“Republicans said public education would be a priority this year. This budget proves otherwise. It leaves schools without the funding they need to keep up with rising costs, continues to underfund special education, and does nothing to fix Idaho’s outdated school funding formula. It shortchanges students who rely on the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance, especially in rural communities where it can be the only way to access coursework, recover credits, and stay on track for graduation. It also ignores critical needs at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind, including staffing for the new dormitory and a new Braille embosser. Republicans also cut funding for school employee health benefits and transportation, leaving local districts to make up the difference. That is not real support for public education. It is a cost shift onto local schools and communities. Idaho students deserve a budget that meets the real cost of educating them.”

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“Idahoans do not send their tax dollars to Boise so Republican lawmakers can lock them away and then claim there is not enough money for public safety, disability services, and opportunity for Idaho kids. That money belongs to the people of Idaho, and it should be used to meet real needs. At a time when families are struggling and communities are being asked to do more with less, hoarding public dollars to bankroll tax cuts for the rich is the wrong choice. Democrats voted no because Idahoans deserve a budget that puts people first.”

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“Republican lawmakers lost this fight years ago and still keep coming back to attack Medicaid expansion. HB 913 is their latest attempt to rip health care away from tens of thousands of Idahoans by forcing eligible people through layers of red tape. This bill will not meaningfully lower costs. It will create more bureaucracy and make it easier for eligible Idahoans to lose coverage they still qualify for. Idaho Democrats are fighting to protect Medicaid expansion because it keeps people healthy, keeps rural hospitals open, and keeps families from being crushed by medical bills. We stand with the voters who passed expansion, the families who rely on it, and every Idahoan who believes health care should not be taken away to score political points. Governor Little should veto HB 913.”

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In response, Idaho Democratic leaders released the following statements:

Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Wintrow:

“Across Idaho, there are already stretches of highway where there simply are not enough troopers to respond the way people expect. Officers are working overtime, covering larger areas, and being pulled from their home districts just to keep basic coverage in place. This budget means fewer resources, fewer supports, and no pay raises for the officers and staff Idahoans count on. Governor Little had the opportunity to stand up to his own party and demand better for the people he was elected to serve and the men and women who put their lives on the line every day. Instead, he sided with the wealthy few benefiting from massive tax giveaways. Idahoans should remember who made this choice, and who will have to live with the consequences.”

House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel:

“Republican politicians say public safety is a priority. This budget makes clear it is not. It pulls support at every level, from the officers responding to emergencies to the programs that help prevent crises in the first place. It cuts juvenile corrections, weakens staffing and oversight, and scales back the supports that help keep communities safe. Idaho families and local communities will pay the price through greater instability, greater risk, and fewer opportunities to help vulnerable young people get back on track. Idaho Democrats unanimously opposed this budget because we believe in investing in safety and second chances, not sacrificing both to protect tax breaks for those who need them least.”

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In response, Idaho Democratic leaders released the following statements:

Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Wintrow:

“Idaho spent years in court because people were going to court without adequate legal representation. That is what led to the creation of the State Public Defender in the first place.

“This system was built to fix that failure. It is still being stood up, working through staffing challenges, and trying to stabilize a system that was inconsistent from county to county. Cutting $2.2 million now pulls resources out at the exact moment they are needed to make this work.

“With Tucker v. Idaho still pending before the Idaho Supreme Court, that makes this cut even more reckless. Idaho is trying to defend its record while undercutting the very system it created to meet its constitutional duty. That weakens the state’s constitutional obligation and its position in court, and risks putting Idaho right back where it started.”

House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel:

“Just last year, Governor Little called for more investment in public defense. Now he has signed a budget that cuts it.

“When the state charges someone with a crime, it brings prosecutors, investigators, and the full machinery of government into that courtroom. The right to counsel is what keeps that power in check. Without it, the government can roll right over people who do not have the resources to defend themselves.

“Republicans created this budget gap with years of revenue cuts, including hundreds of millions in giveaways that mostly benefited the wealthiest Idahoans. Now they are trying to close that gap by cutting into the state’s constitutional duty to provide public defense.

“Idaho Democrats unanimously opposed this budget because we will not support weakening a constitutional right to protect tax breaks for the wealthy.”

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“Senate Republicans just made it harder for the next generation to stay, succeed, and build their future in Idaho. This vote deals a major blow to higher education at the very moment more students are counting on these schools and our economy needs their talent.

“Across the state, universities and community colleges are freezing hiring, furloughing staff, and leaving key positions unfilled. That means fewer instructors, less support, and fewer opportunities for students to succeed.

“More than $25 million in permanent cuts are already hitting campuses hard. At Idaho State University, more than 40 employees have already lost their jobs. The College of Education has been eliminated, and nursing students face long waitlists. At Boise State, the College of Innovation and Design is being eliminated. At the University of Idaho, engineering students are stuck on waitlists even as employers like Micron need more skilled graduates.

“As a former teacher and a grandmother, I know what is at stake for the next generation. Idaho families want their children to succeed close to home, find good jobs here, and stay here. This vote makes that harder. We owe it to them to do better.”

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Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Wintrow and House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Nampa Mayor Hogaboam. This is a heartbreaking loss for his family, the community he served, and all who knew him. A man of deep faith, Mayor Hogaboam believed in a city that looks out for its people and cares for those in need. May his example remind all of us in public service that leadership begins with caring for others. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, and the entire Nampa community during this difficult time. We join Idahoans across the state in honoring his life, service, and memory.”

Senator Ali Rabe: 

“Mayor Hogaboam was not just a mayor, but a friend. He always brought a philosophical, compassionate view to every conversation, and anyone who spent time with him felt that impact. Two months into his term, he was already doing meaningful work for Nampa and the Treasure Valley and brought humility and grace to the role. This is an immeasurable loss.”

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In response, Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Wintrow released the following statement:

“A strong court system is essential to a functioning democracy. Yet this budget cuts $3.7 million from the very branch Idahoans rely on for fairness and accountability, even as demand continues to rise.

“We are seeing more cases, more complex cases, and more pressure on judges, clerks, and staff across the system. These cuts threaten real progress in treatment courts, put critical training for judges and clerks at risk, and make it harder for Idahoans to get the timely justice they deserve.

“You cannot expect better outcomes while pulling resources away from the system responsible for delivering them. Idaho Democrats believe we can make smart budget choices, protect core services, and keep our courts strong for the people who depend on them every day. Idahoans deserve courts that deliver timely, fair results, not a system stretched thinner by short-sighted cuts.”

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In response, House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel released the following statement:

“Idaho students and families are paying the price for political choices that put tax giveaways for the wealthy ahead of opportunity for our kids and grandkids. This budget cuts the pipeline that prepares Idaho students for careers, from career-technical programs and community college training to our public universities.

“Idaho State University is laying off more than 40 people, folding its College of Education, and limiting space in high-demand programs like nursing. Boise State is eliminating its College of Innovation and Design and slowing growth in workforce-critical fields. The University of Idaho cannot expand engineering and other high-demand programs, leaving more students stuck on waitlists at a time when Idaho badly needs more skilled workers.

“These cuts close doors for students working toward credentials and good-paying jobs, especially in rural Idaho and for working families who cannot afford to wait or leave the state. They weaken the colleges and workforce programs that train the nurses, engineers, and skilled workers Idaho depends on. They are a foundation of our economy and our future. This budget does long-term damage to both.

“Idaho families deserve leaders who invest in opportunity and build a future our kids can thrive in. Instead, this budget shortchanges the next generation to protect tax breaks for those already at the top.”

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