February 17, 2023 – Mid-February with the Idaho Legislature

Hello Ada County Dems!

The Republicans in the Idaho Legislature weren’t feeling any love on Valentine’s. They continue to pass hateful and harmful bills. Here are a few updates.

Trans Rights

Tuesday morning, the House voted to criminalize medical care for transgender youth. Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, and the Idaho Family Policy Center, a Christian lobbying group, the legislation would make it a felony for medical providers to offer puberty blockers, hormone therapies and transition-related surgeries to minors. The bill passed along party lines (with one Republican joining the Democrats in voting no) and now moves to the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee:https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2023/standingcommittees/SJR/ 

Please take a moment to email or call each of the Republican members of this committee to ask that this dangerous bill stay in committee and die there. If you’re looking for help with your wording, I suggest this: “This bill unfairly targets individuals because of their gender identity. No harm is being done to children, and this decision should be left to them and their families.” Read more HERE or HERE

Education Vouchers

Senate Education Committee held testimony on S1038, the universal “Education Savings Account” vouchers bill.  This bill is the largest attack on school funding ever seen in Idaho and will siphon millions of dollars out of public schools. Due to the large number of people testifying, the hearing was continued for a second day. In the face of overwhelming public opposition, the committee voted 6-3 to advance the bill to the Senate Floor. Typical for Idaho’s Legislature, unfortunately. Please call your senator to oppose this bill!

Protect Libraries

Because last year’s “jail your school librarian” bill stalled in the Senate, Rep. Jaren Crane’s new bill will create civil, rather than criminal, liability for schools and libraries. A guardian of a child who obtains “harmful” material from a library or school can claim $10,000 in statutory damages for each instance the material was obtained.  Who gets to decide what’s harmful?  Why, your extremist far-right legislature, of course. Read more HERE or HERE In other news, as we’ve likely already emailed you about, the Ada County Commission has made their own attack on Libraries this week. They are hearing a petition from far-right activists who want to shut down the Meridian Library District, theoretically to reform it without any democratically elected board members. Their goal, as always, is to censor LGBTQ+ content in our communities, no matter who they hurt.

Abortion Rights

HB 98 expands Idaho’s human trafficking laws to prohibit adults from assisting minors in receiving abortion care.  Introduced by Rep. Barbara Ehardt, this is a blatant attempt to furtherrestrict the reproductive freedoms and bodily autonomy of Idahoans. Helping minors access healthcare is nothing like human trafficking. But under this law, supportive adults could be charged with a felony and up to 5 years in jail. On a positive note, the House Judiciary and Rules Committee unanimously voted to introduce the Rep. John Gannon’s bill that would basically eliminate “faith healing”, which allows parents to refuse medical care for their children.  We will be following this bill in the House. Read more HERE

Very Normal Governance Strategies

Finally, in the “you can’t make this stuff up” category, Reps. Ehardt and Boyle’s memorial stating “ the Idaho Legislature stands ready to begin discussions with the Oregon Legislature regarding the potential to relocate the Oregon/Idaho state boundary, in accordance with thewill of the citizens of eastern Oregon, and we invite the Oregon Legislature to begin talks on this topic with the Idaho Legislature” passed the House State Affairs Committee with a “do pass” recommendation.  Rep. Ehardt stated that it will make it more difficult to drive to Oregon for “drugs” or “abortion clinics.” Read More Here 

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS IN ADA COUNTY

District 18 Town Hall
February 21st, 6:30 – 8:00 PM 
Virtual Event, Register Here

District 15 Dinner Huddle
February 28th, 6:00 PM
Kleiner Park Senior Center. Address: 1920 N Records Way, Meridian 

District 19 Town Hall
March 8th, 6:00 PM
Idaho State Capital, Lincoln Auditorium 

Sincerely, 
Lily Pannkuk, 
Field Director
Ada County Democrats