrats will work to protect the new LAUNCH scholarships that are opening pathways to in-demand careers with family-sustaining wages and building the skilled workforce that industries need..." Click and read more about our priorities for session.
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Ran into Sophie, one of my stellar interns from my 2022. She's doing comms work for U of I during session. Go Sophie!
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Paid a visit to Boise's new Youth Crisis Center that has been up and running helping our youth for 2 months.
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Joined wonderful volunteers delivering Christmas cookies to women at Southwest Boise Women’s corrections facility.
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Konie enjoying his Christmas Santa.
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Local news resources to stay updated on the legislature:
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