|
STANDING STRONG WITH AND FOR YOU!
THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE!
|
|
|
Things feel very rough right now for those who value personal freedom, peace, kindness, and a worldview that embraces diversity in thought, diversity in lifestyles, diversity in families, and diversity in government, but we cannot give up this fight. We must continue to show up and speak out for what is right.
I received a heartfelt letter this week from a woman who was born and raised in Idaho but had to move to another state because she didn't feel safe living in Idaho. She asked me to work on legislation that ensures the child protection system supports LGBTQ children and LBGTQ foster families, so all kids had a safe place to live.
I hear from people every day who want to leave Idaho or have left due to the lack of women's reproductive health care and the dangers associated with being pregnant. We see yet another labor and delivery unit closing and more doctors leaving the state.
I hear from LGBTQ people and their allies everyday who are afraid of the laws being passed that exclude them, silence them and seek to erase their very existence.
An amazing group of volunteers from Planned Parenthood were in the Statehouse this week doing some of the hardest and most important work to advance human rights and protect people from harmful government overreach.
Wearing their pink t-shirts, they proudly shared their support for policies that prioritize human rights along with privacy and autonomy to make decisions about our bodies and our lives.
We have seen bold attacks on our personal freedoms increase since the Trump Administration, so it has never been more important to show up and share your views with elected officials, no matter how challenging it is. I know how hard it is when we feel so outnumbered, but there is no other choice but to fight for our freedoms together!
The backlash we are experiencing to the progress we have made in the past 2 decades is harsh, but it will subside if we continue to speak power to truth.
We can't give up. We can't just concede.
We have stopped bills due to public outcry before and we have passed other bills to advance human rights. Find support and fellowship and continue to arm yourselves with truth and strength to fight for the most vulnerable. I remain hopeful and strong...BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE if I want to live in a just world.
|
|
|
|
Anti-Bullying Bill Rejected in the House - WT_?
I remain hopeful in our future. And as we fight for justice, we also have to shine light on the problems and the hypocrisy in the laws being made. We must understand them so we can unravel them.
An example of faulty logic and partisanship came out last week when the House rejected (H539) sponsored by Rep Chris Mathias; his bill addresses bullying by requiring the school to notify parents of incidents in school, but the supermajority had concerns that it was going to "add more responsibility to the school district and the principal."
More responsibility to end violence being seen as too much?!?
The bill would simply require notifications to parents -- which is something my GOP colleagues, who can't get enough of passing PARENTAL RIGHTS legislation, legislate all the time! All of a sudden, it's too much red tape to require the school to notify a parent of violent behaviors by their student or directed at other students?!?!
This bill provides more ways to intervene and have meaningful conversations with our students so we can problem solve, de-escalate situations, and reduce the risk for continued harm that impacts the students and the larger school community as well.
Idaho has the fifth-highest youth suicide rate in the country from 1999 to 2020, but the committee thought it would be too burdensome to have school staff intervene? I'm at a loss!
There wasn't the same concern with additional work and impacts on staff with H397, which dismantles the entire system we use to track vaccination records and causes insurmountable challenges for schools and doctors to track records. Nor the same consideration with last year's bill to require notification to parents of all a student's extracurricular activities or counselors to report confidential information about kids behavioral health, especially as it related to gender orientation and gender identity.
This is so problematic (even hypocritical) framed next to another bill (S1329) that came through my committee this week to EXPAND PARENTAL RIGHTS so all medical care that a young adult receives (14 - 17 years of age) is disclosed to parents. On its face, that sounds fine, UNLESS you are in an abusive household and may be a victim of incest or physical abuse. We heard from doctors and social workers about the problems with closing down any safety nets for children who want to seek support when a parent or guardian denies them help. This is why we currently have laws to protect young adults who need behavioral health or substance abuse treatments.
This bill's expansion of parental rights completely disregards the rights of young adults to access treatment and care when they don't have any adults they trust to turn to. A doctor or counselor may be a safe place for a young adult to get help and support until the proper adult in their life can be identified.
The bill is backed by the infamous Alliance Defending Freedom, an organization that targeted abortion rights for decades and is now focused on rolling back gay and trans rights including gay marriage.
Described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, ADF also backed (S1352), which allows a counselor to refuse a client if their values differ and the counselor doesn't believe in the outcome or goals of the client. This is a way to shield counselors who don't want to help people who are transgender or gay or seeking an abortion, which were among the topics that came up in testimony by some counselors. The worst part about the bill is that it releases counselors from any responsibility to help refer the client to another counselor once they are dismissed, which I think is dangerous and cruel.
