TRAILBLAZING WOMEN IN IDAHO!
At the Idaho State Museum, a new exhibit, Trailblazing Women in Idaho, opened last Saturday to the public. It features Rep. Muffy Davis, of District 26, who is a seven-time Paralympic Games medalist. The Caucus in Boise joined her for a special VIP viewing. More information can be found here. Hope you can stop by and view the great displays.
INVASIVE MUSSELS IN AQUARIUM PRODUCTS
An aquatic invasive species of mussel that can wreak havoc ecologically and economically in any waterway. This past week, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) was notified of finding zebra mussels in aquarium products and has continued working in coordination with state and federal partners to further identify retail distribution, collect affected products, and ensure proper disposal.
As a standing member of the Columbia River Basin Team, which includes federal, Tribal, and university partners, ISDA participates in the multi-agency coordination for planning purposes outside of emergencies and also during incidents requiring coordinated response including invasive species detections.
The mussels were discovered in moss balls and it appears some were sold at Petco and PetSmart stores in the state as well as Montana, Washington, Oregon and Colorado stores. The moss balls were imported from Ukraine for distribution and were shipped to pet stores nationwide. The stores will be working with Idaho’s Department of Agriculture ensuring future aquarium products are mussel free. The new recommendations for Destroy! Don’t Dump! can be found on the USFWS website or ISDA recommends the public contact the Idaho Invasive Species Program hotline at (877) 336-8676 or via email at info@isda.idaho.gov.
SALMON RECOVERY???
Salmon have been an integral part of the Pacific Northwest for time immemorial. It is important to have a robust conversation about all the benefits and costs of the status quo on the Snake River with four dams.
The Idaho State Senate recently passed SJM103, which discussed the importance of the Snake River dams to agriculture in Idaho. Agriculture is a key component of Idaho's economy ($7.9 billion annually) and way of life. However, the bill neglected to mention Idaho's strong recreational sector ($7.8 billion annually) or how to turn around declining salmon populations in Idaho. Rural communities, such as Riggins, are dependent on guides, outfitters, and recreational fishermen for their existence. And salmon have long been the symbol and lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest Tribes.
A comprehensive discussion on these complex topics is worthwhile in an effort to avoid outcomes like that in the Klamath Basin where the dams are coming down without a plan to make the stakeholders whole.
POWERBALL ROLLS AWAY!
In a 10-4 vote, the House State Affairs Committee killed HB 72, a bill that would allow the Idaho Lottery to continue participating in Powerball. The Multi-State Lottery Association has approved licensing Powerball in Australia and the United Kingdom, which GOP lawmakers took issue with. Idaho was one of the first states to join Powerball in the 1990’s and now includes 45 states and 2 territories. Your last powerball drawing will be in August. Currently, Idaho code does not allow for participation in lottery games outside of the United States and Canada. Schools receive $14 million in dedicated funds from the lottery; this is now in jeopardy. The Idaho lottery funds a multitude of projects in our local communities and schools. The loss of this revenue for our small rural areas and businesses seems to continue a theme in this year’s legislature.
ASSAULT ON SCHOOLS-ANOTHER TWO THIS WEEK
The House voted 52-18 in favor of HB 122, which allows school employees who have enhanced concealed-carry permits to bring guns to school, whether or not the local school board approves. All Democrats were opposed. Other groups against the bill included the Idaho Sheriffs Association, the Chiefs of Police, the Idaho Education Association, the Idaho Association of School Administrators, and the Idaho School Boards Association.
The House voted 55-15 in favor of HB 293, which would require Idaho to pay parents who pull their kids out of public school because the school isn’t providing in-person instruction at least four days a week starting April 1st. Most of these sorts of decisions should be left to the local schools boards based on the local environment and safety precautions. Thankful this has a stop date of June 2022, but a lot of uncertainty can occur between now and then.
SENATE HAPPENINGS
The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee unanimously voted to send HB 126 to the full Senate. The bill amends Idaho’s list of controlled substances to differentiate between hemp and cannabis. This would authorize the production, research, processing and transportation of industrial hemp by those licensed in Idaho, and allow the legal possession and transportation of the product in and through the state.
The Senate moved SB 1108 to the 14th Order for unspecified possible amendments; however, if none are made, the bill will die there. The legislation, which has received an overwhelming amount of opposition from cities and counties, seeks to cap local governments’ budgets in an effort to provide property tax relief.
HOUSE HAPPENINGS
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. Democrats were opposed. Read Rep. Chris Mathias’ comments on the bill in a release sent to the media.
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee introduced HB 332, 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 a taxpayer’s state income tax due in 2019, or a floor of $50 per person. Under the bill, a couple bringing in $1 million annually would get a one-time rebate of $6,000; while a couple making $50,000 would receive only $100. The permanent tax rate cuts will be similarly lopsided, in perpetuity. Read Rep. Lauren Necochea’s comments on the bill in a release sent to the media.
