Senate Bill 1259, sponsored by Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise), allows a person who owns a certified family home to qualify for the state’s property tax reduction program, known as the circuit breaker, by exempting the payment they receive from the state for caring for someone 24/7 in their home from the income counted toward their application. Last year, it died in the House by one vote. It now goes to Gov. Brad Little, who declared November as In-Home Caregiver Appreciation Month.

Wintrow said in order to keep people with disabilities out of institutions, Idaho is one of many states that allows someone to become licensed to care for a person in their home. The in-home caregiver is compensated, and receives an average of $54 per day from Medicaid. Currently, that money isn’t considered income by federal standards. Wintrow said it doesn’t make sense for the state of Idaho to be more onerous than the federal government, and the bill would change that policy. 

Institutionalized nursing care costs $273 per day, or about $100,000 annually, according to the Division of Medicaid. Right now, roughly 3,000 Idaho residents receive in-home care in a certified family home. If all were institutionalized, that cost would be about $300 million per year.

Wintrow worked closely with a number of in-home caregivers and stakeholders, as well as Rep. Ben Adams (R-Nampa), who carried the bill in the House. It was supported by the AARP, the Idaho Caregivers Alliance, and the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities. She said the issue first came to her attention in 2020 at an annual caregiver’s conference by JoAnn Vasko, who owns a certified-family home and is a full-time, in-home caregiver for her son.

“That conversation with JoAnn led me to the state Tax Commission and the Department of Health and Welfare to learn the scope of the issue. And after a two-year push, we finally got it,” she said. “I’m honored to have worked with so many people to get to this point, and hope it’ll receive the governor’s signature, so we can give our in-home caregivers much-needed property tax relief. This approach saves a lot of money and keeps people in a home setting — the best of both worlds.”

Senate Bill 1240, sponsored by Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise), unanimously passed both the House and Senate. It allows homeowners and/or tenants to go to their county clerk’s office and update their housing covenant free of charge in compliance with the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which outlawed the use of racially restrictive language in these kinds of documents. The law goes into effect on July 1.

McKay Cunningham, the director of on-campus experiential learning at the College of Idaho, worked with Wintrow on the bill, and told the Senate Judiciary and Rules committee this practice, along with redlining, was a common tool in the 20th century to create housing disparities based on race and prohibit people of color from buying homes. While it is illegal to embed racial covenants in property deeds nowadays, that language can still be found. 

Wintrow worked with a number of stakeholders, such as District 19 constituents Ed and Cynthia Labenski, who found racially restrictive language in the deed to their own home built in the 1970s. Others included the Idaho Realtors, NAACP of the Treasure Valley, Idaho Land Title Association, Boise Regional Realtors, Idaho Fair Housing Council, and the Association of Idaho Cities.

“This really is a historic day for our state,” Wintrow said during the bill’s public signing ceremony Wednesday. “We can’t move forward as a state or nation until we come to terms with our past and commit ourselves to ensuring it doesn’t repeat itself in the future. With this legislation, we acknowledge that this housing practice has been responsible for a lot of wealth disparities between people who are white and people of color and make sure it never will again.”

Sen. Melissa Wintrow

Senate Bill 1259, sponsored by Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise), would allow a person who is the owner of a certified family home to qualify for the state’s property tax reduction program, also known as the circuit breaker, by exempting the payment they receive from the state for caring for someone 24/7 in their home from the income counted toward their application. 

Wintrow said in order to keep people with disabilities out of institutions, Idaho is one of many states that allows someone to become licensed to care for a person in their home. The in-home caregiver is compensated, and receives an average of $54 per day from Medicaid. Currently, that money isn’t considered income by federal standards. Wintrow said it doesn’t make sense for the state of Idaho to be more onerous than the federal government, and the bill would change that policy. 

Institutionalized nursing care costs $273 per day, or about $100,000 annually, according to the Division of Medicaid. Right now, roughly 3,000 Idaho residents receive in-home care in a certified family home. If all were institutionalized, that cost would be about $300 million per year.

“We are so thankful for the love and care adults with disabilities receive in these homes instead of being placed in institutions,” Wintrow said. “These folks are doing some of the hardest work on the planet and saving the state millions of dollars. I’m honored to have worked with so many people to get to this point today, and hope this bill can pass the House, so we can give our in-home caregivers much needed relief as property taxes continue to skyrocket. This approach saves a lot of money and keeps people in a home setting — the best of both worlds.”

