House Republicans fast-tracked a bill to make sweeping changes to the Idaho Judicial Council, which is responsible for delivering a slate of vetted candidates to the governor for judicial appointments, like a supreme court justice or district judge. House Bill 782 passed the body in a 44-24 vote Friday and now heads to the Senate. The bill expands the council …
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The 2021 session was disappointing for a number of reasons, but the legislature rejecting a $6 million grant to develop early-learning initiatives for children might have been the lowest point. That money would have helped communities build and fund preschool programs in accordance with local needs and values. But Republicans were bullied by the Idaho Freedom Foundation into voting against …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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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“What’s wrong with the Idaho Legislature?” I’ve been asked that question often since leaving the Capitol in May. Prior to arriving in Boise in January, I was told to expect a vastly different environment than what I had experienced during my previous two terms in the legislature from 2006-2010. They were right. Now, 11 years later, Idaho’s majority party is …
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This session, we have seen endless legislation related to the consolidation of power by the extreme right. It began with stripping power from other elected officials. This included restricting the governor’s power to act in an emergency, limiting the attorney general’s job responsibilities, and pulling power from local elected officials. More recently, the extreme right has targeted voters by passing …
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On Friday, the House majority leader introduced a bill in the Revenue and Taxation Committee to completely eliminate the property tax that businesses pay on their equipment over 10 years. Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, proposed to replace the revenue lost to local governments with General Fund dollars, but at a fixed level that will not adjust to the future cost …
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On Jan. 20, many of us let out a shared sigh of relief. With President Joe Biden being sworn into office, it feels like our nation is finally headed in the direction of empathy toward our fellow man, progress toward shared goals and competence in government. We cannot overlook, however, the deep scars the last four years — and most …
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