The GOP railroaded a lopsided tax proposal through the House that overwhelmingly benefits profitable corporations and people with the highest incomes. House Bill 436 passed and now moves to the Senate. All Democrats voted against the legislation, and instead advocated more critical tax solutions, such as reducing property taxes or repealing the sales tax on groceries — both of which …
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The GOP fast tracked a lopsided tax proposal out of committee Tuesday that overwhelmingly benefits profitable corporations and people with the highest incomes. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee forwarded House Bill 436 to the full body in a party-line vote following the public hearing. Every constituent who testified spoke against the bill; only lobbyists were in favor. Per the …
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The Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee met Thursday to adopt a revenue assessment. The committee’s recommendation was then accepted Friday by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for budgeting purposes. The Republican legislators on EORAC voted to adopt the governor’s forecast, which was lower than almost every committee member’s, as well as the various modeled projections from experts. House Democratic …
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Gov. Brad Little appointed Bellevue Mayor Ned Burns to the open District 26 House seat Thursday following the resignation of former Rep. Muffy Davis, who was recently selected to serve on the Blaine County Board of Commissioners. Burns, who will complete Davis’s remaining term for 2022, served on the Bellevue city council before being elected mayor in 2018 and again …
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On Monday, the House voted to adopt the recommendation by the ethics committee to remove Rep. Priscilla Giddings from the Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Democrats issued the following statement on the decision: “Our caucus is supportive of today’s bipartisan decision, which mirrors the recommendation made by the House Ethics Committee in August. We thank the committee members for their …
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During a news conference Friday, Senate Democrats pushed back against the Idaho Legislature’s return to the Statehouse next week. Sens. Michelle Stennett, Grant Burgoyne, and Janie Ward-Engelking raised concerns about the possible legal ramifications that could stem from the Senate, specifically, coming back into session after adjourning in May, not recessing like the House. No mechanism exists for the body …
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The Idaho Joint Democratic Caucus released the following statement Friday in response to GOP state leaders threatening a legal action against President Joe Biden for his vaccination plan: “At this historic moment, our state needs to come together to navigate the crisis. We are at a breaking point, as unvaccinated COVID-19 patients flood hospitals statewide, forcing Crisis Standards of Care, …
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On Monday, the Idaho Supreme Court announced its decision to block the implementation of Senate Bill 1110, which would have essentially destroyed Idahoans’ initiative and referendum rights. All House and Senate Democrats voted against the bill, and after its passage, pushed for it to be vetoed by Gov. Brad Little, who instead signed it into law, prompting the lawsuit. Democratic …
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On Tuesday, Idaho Democratic leaders announced the three individuals they plan to appoint to the 2021 Idaho Citizen Commission for Reapportionment. Senate Democratic Leader Michelle Stennett will appoint Dan Schmidt, a physician from Moscow, Idaho, where he has practiced family medicine for 32 years. Schmidt attended Stanford University before completing his education at University of Washington School of Medicine: WWAMI …
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On Thursday, the Idaho Joint Democratic Caucus declared its opposition to reconvening the legislature after the three largest health care systems announced their commitment to protecting their employees and patients by adding COVID vaccinations to existing immunization policies. The current policies have off-ramps and exemptions already in place. Hospitals have a responsibility to all who enter their businesses, whether someone …
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