Wintrow worked closely with a number of in-home caregivers and stakeholders on the bill, which is supported by the AARP, the Idaho Caregivers Alliance, and the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities. It now heads to the House, carrying with it strong bipartisan support and 22 co-sponsors. A version of the legislation was brought by Wintrow last year, and died in the House by two votes. 

Sen. Melissa Wintrow

Senate Bill 1240, sponsored by Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise), now heads to the full Senate, carrying with it strong bipartisan support. The legislation would allow homeowners and/or tenants to go to their county clerk’s office and update their housing covenant free of charge in compliance with the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which outlawed the use of racially restrictive language in these kinds of documents.

McKay Cunningham, the director of on-campus experiential learning at the College of Idaho, worked with Wintrow on the bill, and said this practice, along with redlining, was a common tool in the 20th century to create housing disparities based on race and prohibit people of color from buying homes. While it is illegal to embed racial covenants in property deeds nowadays, that language can still be found. 

Wintrow said she was contacted by one of her constituents, Ed Labenski, who found racially restrictive language in the deed to his own home built in the 1970s.

Labenski said he and his wife, Cynthia, purchased their house in 2018, and they only learned of the provision after their bid had been accepted. 

“Of course, I spent several subsequent hours researching this provision, and learned that it was void and unenforceable. But the initial impact of the language was clear and unavoidable, and it shaped our perception of the home,” Labenski told the committee in his testimony. “We have a chance to address this. … We can modify our records in a meaningful and standard way to better reflect the communities we live in today, the shared feeling and love we have for our neighbor, and the special status and prominence we give to the law in Idaho.”

Others who also spoke or submitted testimony in support of the bill included:

• Zoe Ann Olson, executive director at the Intermountain Fair Housing Council
• Linda Ipaye, a licensed real estate agent 

“This housing practice has been responsible for a lot of wealth disparities between people who are white and people of color,” Wintrow said. “The legislation won’t solve that problem, but it’s a way to acknowledge the issue and replace that very ugly language and policy in our state, ensuring all people know they are welcome here.”

Words matter…

Your recent divisive words mattered, but in a way you may not have expected — they actually united the very group of “medicated, meddlesome, and quarrelsome” women you hoped to segregate and diminish. People across Idaho are raising their voices on social media to celebrate women for the very achievements you condemn, from being a first-generation college student to a medical doctor or civil engineer.

These successes were championed, not criticized as you would’ve liked. You yearn to return to the dark ages, but it’s clear the clock will not be turned back. Thankfully, that dystopian worldview is fading, and thousands of people will ensure we keep moving forward; I’m one of them.

Higher education changed my life, and allowed me to look beyond my once-limited perspective. I’ve seen it do the same for so many students while working at different universities, including Boise State, where I was hired as the first full-time Women’s Center director and taught gender studies classes. And I know you have also seen the liberating effect of education, especially for women, which is why you’re so fearful.

As women become the majority of college graduates, pursue fields previously dominated by men, like medicine or engineering, and fight for equal pay, the patriarchal ideals you hold dear are being challenged, resulting in a loss of power and control.

This is why you’ve aligned yourself with radical conservative activists — like extremist special interest groups, the lieutenant governor’s task force, and choice GOP legislators — trying to dismantle public education and deny women and other marginalized groups opportunities to succeed. These attitudes materialized in a vote to block funding for childcare and pre-K because it would enable women to “come out of the home,” a prime example of institutionalized sexism based on fear of what you perceive you will lose.

There is no reason to fear an equitable society when there is so much to gain, allowing everyone to fulfill their god-given right to pursue happiness and live the life they have chosen. People who experience social advantages are being asked right now to recognize the benefits society affords them based solely on their race and sex. Although success isn’t guaranteed, these immutable traits — like being white and male — don’t work against them. Women and people from historically marginalized groups have not always been valued by society in that way, and must work harder to gain access to those same rights and opportunities. This can be uncomfortable to reconcile, but this pales in comparison to discrimination.

Your words are insidious and dangerous, but there are enough educated, community-minded, and caring Idahoans who see through your misaligned tactics. The next step is to elect them.

In the meantime, Mr. Yenor, I invite you to take off your blinders and join us as we create a world in which everyone is free to pursue their dreams, care for themselves and their families, and live a fulfilling life without fear of being locked into a one-size-fits-all role predetermined by whomever is in power.

A world where transgender people can express their true selves without fear of harm and exclusion from sports or public spaces; where Black parents don’t have to experience the pain of teaching their kids how to respond to authorities or combat racism; where women can walk freely at night without using their keys as makeshift brass knuckles; and where universities don’t lose funding for trying to create a safe and inclusive environment.

