Senator Melissa Wintrow
Senate Minority Leader
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WEEK 5 - LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
What's On the Horizon?
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Harmful bills continue to advance, like H71 that punishes parents and doctors for supporting kids who are trying to find their way in a complicated world, seeking some counseling, medical support, and comfort as they navigate a culture that isn't very accepting of gender differences. And H75 that allows counselors to reject clients based on their own personal values, a bill that the counselors have loudly denounced as unethical and harmful.
This can't be Idaho! And we can't let Idaho become this.
It has never been more important for reasonable and compassionate Idahoans to band together. We must denounce hate, extremism, ignorance and misinformation. We must call out controlling and oppressive laws and fight against the nanny state that Idaho is becoming. Continue to write to politicians and share letters to the editor, and send letters of support to our teachers and counselors. Let's fill the darkness with our light and push back against ignorance and oppression.
I'm with you and will continue to fight with all my strength to protect our rights to be who we are and live the lives we choose.
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Bright Spots in a Dark Sky
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The brightest stars shine in the deepest dark.
We welcomed a new batch of pages, young people full of energy and excitement for what lies ahead.
And I met with a lot of HEALTH CARE professionals and focused on increasing access to services despite some people trying to cut Medicaid...Fight on!
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ADDRESSING OUR PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE
Tapping into Talents of Physicians Who are Refugees...
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I have been working with Dr. Scott Smith and Dr. Ted Epperly, along with many other stakeholders to create meaningful pathways for a medical residency for physicians who are refugees in the United States. Listen to this short introductory hearing explaining the program. This is a creative and effective way to increase the number of practicing physicians in the state (something drastically needed) while we connect families resettling in our country to their communities. Everyone wins!
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HOME VISITING
SUPPORTING NEW FAMILIES....
I was honored to meet with Lisbeth Gutierrez along with her daughter. She is a mother, NFP Graduate and member of the Community Advisory Board for Southwest District Health NFP. When I worked on the Finance and Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to support funding for Home Visiting Programs because they provide support for new families and lead to better health and community outcomes!
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Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is an evidence-based home visiting model that serves Idaho families through programs located at Central District Health, Southwest District Health, and Panhandle Health District. NFP helps new parents set a strong course for their families by partnering first-time parents with a nurse home visitor who visits with the family beginning in pregnancy until the child turns age 2. Through our proven services, NFP helps families have better pregnancy outcomes, improved child development, and better economic self-sufficiency. You can read more about NFP in Idaho on this fact sheet.
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SECURE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
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I had the pleasure of meeting with constituents from AARP Idaho during their annual lobby day at the Idaho Capitol. Like most Idahoans, property taxes and the growing burden on homeowners was a top concern. I am committed to finding common sense bipartisan solutions that will allow Idahoans to stay in their homes and age in place with dignity. It’s always a delight to meet with engaged and educated voters while discussing issues of common interest.
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Guess Who is On This Week's Democratic Debrief?!
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ROTUNDA ROUND UP
This Week's Theme....Locals Under Control
Including You!
Idaho State Politicians hate the FEDS telling them what to do. But if you're part of local government, the #GOP in the #IDLEG loves to pick on the locals. Forget that you elected a mayor, city council, county commissioners, sheriffs, school boards, or water districts, the state will take charge and create more red tape just for the satisfaction of leading you around by the nose.
 H25 is a good example of that. Rep Joe Palmer (R-Meridian) has decided that three layers of state government should take over control of road projects in the city streets that surround the Statehouse. The pretext is security for any event that lasts over 7 days, but the real reason: he hates a road planning project that's been approved for construction and he wants to stop it. Regardless of the testimony from the business community, neighbors, and the city, he's trying to pass a bill to deal with a problem he doesn't like. That's what state government has come to.
S1030 makes it illegal for a city or county to pass an ordinance that may go against federal immigration laws; Sen Foreman (R-Moscow) says it's to prevent "sanctuary cities" in Idaho.
- Question: if you believe in "law and order" and that everyone should follow federal law, then why should we pass a law specific only to immigration and not every other law? How about firearm laws? NO! The GOP actually passed a law last session to criminalize police for following any federal laws during a declared emergency that dealt with firearm confiscation.
H22 withholds sales tax from cities that don't prioritize the investigation of certain felonies, like abortion bans and bounties. County prosecutors, who are elected by the people, have full discretion about what they will prosecute or not, but now, we have to hand cuff the city to be sure that they are ordering law enforcement to do the dirty work of the state when they want certain felonies aggressively pursued over others.