I am deeply saddened by legislation like this passing through the Statehouse, but as I told that group of volunteers last week, we have to keep showing up and fighting for what is right! We have to remain vigilant and make it hard to pass these bills; as I told the testifiers who came out, make them work for it and justify their actions on the record.
|
|
|
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Library Bill Defeated...for now...
S1289, the latest bill to address "harmful materials" (literature dealing with LGBTQ people and racism) in public and school libraries was defeated on the Senate floor last week. The bill was a compromise of sorts to a more extreme bill that started on the House side. I voted against the bill because the bill was unnecessary; it codified policies that already exist in most libraries on how to "challenge material" that someone doesn't like. In committee, the opposition far outweighed any support and powerful testimony revealed that most content that has been challenged relates to content with gay characters and racism. These types of bills are a dog whistle for partisan, extremist politics. Rumor has it that the more extreme bill will be revived, so stay tuned.
There are several concurrent resolutions that were introduced in my committee, calling for a Convention of States. I voted against SCR112, but it passed out of committee and awaits debate in the Senate. I have voted against these bills before due to the lack of representation Democrats would have in the delegation, along with the risk of a "runaway" convention. Professor McKay Cunningham, a constitutional law professor who lives in District 19, testified against the bill raising concerns about such a convention and the risks to the US Constitution. Listen to Idaho Reports to learn more...
Partisan Politics at It Again in Ada County
H637 would inject party politics into local elections by making Ada County Highway District races partisan and would allow the Ada County Commissioners (also partisan positions) to gerrymander districts. For a body that claims to support local control, it seems they are only happy if they can control locals! This legislation undermines local election processes once again with intrusive, heavy-handed politics.
State employee telework options
S1261, unfortunately passed out of the Senate by a 19-16 vote; it limits telework options for state employees. I voted against this bill because I believe these are decisions best made at the local level, not by legislators who are too far removed from what is going on in any given agency. Working from home can improve productivity and job satisfaction and may help recruit more employees into positions where private sector positions outpace salaries. I heard from a lot of employees and I encourage you to continue to reach out to House Members and share your thoughts with them.
|
|
 Eviction Record Shielding Act
S1327, sponsored by Senator Ali Rabe, shields eviction records from public viewing in cases where the entire case has been dismissed, no appeal is pending for the case, and at least three years have elapsed since the filing date of the eviction. This helps folks who have paid their debts get a fresh start and eliminates a few barriers to gaining a home in the future.
Homeless Youth Shelter Assistance
S1328, again sponsored by Senator Ali Rabe, protects licensed youth shelters and crisis centers from criminal penalties for housing a runaway child under specific circumstances, as long as they obtain the child's consent, attempt to notify their legal guardian and notify law enforcement. This law helps kids who find themselves in abusive situations find compassionate care they need.
|
|
|
WHERE'S SEN WINTROW???
STATEHOUSE SCAVENGER HUNT
|
|
|
|
Join me for a fun STATEHOUSE SCAVENGER HUNT
Winner Gets Lunch with Me to Learn More About Idaho Politics
- Each week, I'll post a photo of me in the Statehouse (above). This is Week 2.
- You guess where I am.
- Contact me at Wintrow for Idaho and share your guess on my contact form. Be specific with floor and location.
- My intern will track responses.
- The person with most correct answers wins lunch, and I'll buy!
This one is a little harder than last week.
|
|
|
District 19 Town Halls
Representatives Necochea, Mathias, and I strive to be responsive to our constituents through the Legislative Session. To that end, we have again scheduled town halls throughout the district this year. Please join us for one (or more) of these gatherings.
-
RSVP | Wednesday, March 13th, 6-7PM
Lincoln Auditorium - Idaho State Capitol
700 W Jefferson St, Boise
I hope to see you soon and thank you for the honor of serving District 19.
|
|
|
IN THE STATEHOUSE
Ran into Major Wheatley and the Lt. Governor at the ceremony celebrating 85 years of service by the Idaho State Police!
The next day, I met with members of the Athletic Trainers Association and learned more about safety measures for students in athletics.
|
|
|
Enjoyed meeting with Susan, a retired nurse, as she shared great info with me about an upcoming bill.
|
|
Boise State Day in the Statehouse was fun! Shared some time with Shelle Poole and learned more about nursing!
|
|
Local news resources to stay updated on the legislature:
|
|
|
|
|
|
