A call to action during an emergency
It has been a quick start to session, with more bills introduced during the first two weeks than ever before. As I dig in, I keep learning that there is much I don't know. I know this job is a marathon, not a sprint, but the first two weeks of this session have been nothing but fast-moving.
Thankfully, the Capitol was empty on inauguration day, but I found myself in moments of overwhelm. With at least one case of COVID-19 in the statehouse, some safety concerns, and the rapid pace of this session, there is quite a lot to take in as I embark on this new venture.
There were mostly high points though. I feel lucky to be surrounded by so many hard-working, savvy people and am finding mentors. I feel honored that I get to work on legislation that could benefit everyday Idahoans. And I feel excited when I get to talk about issues and ideas that matter with my colleagues. I also felt encouraged by the Governor's strong statement against the legislature's political move to prioritize ending the state of emergency when the pandemic is most definitely not over.
This week, I am providing you some updates as well as a call to action. Throughout the session I'll provide you with information on bills coming to a vote in committee or on the floor, and my perspective on the legislation. You can review any bills of particular interest on the Legislature's website. There are a few bad bills coming up this week, and I encourage you to contact Idaho's Senators and Representatives by calling and emailing them. And, if you can, attend and testify at committees. Virtual testimony is available and I'm putting the links below.
SCR101. This would strike the Governor's emergency order. An emergency declaration by the Governor is needed in order to receive funding from FEMA, including operational and personnel costs to roll out the vaccines and COVID-related costs to the state's businesses. Legislators have claimed that ending the emergency will not make Idaho ineligible for federal funding, but that is just not true. We cannot allow this bill to pass and potentially jeopardize our access to federal assistance to overcome this crisis. The Governor summarized the problems with this bill well in a press conference on Friday: "Some members of the Idaho Legislature are seeking political gain by perpetuating misinformation about emergency declarations. They are playing politics, and unfortunately the loser in this shameful game will be you - the citizens of Idaho." I agree with him, and I encourage you to watch his speech to learn more.
SB1021. This bill would have a detrimental impact on local county and city governments by capping their budgets at 4%, which would essentially bankrupt them. On its face, the purpose of this bill is to provide property tax relief, but it would not solve the problem as residential properties would continue to increase at a pace that outpaces commercial properties due to rising home values and diminishing value of the capped, non-indexed homeowner's exemption. In short, it would likely cripple local governments while also not solving the problem of rising residential property taxes. There will be quite a few other property tax bills coming forward later in the session that will provide property tax relief, while keeping cities' and counties' abilities to provide us with essential services intact.
SJR101. This modifies Idaho's Constitution to operate as a permanent ban on any "psychoactive drug," including medical cannabis, CBD oil, and hemp. It permits legalization in Idaho only if the drug is approved by the FDA or is part of a documented clinical investigation under the FDA, but for various reasons it is highly unlikely that medical cannabis or CBD will ever meet that threshold. If either medical cannabis or CBD were decriminalized at the federal level, under this Constitutional amendment it is likely that treatment would be permitted everyone in America but Idaho.
As a legislator in the super-minority, much of my job is playing defense. Good defense takes a team, so please consider taking action and sharing this information with friends and family across Idaho, not just those in Boise.
As always, please reach out with any thoughts, questions, or concerns. In the face of numerous challenges this session, I will still be doing my best to stay focused on the issues that matter most. I encourage you to get involved and encourage our other legislators to do the same.
