Governor Phil Batt Remembered Lying in State
Former Idaho Governor Phil Batt was lying in state at the State Capitol March 9-10. On hand to celebrate his legacy were all the living past & present Governors of Idaho in addition to many other state leaders. Gov. Batt is known for his work to bring the Human Rights Commission to Idaho and his advocacy for farmworkers; he was more than just a respected and admired statesman – he also penned music composition, was an avid family man, and cared deeply for his friends and neighbors of which he had many. Gov. Kempthrone perhaps said it best, and I paraphrase, but in his view Gov. Batt represented the best of Idaho, a man who truly and deeply cared about people and who was dedicated to human rights. His legacy will continue to loom large over the statehouse, and I am grateful for his service to Idaho.
A choir, led by Marguerite Lawrence, sang one of Gov Batt’s original songs about his love of Idaho. You can click on this link to view a performance of this same song last year on his 95th birthday.
Monday’s Press Conference: Move on priorities, not “hot button issues” | Article Link
Rep Rubel and I addressed the press on Tuesday to share our concerns about the lack of attention to the real problems that Idahoans face. Here’s what we shared:
We’ve seen a disturbing and increasing trend in recent years in the Idaho legislature in which legislation is driven by national right wing talking points rather than the actual needs and wants of the people of this state. Tucker Carlson’s latest monologue is a far better predictor of what bills will appear on the agenda than what actual Idahoans want and need.
This year the trend has reached crisis levels, and as we now just passed the transmittal date – date by which any legislation should have already passed one chamber, we wanted to speak up before it’s too late. 90% of the time and energy thus far has been spent indulging ideological projects that in no way reflect the desires or needs of 90% of the people of this state.
We know what people of Idaho want, and it is past time we start delivering on it.
They spoke clearly in their advisory vote last November that they want a $330 million investment in K-12 public education. Two months into session, we’ve seen numerous bills brought to fund private and religious schools, but we have not seen one penny added to teacher pay, classified personnel pay, school discretionary funds, school building facilities or anything related to public schools.
We know the people of Idaho need child care. Yet the only action the legislature has taken is to reject $80 million for child care assistance.
Idahoans want better infrastructure, so far not one infrastructure budget has advanced.
Idahoans value public lands and outdoor recreation. Governor’s budget proposed historical investment to repair and improve our parks. As we sit here, past the transmittal date, no money has been put in to repair, restore and improve our parks
Idahoans need property tax relief. So far nothing.
Instead what have we seen?
Bills attempting to ban drag shows, ban vaccines, ban transgender health care, attacks on librarians and book bans, ban most absentee voting, ban students from voting using student IDs, an effective elimination of ballot initiative rights, elimination of marriage licenses, call for more armed militias, bringing back firing squads, bathroom restrictions.
What do these bills have in common?
1) They will not lower your property taxes;
2) They will not improve our schools;
3) They are all things that constituents are not clambering for
This has been a two-month long Fox News fever dream. Today we are calling on our colleagues to stop taking direction from Tucker Carlson and start focusing on real bills that will genuinely address the needs of the people of Idaho.
Restore Child Care Grants
I joined a large crowd of parents with their children on the Statehouse steps on Wednesday to demand that the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approve the $36 million for an ongoing child care stabilization grant that they took out of the Department of Health and Welfare budget last week. The grant money, which Health and Welfare would have distributed to child care providers through June, was funded entirely with federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Private Causes of Action – Looking For Trouble
If Idaho GOP lawmakers have their way vigilante justice will soon be the rule of law in Idaho. Lawmakers have already introduced no less than 10 bills with “private causes of action” with more being introduced each week. Make no mistake – this a deliberate choice to weaponize the judicial system against those who disagree with them.
Don’t like what books are in the library? Sue ‘em! (H139) this also works even if you don’t have children or ever even go to your public library by the way.
Don’t believe in the separation of church and state? Sue ‘em! (H182) this will ensure you can sue schools for not allowing prayer in class.
Don’t want to use digital payment at a school athletic event? Sue ‘em! (H220) dictates that schools MUST accept cash as a form of payment – so much for local control, huh?
Don’t want your neighbor accessing reproductive healthcare for their child? Sue ‘em! (H242) No longer must you suffer the injustice of parents seeking reproductive health care for gasp their own child. However, parents can still deny health care to their grown children, even allowing them to die, and still in inside the bounds of law.
Don’t like that people express themselves artistically outside of gender norms? Sue ‘em! (H265) will ensure no performers are ever clad in attire that varies from a specific heteronormative standard. But this bill was written so broadly it includes every type of public performance including broadway shows.
Don’t like that a school is teaching age appropriate biology? Sue ‘em! (H272) guarantees there will be no sexual biology lessons without parental consent.
SB 1057, SB1099, SB1100, & SB1102 all also include a private cause of action as their enforcement mechanism.
This list is not exhaustive, but the pattern is as clear as it is chilling. There is a concerted effort to use scarce judicial resources to enforce the GOP’s unpopular and unconstitutional agenda.
Put simply – a private cause of action creates new grounds for someone to bring a lawsuit. They can’t call the cops because your behavior is not criminal under statute, but they can call a lawyer and drag you into court. This is a dangerous precedent the legislature is trying to set creating spies and informers out of neighbors and friends.