As the saying goes, “Don’t tell me what your values are. Show me your budget and I’ll tell you what your values are.” Our annual state budget transforms the values of our lawmakers into action: how deeply we care about children, seniors, education, health care access and much more. Our budget demonstrates whether we are creating opportunities for Idahoans to …
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Idaho State Capitol – In the committees’ most recent meeting, CFAC allocated $69,052.43 of CARES act funding to the Boise Police Department (BPD). The funding will pay for the officers’ service during the special session of the Idaho legislature in late August. This is on top of the amount of $76 thousand dollars that was allocated last week for the …
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On Friday afternoon, Governor Little announced that he would use $99 million from the CARES act to supplement the $99 million in education cuts that he announced earlier this year. Representative Melissa Wintrow/(D-Boise) was relieved to hear the announcement from the Governor. “As a Representative on the ground floor of education funding and the handling of the state’s budget as …
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On Monday, the Idaho Democratic leadership held a press conference to propose a slate of Democratic solutions that would address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and set the state on the path to a better future. Senate Democratic Leader Michelle Stennett/(D-Ketchum) and House Democratic Leader Representative Ilana Rubel/(D-Boise) outlined actions that should be taken at the state level to …
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Idaho parents and grandparents like us have been heartbroken watching their children during coronavirus. We know it’s important to keep our students safe and healthy, and we appreciate how difficult it was for educators to revamp their instruction at the drop of a hat. Our teachers are doing the best they can with the limited resources that they have, but …
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Idaho teachers have had some of the toughest months of their entire career. In all corners of the state, our teachers are learning new skills and adapting their curriculum. Our teachers are committed to educating Idaho students, no matter the obstacles. As a reward, the Governor has promised nearly $100 million in cuts to the state’s education budget. Governor Little …
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At the drop of a hat, Idaho students and teachers have had to completely change their education plans for the school year. They are creating lessons in the virtual world while they are burdened by one of our state’s biggest problems: bad internet. Now, more than ever, Idahoans need reliable broadband. Last year, the Governor’s Broadband Task Force found that …
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Idaho State Capitol – On Monday, the House voted 32 – 37 against the proposed budget for higher education. House Bill 603 would have appropriated funding to Boise State University, Lewis Clark State College, Idaho State University, and the University of Idaho. Senator David Nelson/(D-Moscow) expressed his disappointment that the House had not voted to fund Idaho colleges and universities. …
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Idaho State Capitol – The Senate Education committee voted to send Senator Grant Burgoyne’s/(D-Boise) Idaho Promise legislation to the 14th order for possible amendment. Idaho’s approach to increasing the percentage of residents prepared to enter the skilled workforce has a serious gap that new legislation proposed by Sen. Burgoyne intends to fill. Currently, local communities lack effective ways to help …
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Early childhood education is the key to giving Idaho’s youth a running start in school. If we want to have an educated workforce and a successful economy in the future, we have to start by investing in early childhood education. Luckily, Idaho just made a step in the right direction. For the very first time, Idaho was given the opportunity …
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