Tom Luna, the new Idaho GOP Chairman, recently previewed his plan for attacking Democratic candidates this election year:

Step One: Harp nonstop on a report generated for the City of Boise by a nonpartisan team of volunteers, and falsely attribute it to Idaho Democrats, who in fact never wrote, endorsed, or implemented it. The report compiled some citizens’ suggestions, and is not and never has been Democratic policy or platform.

Step Two: Call Democratic legislators “socialists,” ignoring the fact that we are not only capitalists who embrace the importance of businesses large and small, but many of us are business owners ourselves.

Step Three: Hope that voters will settle for name-calling and distortion, and won’t probe into actual positions or records.

This brazen misdirection by the GOP Chairman belies a fear that if Idaho voters really understand Democrats’ positions and the GOP’s dismal single-party governance record, the Republican super-majority would be in jeopardy.

Voters deserve to know where Democrats actually stand. Here is our legislative agenda, plain and simple:

• A Strong Economy. Idaho has lost business opportunities due to inadequate infrastructure, an insufficiently skilled workforce, and a lack of affordable housing. We want to correct these deficiencies.  Let’s be honest—there’s a lot of crony capitalism in this state masquerading as real capitalism.  We’ll do a lot better without a one-party government whose focus is on well-connected insiders rather than making sure everyone has economic opportunity.
• The success of our communities starts with our schools. Teacher pay must be sufficient to recruit and retain quality educators. Lack of funding shouldn’t force schools into four-day weeks and sub-par education programs. Education should be adequately funded by the state as mandated by our Constitution – property taxpayers shouldn’t have to pass levies to keep schools operational.We should be generating a skilled workforce that draws high-wage employers to Idaho, not underfunding higher education, forcing tuition hikes that make a degree unaffordable.
• Fair Taxes. We oppose the GOP’s giant tax cuts and exemptions to those at the top that leave the rest of us with overblown property taxes and underfunded schools and infrastructure. The 2018 Republican income tax cut cost the state over $200 Million annually in revenue, gave over $5,000 a year in cuts to the wealthiest, but only $12 a year to earners in the bottom 20%, while leaving schools underfunded and giving nothing to those needing it most.  The indexed homeowner exemption should be restored and we must increase property tax assistance for seniors and veterans. Millions of dollars a year in internet sales taxes are currently held hostage by the majority party’s infighting. These funds should be used to fund education, repair infrastructure and reduce property taxes. And the legislature should examine the $2.5 billion a year in lost revenue from sales tax exemptions.
• Public Lands. Democrats always fight to protect public lands and your right to access and use them, as well as your right to enjoy clean air and clean water.
• Strong families. Idahoans should not have to work three jobs to support a family. We support gradual increases to the minimum wage and affordable, safe childcare.
• Public Safety. We support our first responders.  We back adequate funding for training and equipment, including ensuring proper standards for use of force.
• Idaho has 187 structurally deficient bridges, and 898 bridges that are past their expected structural life. You deserve roads and bridges that are strong enough for the needs of business and your family’s safety.
• Health Care. We support affordable, quality health care, so we and 61% of Idahoans who agreed with us made Medicaid expansion a reality.

Idaho Democrats are fighting for a more balanced legislature that addresses constituents’ needs.  After thousands of conversations with voters, we have found broad public support for our platform as described above, and the GOP is rightly concerned that a debate on real issues will not play out to their advantage.

In 90 days, you’ll have the chance to correct the harmful imbalance in our legislature. We hope that you’ll join us in paving a better road for Idaho’s future.

Representative Sue Chew/(D-Boise) assisted in securing the donations from Taiwan when local entities including the Idaho Chinese Organization reported difficulty acquiring from not only their primary and secondary suppliers but the less reputable sources as well. Although Taiwan had requests coming from all over the world, it heard of Idaho’s need and prioritized an immediate and very generous amount of 100,000 surgical masks. The Vice Consul at Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Seattle sent an urgent request to Taipei. In meantime, he asked Doris Graff, at Taiwanese medical device contract company, Megaforce International with local offices in Boise if they had any PPE they could spare from their company supplies. They immediately responded with a donation the very next business day. The Idaho Chinese Organization in addition donated 20,000 medical gloves and 120 N95 masks having already donated heavily to medical providers and 1st responders locally. Eddie Yen, Director and Official Representative at Idaho-Asia Trade Office, 30 years helping Taiwan become Idaho’s 2nd largest exporter also swung into action.

“Frontline workers in Idaho’s 14 health centers will have protective equipment thanks to the Cambia Health Foundation, Taiwanese government, and the Idaho Chinese Organization.” Rep. Chew said. “I was compelled to reach out to Taiwan after working closely with the Idaho Chinese Organization during coronavirus. We here in Idaho are so blessed to have the Idaho Chinese Organization fighting to get resources, from the beginning. Taiwan having crushed their curve, came quickly to our rescue. Asian communities around the world have been committed to keep global citizens safe and healthy, despite the racial stereotyping associated with the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Idaho health centers, especially in rural areas, were not planning for a global pandemic. Thankfully, we were able to reach out to our partners for help. Our frontline workers and our citizens will be safer and less likely to contract the coronavirus due to this generous donation. I am deeply grateful that so many organizations have stepped up to the plate to help protect Idahoans.”