“Wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.” That quote from Maya Angelou perfectly captures my feelings as I announce the end of my legislative tenure. I will not run for reelection in 2020. It has been an honor to serve the state of Idaho and its citizens during my ten years in the Idaho Legislature, two years in the House …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Monday, a bill sponsored by Rep. Brooke Green/(D-Boise) was sent to the amending order by the House Business committee. This legislation would protect employees from being penalized for taking earned sick leave. Employers would be required to honor their sick-leave policies without retribution toward employees. “I have heard from several constituents throughout my district that …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Friday, Senator Grant Burgoyne/(D-Boise), Senator Kelly Anthon/(R-Burley) and Senator Dave Lent/(R-Idaho Falls) released their jointly drafted Circuit Breaker legislation. The current draft legislation would increase Idaho’s Property Tax Reduction program benefit (oftentimes called the Circuit Breaker) from $1,320 to $2,000 and adjust the income thresholds required to qualify for the property tax relief. Idahoans who …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Thursday, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee sent H409 to the House floor with a do pass recommendation. The legislation would freeze the property tax portion of a taxing district’s budget for one year with the exception of school taxing districts. Representative Lauren Necochea/(D-Boise) and other Democrats on the committee voted against the motion to …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Wednesday, House Health and Welfare printed a joint memorial sponsored by Representative Jake Ellis/(D-Boise). The memorial calls on Idaho’s congressional delegation to “take action necessary to make Suboxone more accessible to Idaho families facing opioid addiction.” Suboxone is a medication that satiates cravings by filling opioid receptors and is effective when part of MAT (medication …
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Idaho State Capitol -On Monday, critical legislation was introduced in the House Health and Welfare Committee by Rep. John McCrostie/(D-Boise) to protect LGBTQ young people from the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. “Conversion therapy has been discredited by a number of prominent health organizations”. Rep. McCrostie explained. “It is an incredibly harmful practice that has no proven benefits, actually encourages …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Monday, Senate Judiciary and Rules printed Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb’s/(D-Boise) Fair Chance Employment legislation. The bill, sometimes called Ban the Box, would ask employers to eliminate the box on job applications that asks, “Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense?” Sen. Buckner-Webb has been working on this issue for several years, but she is …
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Early childhood education is the key to giving Idaho’s youth a running start in school. If we want to have an educated workforce and a successful economy in the future, we have to start by investing in early childhood education. Luckily, Idaho just made a step in the right direction. For the very first time, Idaho was given the opportunity …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Friday, the House Business Committee printed Representative Brooke Green’s/(D-Boise) Honoring Paid Sick Leave legislation. The legislation requires employers who offer paid sick leave to their employees to honor their own policies. Rep. Green brought the legislation after hearing concerns from constituents about employees who are penalized for taking their earned sick leave, in accordance with …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Thursday, a bill sponsored by Senator David Nelson/(D-Moscow) was printed in Senate Commerce and Human Resources. The legislation would allow farmers and ranchers to save money on repairs for their high-tech farm equipment and citizens to get their own electronic equipment repaired as well. “We want to put power back in farmer’s hands.” Senator Nelson …
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