WEEK 3 - LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
CAPITOL REFLECTIONS
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We just finished WEEK 3 in the legislature, and I'm reflecting on my priorities for this session...
- Learn my new role as Senate Democratic Leader and find ways to support my caucus and work across the aisle on issues that matter most to Idahoans;
- Protect the Governor's education budget priorities including increasing teacher salaries and scholarships for college students;
- Defend our basic human rights and promote human dignity;
- Promote property tax fairness and affordable housing options, including creating more balance in tenant/landlord relationships;
- Increase access to government with a particular focus on supporting students;
- Support working families and the business community by increasing child care grants, affordable health care, infrastructure investments like broadband and transportation to name a few;
- Respond to constituents and work to solve problems.
Thank you for your support. It is an honor to serve my community and state.
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Best part of the day?
Running into constituents like Erik and Linda as they were taking a tour of the Statehouse. I love seeing constituents at the Statehouse! Thanks for saying hello.
As Bob Barker would say:
“Come on Down!”
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In 2021, Republican lawmakers passed a law to make citizen-led voter initiatives nearly impossible. The Idaho Supreme Court later ruled it unconstitutional because the law infringed upon the fundamental rights, reserved to the people of Idaho. Now Republicans want to rewrite the Idaho Constitution to take away that right.
The process for getting enough signatures on a petition to put forth an initiative is already very complicated and difficult. This bill is clearly just another tool to silence the voices of those challenging the status quo.
- Current requirement -- 6% of registered voters in 18 legislative districts
- Proposed requirement -- 6% of voters registered in all 35 districts.
What this means? One district would have the power to veto the whole process!
Reclaim Idaho's Luke Mayville had the opportunity to testify against this amendment:
"This proposal is an attack on the rights of every Idaho citizen. For decades, Idaho citizens have used the initiative process to solve problems that the legislature was unwilling to solve. Citizens used the initiative process to establish the Department of Fish and Game; to expand Medicaid; and to secure property-tax relief for taxpayers when the legislature failed to get it done. The process to put an initiative on the ballot is already extremely difficult. There’s no good reason to make it even harder."
I allowed the courtesy to introduce, but I am fiercely opposed to this legislation. I do NOT support any legislation to limit the people's access to the initiative process.
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REQUIRED MEDICAID REVIEW IN COMMITTEE
I SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION!
Medicaid expansion (passed by voter initiative by 61%) has not only provided necessary care and benefits to thousands of Idahoans, but it's saving Idaho money. The General Fund request has dropped each year!
We invest about $65M of state money that is matched by federal programs to provide over $800M in health care for the Idaho's working families. In fact, if legislators decided to get rid of Medicaid, it will cost Idaho about $78M ($10M more than we are spending now) to get less services for higher costs.
Below is a chart that tracks funding we moved from other state agencies for statutorily required medical and mental health services, to Medicaid. This move was a wash to the budget and allowed the state to leverage the same amount for MORE SERVICES TO BENEFIT WORKING FAMILIES. That just makes good cents/sense!
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It's no secret that Idaho is experiencing a mental health crisis. Thanks to the expansion about 93% of the individuals seeking mental health services were able to qualify for medicaid and access those programs. Part of behavioral services include programs for opioid abuse. With Gov. Little's plan to create a large and comprehensive campaign against Fentanyl, it seems a program like that would need all the funds they could get...
The state makes gains in other areas as well, lowering financial debt and costs to hospitals and county indigent funds.
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For all these reasons and more, I SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION and I hope our recommendation to the whole legislature reflects this.
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FIGHT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING
I support the Governor's budget to invest some of Idaho's $1B surplus in our public schools and higher ed systems to raise teacher salaries, increase scholarships, and address building maintenance problems.
However, a fight is brewing against funding public schools, and the extreme wing of the GOP, along with Idaho Freedom Foundation, are leading it. They favor a path that defunds public education through attacks on the constitution and voucher programs, which funnel public money to private schools.
This week in Senate Education, extremely conservative GOP members tried to sidetrack decorum and rules, by attempting to introduce a bill to remove the constitutional prohibition on public funding to private religious schools, even though it wasn't on the agenda. Then, Sen Herndon (R-D1) publicly berated the Education Committee Chair, and made threatening comments as people in the background cheered.
