The Idaho House of Representatives voted to recess without taking action on Senate Bill 1193, effectively turning away a federal preschool development grant for $6 million. Communities across Idaho have been meeting for months to design homegrown early learning programs for young children. The $6 million grant would have flowed to these communities for implementation of their plans, which include …
Continue reading
On Wednesday, Gov. Brad Little signed the GOP’s grossly irresponsible property tax bill, which will not lower property taxes for most residents and potentially harms those most in need. The legislation had bipartisan opposition in the House and Senate. Many local officials as well as the AARP testified about the damaging impacts House Bill 389 will have. Those concerns went …
Continue reading
On Tuesday, Gov. Brad Little announced the state would end its participation in all federal pandemic unemployment compensation programs on June 19, causing further damage to Idaho’s working families, who have endured more than a year of financial hardship. Certain industries, especially those that rely on large in-person gatherings, are still struggling to rebound. Gov. Little has turned his back …
Continue reading
The House Democratic Caucus released the following statement after far-right lawmakers objected to Rep. Chris Mathias’ debate on the higher education budget: “We stand with Rep. Mathias — the Idaho Legislature’s first and only black male representative, as well as the former chief academic officer for the State Board of Education — who stood today to fight for our state’s …
Continue reading
In the House Ways and Means Committee Monday, GOP lawmakers introduced a grossly irresponsible property tax bill, providing residents with minimal relief and potentially harming those most in need. If the homeowner’s exemption had not been capped at $100,000 by Republicans in 2016, it would be worth $150,000 in the current year, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission. “To …
Continue reading
This week, the Senate will likely vote on House Bill 380, legislation that slashes income tax rates with the benefits flowing overwhelmingly to those at the top of the income spectrum. Sen. Ali Rabe, who argued against it in the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee, said the bill makes sweeping changes that are neither fair to working Idahoans nor …
Continue reading
The Joint Democratic Caucus urges the immediate release of the federal COVID relief funds for child care businesses by the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. Idaho’s child care professionals keep our economy running, helping parents and caregivers enter and stay in the workforce, which is more crucial than ever. If we do not provide meaningful support now, the child care …
Continue reading
The House Democratic Caucus issued this statement following the resignation of Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger: “We are in awe of Jane Doe’s bravery in coming forward and testifying before the House Ethics Committee. We also applaud the other women who spoke during the hearing and shared their stories. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to make a report and …
Continue reading
The Senate passed House Bill 377 in a 27-8 vote Monday in hopes of pacifying far-right lawmakers, who have held both the public and higher education budgets hostage due to unfounded concerns over curricula in Idaho schools. The legislation, which passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a 6-3 vote the same day, seeks to dictate teachers’ discussions with …
Continue reading
On Thursday, the House GOP passed a bill to discourage educators from teaching anything in relation to “social justice,” as a way to pacify far-right legislators, who have held both the public and higher education budgets hostage due to unfounded concerns over curricula in Idaho schools. House Bill 377 was opposed by all Democrats, and passed along party lines, 57-12. …
Continue reading
