Idaho House and Senate Democratic leaders released the following statements after the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee discussed and received rescission packages tied to an additional 1–2% in mid-year cuts for state agencies, on top of existing holdbacks. Agency plans warn the cuts could trigger furloughs for commissioned Idaho State Police troopers, disrupt staffing for more than 1,200 corrections employees, and could eliminate the Idaho State Police SWAT team.
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Wintrow:
“Republicans created this crisis with reckless tax choices, and now they’re telling Idahoans these cuts are ‘necessary.’ They aren’t. The numbers don’t justify a new round of rescissions, and even their own tax conformity proposal isn’t settled, yet they’re already pushing agencies toward cuts that would take Idaho backwards. Idaho’s budget hasn’t kept up with population growth or inflation, and the answer cannot be dismantling the services that keep communities safe and help families get ahead. The Legislature lit this fire, keeps making it worse, and then asks working families to pay the price. Democrats have responsible, targeted options that protect public safety and the essential services Idahoans count on.”
Statement from House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel:
“The across-the-board rescissions are simply unconscionable given that our budget crisis can so easily be solved by simply revisiting irresponsible revenue reductions. It is unfathomable that our Republican colleagues would rather cut care for the disabled, cut special education, cut road and bridge repair, cut law enforcement, cut prison staff, cut Meals on Wheels and cut teacher pay rather than admit it was a mistake to subsidize private school tuition for wealthy families. This is the polar opposite of responsible budgeting. Idaho can close gaps with targeted fixes that protect core services, instead of gambling with public safety and asking working families to absorb the fallout.”
###
Recent Comments