"Don't torture yourself trying to make someone see something they cannot see, or believe something they do not believe. Just stay true to your vision for yourself. . . . Real gratitude is giving thanks when things aren't perfect. . . .Real courage makes the 'impossible' -- possible, with real faith." --Bryant McGill
PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THE SESSION
I encourage you to participate in the 2021 legislative session. Our democracy is dependent upon us listening to the voices of our people and doing their work. You deserve to be heard in a peaceful fashion.
Much of our work is done in committees, where bills are presented to the members of the committee and we often hear testimony from lobbyists and citizens.
To find out when a bill is coming before a committee, check the committee's agenda. Unfortunately, committee agendas do come out on short notice, so if you have a bill you are particularly interested in, you might want to contact the committee secretary and ask if they know when the bill will be heard. Contact information and links to follow to find agendas for Senate committees are on the legislature's website. The same information is also available for House committees.
This session, all Senate committees will be taking both in-person and remote testimony. If you would like to sign up to testify online, you will be able to do so using the link on the committee agenda. You will need to provide written testimony when you sign up. Please note that remote testimony is a work-in-progress so it may not be available in the first weeks of the session. Contact the committee's secretary if you have questions about how to testify.
Some House committees may allow remote testimony, however, for the House, this is at the discretion of the Chair of the committee.
If you decide to come to the Statehouse in person this session, be aware that masks are requested, but not required. Hand sanitizer and disposable masks are available throughout the building. Social distancing will be required in Senate Committee rooms and I ask that you cooperate with personnel directing you to overflow rooms as necessary to maintain social distancing. This session, appointments are necessary to meet with Senators.
BUDGET
During his State of the State address last Monday, the Governor rolled out his "Building Idaho's Future" plan, listing nine categories, using Idaho's one-time surplus and healthy returns from last year's revenues to invest in critical infrastructure and workforce needs. I applaud the plan to invest in languishing transportation (nearly $242 million annually in maintenance needs alone), broadband (for schools, businesses, and telehealth), education, workforce training, and public safety. These are infrastructure needs that I have been pushing for years.
However, the Governor and the Legislature are sitting on over $1 billion of revenues with the Rainy Day Fund and strong tax collections while gouging programs and departments that serve the public, including education. Idaho also received $180 million in internet sales tax revenues, but refuses to give the 11.5% sales tax allotted for local governments at a time when emergency services, schools, and property taxes are stretching people and communities to the breaking point. The first two categories in the plan are tax relief and spending cuts. Disappointingly, tax relief for those in the most desperate economic need, like our working poor and seniors, would only get a one-time benefit, while those who need assistance the least, could receive permanent tax cuts.
Idaho's economy, as a whole, has fared well despite the global pandemic. It is important that we not squander the opportunity this presents to invest in the areas that will most benefit working Idahoans.
This regular legislative session will likely be unprecedented in content and behavior. I continue to strive for good, thoughtful process and communication for and with everyone I serve.
