Hello District 19,
We hope this message finds you in good health. As the legislative session takes off, we want to make sure you have the information you need to provide remote testimony. To learn how to testify remotely:
– Review this list of committees
– Select your committee of interest.
– Click on the “Public Testimony Overview” tab to find specific instructions.
Decision-making at the Capitol will benefit from your input!
Lauren’s Corner
Next week the House Revenue & Taxation Committee will be discussing “federal conformity.” This refers to updating our state tax code definitions and provisions to match recent changes in federal tax code. This alignment can sometimes make the process of filing taxes easier.
Conformity changes can also be costly or provide unbalanced benefits (or burdens) to different types of taxpayers. Rep. Necochea will review these changes with an eye towards equity and an evaluation of costs versus benefits.
Chris’s Corner
All three of Rep. Mathias’s committees have begun to meet. The “Ag” and “Resources” Committees have begun to review administrative rules which is a critical and time-consuming process. Through his work on the State Affairs Committee, he continues to work to ensure Idaho does not end the Governor’s Emergency Declaration. Similarly, he is working to keep the Legislature focused on addressing the current emergency and not get distracted by power struggles. Never in Idaho history have we “cracked open” Idaho Code 46-1008 during an emergency. We have always focused on fully addressing the threat, then catching our breath and reflecting, and then making thoughtful changes to this section of code. Rep. Mathias sees no need to depart from this precedent now.
Motion for COVID Safety Failed
Last week, Rep. Muffy Davis put forward a reasonable motion to allow legislators with serious health conditions to vote remotely for this legislative session. This option would reduce a significant health threat for Rep. Davis; her spinal cord injury significantly compromises her lungs and puts her at serious risk if she contracts COVID.
Unfortunately, this motion failed on a party line vote with every Republican voting ‘no.’ This was disappointing and unexpected. Together, Rep. Davis and Rep. Chew have a lawsuit pending asking for this flexibility. We will continue to support them as they seek the ability to do their job safely.
Governor Little’s Emergency Declaration
Governor Little issued a stark warning to Republican legislators on Friday as they continue to attack his emergency declaration. While we disagree with our governor on many policy issues, we know we all need to face the COVID crisis together. This is not the time for political infighting, grandstanding or power grabs.
Every other state has an emergency declaration in place because it allows us to do several important things: draw down emergency FEMA dollars to cover important costs such as PPE for first responders, call upon the National Guard to assist with testing and vaccine rollout, and waive regulations that slow our response, such as telehealth restrictions.
Most Idahoans understand how critical these tools are to address the pandemic. We have received a flood of emails from Idahoans asking for the emergency declaration to stay in place. Getting our economy back on track and controlling the virus go hand-in-hand. The emergency declaration will allow us to accomplish both goals faster.
A Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Amendments to our Idaho Constitution should be well-considered and fiscally responsible. House Joint Resolution 1 is neither and we could not support it.
HJR1 seeks to allow the Legislature to call a special session whenever 60% of the members desire, for any length of time and without defining any policy goals. Currently, only the governor can call a special session and the subject matter must be predefined. While we agree that the Legislature should be able to call itself into special session under narrow circumstances, we take seriously the reality that special sessions are costly to the state.
Legislators should be held to the same standard as all state employees. For state employees to have travel expenses covered, they must submit an advance copy of the meeting agenda. We wanted to see a requirement that the Legislature expressly state what topics it would address in a self-triggered special session.
HJR1 passed the House. If passed by the Senate, it will show up on your general election ballot in 2022 for voter approval.