Democratic lawmakers presented a slate of legislative priorities for the 2021 session in a news conference Monday at the Statehouse in Boise.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, and House Minority Leader Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, discussed potential legislation with members of the media during the event, and also issued a response to Gov. Brad Little’s State of the State address, which had been delivered earlier in the Capitol’s Lincoln Auditorium.
The pair said the main priorities for the Idaho Joint Democratic Caucus included legislation to ensure fair taxes, affordable health care, access to quality education, criminal justice reform, and economic prosperity.
Both Stennett and Rubel said they, along with the other members of the caucus, looked forward to working with the governor and Republican lawmakers to find bipartisan solutions to provide a better quality of life for all Idahoans, especially working families, who’ve been critically impacted the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Legislature must work together to represent the best interests of every Idahoan in our rapidly changing political, social, and economic environment — now more than ever,” Stennett said. “Our Democratic Caucus remains strong and committed to advocating on behalf of all Idahoans, not only those at the top of the economic ladder.”
“We think there is much opportunity for bipartisan progress this session to benefit the lives of Idahoans,” Rubel added. “And we are ready to work to make that happen during the 2021 Legislative Session.”