Democrats Present the 2022 Idaho Working Families Agenda
January 2022
Bill to Ban Conversion Therapy for Minors Introduced in House Health and Welfare
Legislation to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth under 18 years old was introduced Thursday in the House Health and Welfare Committee. House Bill 483, sponsored by Rep. John McCrostie, received almost unanimous support for a full hearing. It mirrors recent legislation approved in Utah in 2020. Currently, 20 states have outlawed conversion therapy for minors. McCrostie said conversion therapy …
Continue readingBehavioral Health Council Honored for Mental Health Advocacy by NAMI Idaho
On Tuesday, the Idaho Behavioral Health Council was honored for its work to improve Idahoans’ access to mental health services. The state’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Idaho) presented the council — which features members from each branch of government, including Sen. David Nelson and Rep. Brooke Green — with the second annual Kathie Garrett award, given to mental …
Continue reading“GOP Tax Policies Leave Working Families Behind” – by Reps. Lauren Necochea and James Ruchti
We came into this session with high hopes for what we could accomplish for Idahoans. Our strong revenues meant we could finally deliver broadly shared priorities that have been on the back burner for too long: reducing property taxes, repealing the sales tax on groceries, and strengthening our schools. Last year’s lopsided tax bill favored profitable corporations and people at …
Continue readingGOP Railroad “Reverse Robin Hood” Tax Cut through House
The GOP railroaded a lopsided tax proposal through the House that overwhelmingly benefits profitable corporations and people with the highest incomes. House Bill 436 passed and now moves to the Senate. All Democrats voted against the legislation, and instead advocated more critical tax solutions, such as reducing property taxes or repealing the sales tax on groceries — both of which …
Continue readingHouse GOP Fast Track Corporate Tax Cut Out of Committee
The GOP fast tracked a lopsided tax proposal out of committee Tuesday that overwhelmingly benefits profitable corporations and people with the highest incomes. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee forwarded House Bill 436 to the full body in a party-line vote following the public hearing. Every constituent who testified spoke against the bill; only lobbyists were in favor. Per the …
Continue readingGOP Adopt Lowball Revenue Estimate to Engineer Future “Surpluses”
The Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee met Thursday to adopt a revenue assessment. The committee’s recommendation was then accepted Friday by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for budgeting purposes. The Republican legislators on EORAC voted to adopt the governor’s forecast, which was lower than almost every committee member’s, as well as the various modeled projections from experts. House Democratic …
Continue reading“Idaho Infrastructure: Invest Now” – by Sen. Michelle Stennett
In the upcoming session, it’s imperative we address the vast infrastructure needs facing our state, which continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Idaho’s nearly $2 billion budget surplus and $1 billion from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (and more from the federal infrastructure plan) can provide timely investment opportunities for transportation, education, broadband, water and electrical grids, housing, …
Continue readingHouse GOP Rush to Introduce Lopsided Tax Cut
Idaho House Republicans introduced a sweeping tax bill on the third day of the 2022 session, carrying with it a huge price tag. The proposed one-time tax rebate increases with income level, so the higher one’s income is, the more money they will receive. The ongoing revenue cuts also direct the largest benefits to the top of the income spectrum. …
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