S1008 would allow MORE GUNS ON CAMPUS by prohibiting college and university officials from prohibiting firearms at large events and on certain parts of campus auditoriums, football stadiums, basketball arenas, residence halls, and so forth. Most universities require people to go through a metal detector before entering large events like football games to prevent mass shootings. Despite continued opposition from students, faculty and staff, and in the face of mass shooting after mass shooting, some GOP politicians won't take no for an answer and continue to tell locals how to regulate safe communities on college campuses.
HB 139 threatens libraries and schools with civil lawsuits over books deemed "harmful" by parents. Under the bill, any depiction of homosexuality is considered "offensive." You can see who is behind all this Blaine Conzatti and his extremist Christian Nationalists. This is what education has come to in the U.S.! A national group, pulling the strings of an Idaho group to spread misinformation, spread irrational fears, and encourage angry mobs to tear down the foundation of our country -- free speech -- in favor of their own narrow view of the world.
SJR 101 was amended this week and NOW IT'S WORSE! This bill opens the door for a constitutional amendment to make Idaho’s ballot initiative process more difficult, confusing, and expensive. It is nearly identical to a 2021 law struck down by the Idaho Supreme Court for infringing upon a fundamental right, reserved to the people of Idaho. They originally forgot to include "referendum" process and made that IMPOSSIBLE to achieve, because it requires that citizens would have to gather 6% of legal voter signatures for 35/35 districts IN ONLY 60 DAYS. And if you want to RECALL a bad law, like the Luna Laws and most of the things being passed, you only get 60 days. IMPOSSIBLE.
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LOVE YOUR PET DAY
February 16
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On Love Your Pet Day I am thinking of my friend, and passionate animal advocate, the late Rep. Hy Kloc. In 2019 Hy worked to pass the Pet Friendly License Plate and in the four years since then it has generated $173,900 to be distributed to Idaho animal shelters, rescue groups, and veterinary clinics and have resulted in the spay or neuter of 2,531 animals - 1,923 cats and 608 dogs - throughout Idaho!
He tapped into Idahoan’s love for their pets and established the pet friendly license plate to promote that love and fund spay neuter programs in mostly rural Idaho. Hy’s legacy carries on. The grants have really helped rural areas with municipal shelters that don’t have resources to deal with pet overpopulation.
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As of January 2023, a total of 4,614 plates have been sold. If you are interested in purchasing a Pet Friendly License Plate information can be found here: www.petfriendlyplate.com
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IMPACTS OF IDAHO'S ABORTION BANS
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I joined Kelly O'Neil (attorney from Legal Voice), Dr. Loren Colson and Reverend Sara LaWall at the Cathedral of the Rockies on a panel to discuss the Impact of Idaho's Abortion Laws.
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An Affirmative Defense is NOT an Exception
After Roe v. Wade fell, Idaho's trigger laws went into effect. There is a TOTAL ABORTION BAN in effect in Idaho with NO Exceptions for rape, incest or health of the mother.
There are "affirmative defenses" for physicians, which means, if they assist a pregnant person with an abortion or even in the fuzzy area of miscarriage management, they could FIRST be charged and jailed for allegations of abortion and THEN they would have to prove in court that they were trying to save the life of the mother.
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Any healthcare provider who performs or attempts to perform an illegal abortion commits a felony punishable by:
- (i) between two and five years in prison; and
- (ii) suspension of his/her professional license for at least six months for a first offense, and permanent revocation for subsequent violations
The Idaho Legislature has done nothing to reverse these Draconian laws and doctors and patients continue to suffer.
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There was a powerful photo display in the lobby with stories people have shared about the abortion care they have received or sought. It's so important to share stories and information so we have a better understanding of what people are going through. One woman shared her recent story of seeking miscarriage management care and was put off for more than 23 days. This is so dangerous and inhumane. We must educate GOP lawmakers about the importance to see abortion care as health care.
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Met medical residents and psychologists at WAMMI, our regional medical education program. Love these faces!
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Joined Idaho Caregivers to support all they do to provide compassionate in home care for our loved ones.
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Saying goodbye to the pages who served with integrity and enthusiasm for the last 6 weeks. Love them! This is our future.
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Met with Nurse Practitioners to learn more about the role they play in rural Idaho and Health Care in general.
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District 19 Town Hall
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023 AT 6:00 PM MST
Idaho State Capitol, Lincoln Auditorium (700 W Jefferson St, 83702) |
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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. |
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I had a great time joining Kasper and Chris for the morning radio show on Thursday as we covered the crazy bills that have taken over the Idaho Legislature. Hope everyone listening kept their cars on the road that day!
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Local news resources to stay updated on the legislature:
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