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WEEK 5 - LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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A LITTLE INSIDE BASEBALL
WHEN THEY DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOMES --
THEY CHANGE THE RULES
Majority House Leadership continues their power grab, favoring power over process. As I shared last week, there are long-standing institutions that are being tampered with and eliminated because the Majority Leadership in the House (followed by their members) wants to consolidate power in their own camps. And not to be outdone, a Senator is leading the charge to eliminate the Voter Initiative Process by a disingenuous argument to put a question to the people about their already well-defined, fundamental Constitutional Right to the Initiative and Referendum Process, the last tool to hold government accountable.
OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: One Step Closer to Being Eliminated (HB68)
- Don't like that research reveals problems that need attention and funding by government? Then eliminate oversight and shift power to a partisan committee to bury information.
For over 20 years, OPE has provided non-partisan research reports about the problems in our state. Their purpose is to investigate problems that the legislature identifies in efforts to provide factual information and data for lawmakers to make well-informed decisions about policy. That will all change if the majority party gets their way.
Requests for OPE evaluations must be submitted to the Joint Oversight Committee through a legislator. Using background information and information cited in the request, the Oversight Committee decides which requests will be conducted. After the Oversight Committee assigns OPE an evaluation, they conduct the evaluation without involvement from the committee.
- This report could lend itself to the budget decisions being made right now, but they can't access it until JLOC meets, which means no rate increases to in-home caregivers.
- House leadership (Rep Moyle and Blanksma) refuse to assign committee members because they have a bill, that just passed out of the House after long debate, to eliminate OPE.
House Majority Leader, Megan Blanksma justified the elimination of JLOC because she believed the "minority is disproportionately represented on JLOC." In other words, a balanced and fair approach to accessing information will now be a partisan decision based on politics, not what's best for our state.
This long-standing committee was set up that way to ensure that partisan politics would not get in the way of research and data. Now, the majority party wants to put the office under the supervision of a majority ruled Legislative Council which would increase partisanship and could set the stage to bury information instead of reveal it.
JOINT FINANCE AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE (JFAC) -- "Saved" Until the Interim
- Don't like that vital services like public schools are being funded because you want vouchers? Then change the rules of voting to tilt power towards your goals to cripple schools.
Majority party leadership have finally agreed that the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee will continue to vote together; however, their votes will now be announced separately. If a budget bill passes with the majority of the full joint committee, but not the majority of either the House or Senate members, it will go to the chamber that didn’t fully support the bill, according to the press release signed by the committee co-chairs Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, and Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls.
This will last through the session, but dollars to donuts the House Majority Leader will mess with Rules of JFAC in the interim when they meet.
VOTER INITIATIVES UNDER ATTACK -- SJR101 Still in Play
- Don't like the voters telling you what to do after dragging your feet for years? Then do all you can to change the rules and silence voters .
- The legislature wouldn't expand Medicaid until a ballot initiative directed them their job.
- The legislature wouldn't fund public schools according to constitutional obligation until the voters sent a message last fall.
As I wrote about last week, SJR101, that sits on the 14th order in the Senate for amendments, is the exact same law struck down by the Idaho Supreme Court as unconstitutional.
It is disingenuous to introduce the same bill, veiled as a way to "put a question to the people" when our rights are already well-defined, and ruled by the Supreme Court as FUNDAMENTAL Constitutional Rights.
- I hear over and over from the majority party, let the people decide on whether they want to change the constitution....But finish the sentence...
- ...with a process that makes it harder, nearly impossible, for you to exercise your constitutional right.
It is so frustrating to see lawmakers put partisanship above processes that are meant to provide reasonable and balanced approaches to these sacred institutions of our state government.
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Met with Danielle, a council member for the Council for Developmental Disabilities to learn more about her priorities.
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These High School Students met with me about their top priorities and got me on BE REAL, a social media platform. Join us!
