2025 Legislative Session News
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...
“The Unfounded Fear of Social Justice” – by Sen. Melissa Wintrow
Opposition to “social justice” by the Idaho Legislature, while troubling, is not surprising. If you are in a majority, who has experienced power and advantage, it’s uncomfortable to admit you’ve been part of an unfair system. This may be why Republican politicians are...
House GOP Introduces Another Tax Cut Bill to Benefit Wealthy Idahoans
On Friday, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee introduced HB332, a bill to slash income tax rates with the benefits flowing overwhelmingly to those at the top of the income spectrum. The legislation also provides a lopsided one-time tax rebate equivalent to 9% of...
“The $2 Billion Bamboozle” – by Rep. Steve Berch
You’re being bamboozled. Republican Party leaders repeatedly say you should be afraid of “tax-and-spend Democrats.” Instead, there are over two billion reasons you should be afraid of them. Over the last five years, the legislature has forced school districts across...
SB 1110 Passes House State Affairs Despite Overwhelmingly Negative Testimony
On Monday, the House State Affairs Committee voted 12-2 to send Senate Bill 1110 to the full House, despite overwhelmingly negative testimony against the legislation, which seeks to add additional hurdles to the ballot initiative and referendum process in Idaho. The...
“The Legislative Roller Coaster” – by Rep. Steve Berch
When I started my first term in 2019, nearly every long-time Capitol observer told me it was the worst legislative session they ever experienced. In 2020, they told me that was the worst legislative session ever. And now they’re saying in 2021 this is the worst...
“Medicaid Expansion: A Real Success Story for Idaho” – by Sen. David Nelson
Idaho’s politicians have all kinds of snappy quotes about health insurance. How it doesn’t keep you healthy, and how no one’s every died from not having it — but that’s simply not true. Research shows those with health insurance are healthier than those without...
“The time is right for the Idaho Working Families Agenda” – by Reps. Lauren Necochea and Colin Nash
Work, family and our children. These are the values embedded in the Idaho Working Families Agenda that House Democrats unveiled this week. We propose a package of tax and budget solutions that deliver benefits to Idahoans who are often overlooked. The agenda has three...
Idaho Democrats Discuss Need for Change of Direction in 2021 Session
The Idaho Joint Democratic Caucus held a virtual news conference Wednesday highlighting the need to “put people over power plays,” emphasizing the urgency to move away from bills that grab more power for the legislature and instead use the limited remaining time in...
Property Tax Break for Large Businesses Introduced in House Committee
On Friday, the House majority leader introduced a bill in the Revenue and Taxation Committee to completely eliminate the property tax that businesses pay on their equipment over 10 years. Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, proposed to replace the revenue lost to local...
House Democrats Unveil ‘Idaho Working Families Agenda’
The House Minority Caucus unveiled its “Idaho Working Families Agenda,” a comprehensive plan to deliver tax benefits to working families and boost critical education investments to help Idaho children learn basic skills, including reading. House Assistant Minority...
Lawmakers to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Penalize Targeted Picketing Outside Homes
Lawmakers will introduce a bipartisan bill to penalize targeted residential picketing in the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee. The legislation is drafted by Reps. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, and Brooke Green, D-Boise, and aims to protect one’s privacy...
“Intimidation is not Democracy — It is Mob Rule” – by Reps. Brooke Green and Greg Chaney
Our democracy relies on freedom of expression, including protest. It also depends on an open, productive, and civil discourse where everyone can be heard and policy is set based on a rational assessment of available options. Setting policy based on who can act most...
“Schools are Open, and Teachers Want to Teach” – by Rep. John McCrostie
Last spring when the coronavirus spread into Idaho communities, no one knew what our schools should do in this unprecedented situation. Yet from that moment on, school leaders did what we always do: monitor and adjust. As we work through a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic,...
“A Wise Legislator” – by Sen. David Nelson
Despite what some in the Idaho Legislature might think, we are still in the middle of a global pandemic. Now is not the time to be making decisions without careful consideration of the possible long-term consequences, but that’s what happens when short-sided...
“Faith, Family, Freedom, and . . .” – by Rep. Steve Berch
During the 2020 campaign, my opponent and his party ran on the slogan, “Faith Family Freedom.” Those are great values. They aren’t partisan values – they’re American values. People of all political stripes attend the church of their choice. Everyone, regardless of...
“Idahoans Deserve Real Solutions” – by Sen. Ali Rabe
It’s no secret property taxes are one of the biggest concerns for many of Idaho’s homeowners. We all want a fair system for collecting the revenue that makes law enforcement, fire response, and other critical services possible. Unfortunately, state policies have...
“The Ballot is Stronger Than the Bullet” – by Rep. James Ruchti
On Jan. 20, many of us let out a shared sigh of relief. With President Joe Biden being sworn into office, it feels like our nation is finally headed in the direction of empathy toward our fellow man, progress toward shared goals and competence in government. We cannot...