March 24, 2022

House GOP kills budget for Idaho Commission for Libraries

On Thursday, a majority of House Republicans voted to defeat the appropriations budget for the Idaho Commission for Libraries. House Bill 824 died in a 33-36 vote. The legislation had been reworked twice, and objections from legislators led to $307,000 being cut from the commission’s budget, which would eliminate a statewide e-book collection. The ongoing money had been used annually …

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February 10, 2022

House Dems Back Motion to Amend Bill to Increase Grocery Tax Credit

Idaho House Democrats supported a motion to send House Bill 509 to general orders, where legislation can be amended. The motion failed on a 26-41vote. The bill, which later passed the House, increases the grocery tax credit by $20 per person starting in the 2023 tax year. The motion sought to amend the legislation to instead repeal the grocery tax …

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February 7, 2022

House GOP Passes Bill to Remove Renter Protections

Amid Idaho’s growing housing crisis, the House GOP passed legislation to remove renter protections in a 54-14 vote. House Bill 442 would prevent cities from setting reasonable maximum fees or deposits for residential rental properties, like application fees or pet deposits. With cities unable to ensure these basic protections, there are no checks on unscrupulous landlords who can bankrupt families …

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January 24, 2022

“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 …

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January 20, 2022

GOP 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 …

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January 18, 2022

House 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 …

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January 15, 2022

GOP 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 …

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January 12, 2022

House 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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September 18, 2021

“Our property tax crisis requires solutions, not scapegoats” – by Reps. Ilana Rubel, Lauren Necochea, and Sally Toone

We could not believe our eyes when we read a recent op-ed from Idaho House GOP leadership scapegoating local government for the property tax crisis created by GOP legislators themselves. We must set the record straight. While it may be county officials mailing you the bill, don’t blame the messengers. The jaw-dropping number on that bill is not due to …

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March 18, 2021

House GOP Passes Another Tax Cut Bill to Benefit Wealthy Idahoans

On Wednesday, the House GOP passed a House Bill 332 in a 58-12 party-line vote, prompting Democrats to immediately call a news conference. House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel and Assistant House Democratic Leader Lauren Necochea spoke on the legislation, which slashes income tax rates with the benefits flowing overwhelmingly to those at the top of the income spectrum. The legislation …

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