Today, it was reported that Governor Brad Little quietly signed Senate Bill 1331 late Monday, imposing a new 1% across-the-board cut on most state agencies on top of the 3% holdback he ordered in August. These cuts follow more than $450 million in Republican revenue reductions passed in 2025, creating the shortfall now forcing cuts to essential services across Idaho.
In response, Idaho Democratic leaders released the following statements:
Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Wintrow:
“Governor Little knows these cuts will hurt Idaho families because his own administration warned they would. He may try to downplay the damage now, but these reductions will mean fewer meals for Idaho seniors, weaker public safety, delayed services, and more costs pushed onto local governments and property taxpayers.
“He also knows exactly why Idaho is here. Republicans created this crisis when they cut more than $450 million in revenue in 2025 after years of tax breaks that favored the wealthiest Idahoans and left our state less able to meet basic needs.
“Governor Little could have vetoed this bill or rejected the most harmful pieces. Instead, he waited until the final hours and signed it anyway.
“Idaho has better options. We have more than $1.7 billion in reserve funds, built for moments like this. We can restore fairness to the tax code so the wealthiest pay more of their share instead of shifting the burden onto working families. With revenues now coming in below projections, that choice is even more urgent. What Idaho does not have is a governor willing to make that choice when it matters most.”
House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel:
“This is not a governor making a hard choice. This is a governor refusing to make the right choice.
“Governor Little has acknowledged for months that these deep, across-the-board cuts will cause real harm to our economy and to the quality of life of Idahoans. Last year, he openly admitted that reckless revenue cuts would bring us to this moment, but he signed those cuts anyway. Now he is signing the consequences.
“These cuts strike a devastating blow to education, public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure. Idaho has already seen the deadly consequences of cutting Medicaid mental health services — four individuals have now lost their lives from the elimination of Assertive Community Treatment.
“Idaho families are paying the price for failed GOP leadership. It is past time for change. This November, Idahoans have the opportunity to elect leaders who will truly fight for working people.”
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