This behavior is spurred on by GOP Chair Dorothy Moon who has been rallying opposition to Governor Little's plan within her own party and rallying around Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Vouchers/ESAs will devastate our public schools, especially in rural communities that don't have many private schools.
I will continue to fight for our public schools. Investing in our children is an investment in Idaho's future.
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Boise State University published the results of their 2022 public policy poll that showed increased pessimism, with almost 42% believing Idaho is headed in the wrong direction. There was a stark difference between men and women on their perception of how things are going:
- Specifically, 63% of men said the state was headed in the right direction, as compared to 36% of women who agree the state is headed in the right direction.
This stat deserves more attention, especially after the fall of Roe and the extremist positions on women's fundamental rights to her body and forcing teenagers to carry pregnancies to term. It hasn't been a very good climate for women's rights.
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Another first in the survey included Housing taking over the third spot of priorities for voters, taking Healthcare's place. No surprise to us, a majority of Idahoans (56%) feel that property taxes are too high. An easy way to address this problem would be to remove the cap on the homeowner's exemption and restore the indexing function that adjusts with inflation.
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It is my hope that the legislature would be more serious about addressing these priorities of the people instead of running bills that dwell on eliminating personal freedoms and systems that are already working.
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Chandler Bursey from the VA met with me to discuss the need for medical staff to serve our veterans. I’m planning a visit to the women’s clinic to learn more.
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Met these hardworking Idahoans who work at the Sugar Beet Factory in Nampa. Workers like these are the backbone of our economy!!
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I met some amazing University of Idaho students during Higher Ed Week in the #idleg.
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Hadley Parks, student at the Meridian Medical Arts Charter School, joined me for some job shadowing! Love it!
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First responders are so important in our community; we need to invest in these vital services for everyone's safety.
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It's always great to see Steven Snow, Director of the Council for the Dear and Hard of Hearing.
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Blocking The Voices of our Youth?
NOT A CHANCE!
I value all my constituents, in particular students. Elected leaders have a duty to engage students and open pathways to accessing government. Unfortunately, two of my GOP colleagues announced last week that they would not allow anyone under 18 years of age to testify in committee.
However, after plenty of student engagement and the public weighing in, Rep Skaug has reversed his decision with the caveat that anyone under 18 has to have parental permission. Really?!
Shiva Rajbhandari, an18 year old Boise School Board member, shared his thoughts with Idaho Capital Sun: “I think that this is a total attack on the democratic traditions of our state. It really speaks volumes about where Republican legislators’ priorities lie, which is not in representing the will of their constituents.”
 He added, "Increasingly students especially are better informed as to what is going on with the Legislature. In the last three years we’ve seen really egregious attacks on education, we’ve seen restrictions on what we can learn at school, what we can say at school, what our teachers are allowed to teach at school, restrictions on how we can express ourselves and our gender identity and restrictions on our reproductive health care and our bodily autonomy.”
Great work, students! I will continue to support you and help you access your government!
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DISTRICT 19 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Featuring those who make our community a better place!
This week we are excited to put the spotlight on the Ansotegui family! Dan and Ellie (seen below) are a father daughter duo providing delicious and authentic Basque food to folks in Boise, and continuing their family's legacy. Nestled in the beautiful Basque Block at 6th St and Main Ally St. Downtown, you can find this family's restaurant, Ansots. This family has been involved with the Basque community in Idaho for almost a century! The Ansotegui family immigrated to the US from Spain in the early 1900s, and found a place to settle in Idaho in the 1920s. Ansots provides an authentic look into the rich Basque culture through their food and contributions to the "Basque Block". Come by Ansots and enjoy a small plate of food or an espresso, or take a meal home to share with family and friends.
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Do you know someone in District 19 that deserves some recognition? We'd love to feature them in the newsletter! Click the link below to nominate a person, business, organization, or group that you believe is making our community better. We will pick one nomination each week to feature!
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District 19 Town Hall Schedule
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Hear from your District 19 legislators Senator Melissa Wintrow, Representative Lauren Necochea, and Representative Chris Mathias, on how the 2023 legislative session is going. Please email idahod19democrats@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023 AT 6:00 PM MST
Hidden Springs Elementary, Cafeteria (5480 W Hidden Springs Dr, 83714)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 AT 6:00 PM MST
Virtual on Line
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023 AT 6:00 PM MST
Idaho State Capitol, Lincoln Auditorium (700 W Jefferson St, 83702) |
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Local news resources to stay updated on the legislature:
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