Words matter. I hope you listen to mine, and the many Idahoans condemning yours.

Wintrow: You were in school when allegations of teachers indoctrinating students started to circulate this year. How did you react?

Rajbhandari: It was like, “Wow, they are attacking teachers when they are already putting in double the work and paid so little, over something that isn’t even happening.” It was shocking, and also seemed incredibly hypocritical coming from people who say they want limited government, while simultaneously trying to micromanage everything at the local level.

W: It looks like history is repeating itself. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration launched a similar attack against teachers and public education in hopes of privatizing schools.

R: The people in the Statehouse who are attacking teachers and pushing this idea of indoctrination say students should be taught to think critically. What is critical thinking if not allowing us to learn about an issue and then making our own decisions as to its validity? We don’t want to be “indoctrinated” with an abridged version of history anymore. Censorship doesn’t prepare us for the future.

W: You were one of many students who protested against legislation further censoring academic discussions on the impacts of racism. What prompted you to speak up?

R: This was the first year I paid attention to state politics, and I’m glad I did. They weren’t listening to students at all, and that’s who this is actually going to affect. We are stakeholders, and deserve an opportunity to share our thoughts like anyone else.

W: Problems are solved when we work across generations. Now is the time to listen. The lieutenant governor continues to bolster this idea of indoctrination — a narrative she and special interest groups created out of thin air. She even formed a team to address this non-issue, wasting taxpayer dollars and distracting from the real problems. I was struck by her comment in the latest meeting to students who attempted to speak. “This is not a dialogue,” she told them.

R: Of course it’s not a dialogue. They don’t want to listen, because this isn’t about students or teachers: this is about maintaining power by instilling irrational fear. This is no task force; it’s a press conference for Janice McGeachin’s campaign. I’m going to remember for the rest of my life who is listening to me now. There are lots of students watching — a lot more than you think, and word gets around. We’ll vote accordingly when the time comes.

W: Then where should we focus?

R: Funding schools at all levels, and that’s on the Legislature. Boise schools are some of the best funded in Idaho, but our buildings are still crumbling. I know rural districts are struggling even more. Teachers aren’t being paid enough, and young people aren’t learning how to navigate our global economy. We don’t have preschool or even full-day kindergarten.

W: We should be investing in our students, not leaving them to work with less. I was shocked to hear GOP legislators say they were “proud” of cutting $2.5M from public education. That vote will forever stain our record; it was shameful. They are underestimating students; thankfully you’re not going away. They may win a skirmish or two, but the battle hasn’t been won.

R: We need more students to be aware of what’s happening, then show up. We also need decision makers to open that door and listen.

W: And if the door isn’t open, your intelligence and perseverance will unlock it.

Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-19

Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, drafted the legislation to address a long-standing inconsistency in the law that can be tied to outdated and sexist attitudes that wives were “property” of their husbands. In Idaho, exemptions to rape based on marriage were first introduced in 1977 and modified overtime. 

“As times change, so do attitudes and values; our laws should reflect those changing values. The unanimous vote speaks loudly that no one should be given a pass to commit a crime based on a relationship for actions that are otherwise criminal,” Wintrow said.

The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for consideration. It was carried in the House by Rep. Colin Nash, D-Boise, and also passed the Senate unanimously in March.

The bill’s passage coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it is the seventh piece of legislation Wintrow has sponsored in a body of work related to addressing sexual violence in the state. Others include how we process, track and preserve sexual assault kit evidence in Idaho, as well as extending civil protection orders to victims of sexual assault, which was introduced in 2019 but held in committee due to inference of a special interest group. 

“It’s important to work with stakeholders to continue our work to address problems in statute and to identify funding sources for education and prevention measures,” Wintrow said. “Rape is rape no matter who you are or what relationship you are in.”

Sen. Melissa Wintrow

Republican legislators have leveled an assault on higher education programs addressing what they define as “social justice” issues. They cut Boise State’s budget because they felt threatened by diversity/inclusion programs, which are shown to have positive impacts on graduation rates. GOP legislators killed an early education bill from fear children would be introduced to “social justice” teachings — coursework emphasizing acceptance of all people. Quoting one legislator, these programs would also “encourage women to leave the home,” so the majority voted against funding early learning.