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MORE VOTER SUPPRESSION BILLS
 VOTER ID RESTRICTIONS -- HB 54 eliminates student IDs and personal identification affidavits at the polls. Despite zero cases of fraud or misuse with alternative forms of identification, this overly burdensome photo ID law risks depriving otherwise eligible Idahoans of their right to vote.
ROLLBACK OF NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE BALLOT -- HB 75 repeals our decades-old right to cast mail-in ballots without having to give a reason. No-excuse absentee voting has been in effect since 1970. It is a safe, secure and popular way to cast a ballot in Idaho. During the 2022 general election, 129,210 Idahoans made the decision to vote by mail, a majority of which were registered Republicans. This bill would make it harder for Idahoans — particularly people living in rural communities, the elderly, students, and people with disabilities — to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot.
Take a stand against voter suppression in Idaho. Click the button below to urge your state legislators to protect our voting rights and oppose House Bills 54 and 75.
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BANNING GENDER AFFIRMING MEDICAL CARE -- HB71 bans gender-affirming care for trans youth in Idaho, including puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Doctors, nurses, or any provider who assists youth in obtaining gender-affirming prescriptions or care could be charged with a felony and up to 10 years in jail. Like all children, trans youth have the best chance to thrive when they are supported and can get the care they need. This bill would criminalize that care.
ABORTION TRAVEL BAN -- HB 98 expands Idaho’s human trafficking laws to prohibit adults from assisting minors in receiving abortion care. Introduced by Rep. Barbara Ehardt, this is a blatant attempt to further restrict the reproductive freedoms and bodily autonomy of Idahoans while trivializing the serious problem of human trafficking. Helping minors access healthcare is nothing like human trafficking. But under this law, supportive adults could be charged with a felony and up to 5 years in jail.
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A LITTLE GOOD NEWS -- BAD NEWS
 REBALANCING PROPERTY TAXES -- HB 78 rebalances the property tax load for Idaho homeowners. The bill would reset the homeowner’s exemption to the level it would be at today if it hadn’t been capped in 2016, an increase from $125,000 to $224,000. It would also restore the exemption’s annual index, allowing it to adjust automatically as home prices change. This solution has been long championed by Rep. Lauren Necochea, a cosponsor.
There are several bills being introduced, but this bill is the easiest and least complicated way to help homeowners across the state.
 IDAHO LAUNCH SCHOLARSHIPS -- H24 passed the House this week by one vote, another bill that Democrats saved while the majority of Republicans voted against it. HB24 provides up to $8,500 in grants to Idaho high school graduates enrolling in college, community college, or workforce training and certificate programs. Democrats' votes saved these workforce grants targeting in-demand careers on the House floor last week. Not only is this game-changing for students and industry, but it’s also proof that every election and every seat held by Idaho Democrats helps move our state forward.
 ESA VOUCHERS -- SB 1038 diverts public dollars away from public education and students to subsidize private and religious schools with ZERO oversight or accountability. Years of chronic underfunding have forced our public schools to slash budgets for teacher and support staff salaries, extracurriculars, career technical programs, and more. Many rural schools are operating on a four-day school week to cut costs and are struggling to hire certified teachers and classroom aids. A voucher program would only make these problems worse.
HOW MUCH WOULD YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOSE?
Save our Schools Idaho is a team of veteran public school champions dedicated to providing information about ESAs, vouchers, and similar policies aimed at dismantling our public schools.
They created a tool to see how much money ESA vouchers would funnel away from public schools in communities across Idaho. Click here to see the impact for yourself.
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Athletic Trainers in the Statehouse and sharing all the good work they do. It was an Athletic Trainer who responded so quickly to the Buffalo Bills player on the field! Thanks for all you do.
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Joined these hardworking, visionary teachers from my district. I hope the legislature joins the Governor in providing a much needed pay raises to support our teachers and keep them in our state.
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Had lunch with our Idaho Supreme Court Justices. And took a moment with our pages!
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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.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 AT 6:00 PM MST
Virtual on Line -- Sign up Here
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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