One year
It's hard to believe that it's been one year since the virus first hit Idaho. It's been a year of lives and livelihoods lost, and hardship in many ways. Over 1,000 people have died in Idaho alone due to COVID-related illness and complications. My prayers and thoughts have been with affected families over this past week. Thankfully, hope is on the horizon with so many vaccines getting into arms. I know we're all ready for this time to be over and to find some sense of normalcy again.
I was disappointed in a bill that passed on Friday - S1136 - which will limit the ability of our Governor to declare and respond to emergencies. The minority party received a heavily amended copy of the bill on Wednesday and did not have time to review it or get an Attorney General's opinion, but from our quick reading of the bill it has many potential legal and logistical issues, and undermines the ability of our Governor to respond to emergency situations. My biggest concern is how it will affect his ability to continue to respond to COVID. It removes the word "epidemic" from the list reasons an emergency can be declared, and limits the use of our National Guard. It also has an emergency clause, meaning it will be enacted very soon. I am concerned about how it will limit our Governor's ability to get vaccinations out, and respond to future health emergencies which may be even more serious than COVID-19.
My first bill is on to the House floor!
My first bill - S1088 - made it through the House Judiciary & Rules Committee and will be considered on the House floor very soon. The bill is a small step in the right direction and will ensure any rental fees are transparent and in writing so that renters know what they're getting into.
I started off the week learning all about dams.
In Resources and Environment Committee we had a hearing to discuss SJR103, a memorial opposing any removal or breaching of the dams on the Columbia-Snake River. I debated and voted against the memorial because I believe it was not carefully or thoughtfully crafted or grounded in science, and it sends a message that the legislature does not want to be a part of future conversations about Representative Simpson's proposal to breach 4 of 400 dams on the Columbia.
I understand the serious concerns brought by farmers (who bring in 7.9 billion dollars per year), utility companies, and other stakeholders about this proposal, and they are definitely concerns that we need to consider. But the status quo isn't working for other local economies including the outdoor and recreation tourism industry (which brings in 7.8 billion dollars annually) and the outfitting and guiding industry (1.1 billion dollars). Scientists tell us that the fish population has continued to decrease over the past 50 years when dams were first built, and fishermen are feeling that reality. Our Tribes, who have a spiritual connection to our fish, also want them back. Many Idahoans are telling us that the current system isn't working.
Is there a better path forward? I don't know right now, but I'd like to find out. The legislature should be a part of this conversation and try to find a solution on our terms and be a part of the regional dialogue. If we say a blanket "no," we may be shut out of any negotiations. These dams are federally owned and we are being offered a significant economic package in exchange. Those dams may come down with or without Idaho's legislature standing beside Representative Simpson's proposal.
Since I was a kid, I've fished Idaho's waters. Everyone knows that the population of anadromous fish has greatly dwindled since dams were build in the 1970s. I'm interested in working with all stakeholders to find a solution that saves our fish and preserves all local economies.
The Senate Local Government & Taxation Committee continues to be eventful, with few solutions that would provide more relief to residents proposed.
The battle over property taxes continues.
S1108, the bill that would attempt to provide property tax relief by limiting local government budgets, has been held on the Senate’s third reading calendar for several weeks now. It now sounds like the bill will be amended once again. This bill will do little to actually relieve property taxes.
Another bill, H073, will create a state budget website and require all cities and counties to submit their budget information to the state, at a cost of at least $5 million. It also claims to reduce property taxes, even though most cities and counties already post their budgets on their websites. The bill passed the Senate this week and is on its way to the Governor.
A couple of other bills were proposed on the House side, one of which would scale back our circuit breaker program to people who do not need property tax relief but are "taking advantage" of the program, H310. It's disappointing that this vital program is being reduced, rather than expanded to more families. Another bill, H309, expands the tax deferral program to more people at higher income levels, which wouldn't require folks to pay property taxes until they pass away or sell their home. You can read more about both proposals here.
S1106 brought many people from local government, arising out of a local dispute between some members of ACHD and Garden City. ACHD was attempting to exempt their essential facilities from some local land use ordinances to continue a temporary use permit for a salt shed, which would have been costly to move. The salt shed put Garden City out of compliance with their local land use plan, as well as federal flood insurance. The bill was opposed by every city in Ada County and the Ada County Commissioners, plus several other local government organizations. On Tuesday, our committee made the smart move to hold the bill in committee, likely killing it for the session.
Lots is happening on the education front.
There are still many unknowns with legislation on our education system. On a positive note, a much anticipated bill, H331 would provide voluntary, full day kindergarten. The bill will be heard Monday (today) in the House Education Committee at 8:30am. If you would like to testify virtually, you can sign up here.
We are still hoping that the greatly needed six million dollars in education funding will be re-considered. The universities' budgets are also still undecided, but it's looking like Boise State University's "social justice" programs will be cut, despite the importance of these programs in providing students with opportunities to serve the community and understand our country's diverse and complex history.
H294 which would provide parents with $6,000 "scholarships" (read: vouchers) if they choose to educate their kids somewhere other than in public schools. It's yet another attempt to privatize education and create profitable businesses on the backs of our education system. The participating private schools would not be held to any educational or financial standards.
Unfortunately there are several other bills coming forward as well:
H122 allows virtually anyone to bring guns in schools.
H293 requires schools to be open or else reimburse parents.
H249 creates one more barrier to kids receiving sex education by requiring parents to opt-in.
H248 allows school districts get teachers onto the state insurance plan, but pay for it with teacher salary funding promised under the career ladder.
H221 allows anyone to teach with or without certification. This bill is unnecessary because under the current system, if rural districts don't have enough teachers, they can declare an emergency and hire someone while they work towards their state certification.
H329 requires a parent to sign a document if any child joins any school group.
The House State Affairs Committee voted to disallow the Powerball lottery from continuing in the state of Idaho, eliminating about $14 million in taxes and fees that go to Idaho schools. The lottery is expanding to Australia and Britain, and Idaho Lottery officials were looking to change code as currently only lotteries operating in the US and Canada can be played in Idaho. Republicans cited concerns that revenues collected in countries like Australia might be used to support causes they oppose, like supporting anti-gun legal action, that more players would reduce odds (which is false, as the odd remain the same regardless of the number of players), and that the amount of money being spent to advertise the immoral action of gambling was concerning. This is yet another example of baseless fears driving some of our decision-makers.
The bill limiting the ballot initiative process is headed to the House.
Despite overwhelmingly negative testimony (again), the House State Affairs committee sent S1110, the ballot initiative restriction bill, to the full House on a party line vote. The legislation will now go to the House, and if it passes there, will go the Governor.