Sexism is alive and well in the legislature. Sentiments about a woman’s “proper” place in society simmer under the surface until they bubble up in votes like these, and he’s not alone. We see it in decision after decision. We couldn’t pass a simple bill to expand access to prescription contraception. We don’t have full-time kindergarten or preschool because of sexist attitudes about a woman’s so-called role. After fighting to raise awareness about sexual and domestic violence, we couldn’t pass common sense legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers.

Clearly, if you don’t fit in the majority, you will be silenced, de-funded, erased…dare I say canceled due to fear that traditional culture will be pushed aside.

This backlash against “justice for all” is not uncommon. When people in power feel their way of life is threatened, a common reaction to protect and fight back emerges. Our fight shouldn’t be against everyday citizens just trying to get by; it should be a fight against myths of meritocracy and individualism that have been ingrained in education and culture. I was taught growing up if you just worked hard enough, you could do anything, but that’s really not true.

We have all been indoctrinated into a false narrative of our history. Policies and laws in our country have been enacted to work against people not in the majority. A quick Google search reveals what my public education left out about being American and the difficulty accessing the American Dream if you aren’t in the majority.

I was taught about the founding fathers, but I wasn’t told they owned slaves. I was taught the Thanksgiving story, but not the Trail of Tears and genocide of indigenous people. I learned about Abraham Lincoln, but not the Great Compromise deeming Blacks as ⅗ of a person, nor about lynching or Jim Crow. I was taught nothing about “redlining,” the Government’s practice to segregate and deny property ownership to people of color. I learned about the Civil War but not the Confederate Cornerstone Speech that used Christianity to justify slavery.

My public education reflected the values of the “majority;” it wasn’t until an educator challenged my own thinking, I began to examine what “justice for all…” meant to those not in the majority. Educators are demonized for encouraging critical thought and inviting us to lean into discomfort as we learn a more complete narrative about our history. Social justice programs are merely set up to open our minds to a more inclusive truth.

Being from the white majority, I may not be responsible for past oppression, but I am responsible for righting wrongs and acknowledging how I have benefitted from that privilege. And if we are going to achieve “justice for all,” we must look beyond what a quick Google search tells us and beyond what makes us (the majority) feel comfortable.

In fact, in the face of unprecedented revenue surpluses, last week Gov. Brad Little proposed a tax cut, transportation spending and an inappreciable tip of the hat to education, instead of investing in our state and citizens when we need it most. There was no specific mention about how we can support teachers stretched beyond capacity, nor on how to support the strain on our health care system beyond trying to bribe unmasked Idahoans to take heed and do the right thing or their tax cuts will be eaten up in the health care system. There was also no clarification about who would receive a tax cut, leaving Idahoans worrying they’ll be paying more taxes to supplement additional cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers.

I won’t ask politicians to read between the lines, I will spell it out: We need to invest in our health care systems, workers and facilities, as well as housing preservation. Hospitals are on the brink of rationing care due to the rise COVID-19 cases, because we can’t require a simple facial covering and limit social gatherings. And yet, Republican leaders are discussing how they can gut funding toward health care, like Medicaid, at a time when it’s most needed.

It also looks like the governor will ask the Legislature to slash the state’s budget again despite the revenue surplus. Those cuts mean fewer services, longer lines, reduced customer service and less access to the things you need. After cutting vital spending across agencies last year and earlier this year, state agencies are hanging on by a thread — and so are our citizens. I’ve received emails from people who can barely make a living, pay the rent or find medical care, especially elderly folks in independent-living situations who can’t find in-home services due to the nursing shortage and wage crisis.

Excessive budget cuts, a revenue surplus, increased federal funding and an uncontrolled pandemic have not convinced the Republican leadership to invest in programs that keep Idahoans healthy, improve our economic resilience, prepare students for a competitive workforce and save lives.

The Idaho Legislature is hoarding taxpayer dollars, while asking residents to keep hanging on with no real promise of relief. The dollars in the state’s General Fund are our tax dollars, and the Legislature should use that money to reinvest in our communities when we need it most.

Currently, we have $630 million in estimated excess revenue, $600 million in rainy day/reserve funds, over $100 million sequestered in the internet sales tax fund, and after a recent decision by the Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee, $150 million freed up in the General Fund from federal reimbursements for public health and safety.

Idaho will not be safer with fewer medical staff, people insured or hospital resources, as well as more people homeless. Schools also won’t be able to get students up to speed after this tumultuous year if they don’t have enough teachers or other education resources because of paper-thin funding.

Idahoans are hanging on for dear life, and Republican politicians need to do more than strategize better ways to push us off the edge of the cliff. We need to invest in our citizens and lend a hand up in this overwhelming crisis.