Rep. Ron Nate - Dist. 34 - Legislative Update 3-8-18

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2018/legislation/H0496/

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Idaho State Legislture

March 8, 2018

Rep. Ronald Nate - District 34

Idaho State Capitol

Improving the Legislative Process

  Idaho's legislative process is a representative government.  Our thirty-five legislative districts vote for two representatives and one senator each.  One of the most rewarding aspects of being a representative for District 34 (Madison and Bonneville counties) is to bring proposals for legislation from citizens in District 34.  

   Last year I wrote about the broken process in Idaho.  Many bills were held by committee chairs and the voice of the people, from many districts, were being silenced.  Committee chairs were using their power to "drawer" bills.  Conservative legislators, including me, in the House mounted an information campaign and used parliamentary procedure to highlight the problem of bills being stalled unfairly in committees.

   The message was largely heard.  To their credit, leaders in the Idaho House of Representatives opened the process for House committees to hear more bills.  While not perfect (the Stand-Your-Ground bill is held now), the process is working much better--YOUR voices are being heard in Boise.

   The Senate, however, still needs some work.  This week we saw an unfortunate display of how voices are silenced.  The bill (H577) to allow the use of CBD oil under certain conditions passed the House of Representatives with strong support.  You may agree or disagree with the bill, but in a legislature for the people, all ideas deserve to be heard.

  Despite its popularity, the committee chair in the Senate stopped the CBD bill, and when the committee asked to bring it forward, he became angry, stopped the hearing and behind closed doors (in a possible violation of Open Meetings laws) revealed his reasoning for not hearing the bill, "The governor's office doesn't want this bill, the prosecutors don't want this bill, the office on drug policy doesn't want this bill."  This is not appropriate.  Not only should the chairman facilitate hearing the bill, the Governor should not be directing the legislative process.  It is a separation of powers issue.

   We need our legislative process to encourage open debate and deliberation on legislation.  Legislators should be allowed to do what they were elected to do: draft, discuss, and vote on legislation.  If the governor, leadership, and/or chairmen stop legislation without allowing debate or votes, then the legislative process is broken.  More work needs to be done to allow all the voices of Idaho citizens to be fully heard in Boise, and not just those who might have the favor of certain leaders and executives.  I am working in that direction.


Upholding the Constitution

   House Bill 585 is the Firearms and Domestic Violence bill.  The bill would make it illegal for those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence to own, possess, or control any firearm. It is a well-intentioned and noble idea for protecting vulnerable victims.

  I am rarely asked to explain how I vote on bills; usually the bill and the issue speak for themselves.  Because of the compelling nature of this issue and based on a few questions I've received this week, my vote on this bill deserves a brief explanation. 

  First, to be clear, it is already illegal for any felon to have firearms.  This bill deals with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. Misdemeanor domestic violence convictions can come from something as minor as a shouting match with harsh, threatening words, or a even grab of the wrist. Misdemeanors can be more serious too.  Weapons and domestic violence are a dangerous mix, but we should be very aware of the different degrees of domestic crimes.  Felonies and misdemeanors are not equal.

  The Idaho Constitution recognizes the difference between misdemeanors and felonies.  Specifically with regard to firearms, the Idaho Constitution says the following: "The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not ... prevent the passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon,..."   The Constitution allows restricting firearms for felons, but not for misdemeanor convicts. It is very clear.

   I will ALWAYS keep my oath to uphold and support the Idaho Constitution.  Though the domestic violence rationale for curtailing gun rights in misdemeanor cases is compelling, there are other means to protect victims. We could re-classify some crimes from misdemeanors to felonies, or we could amend the Idaho Constitution. I am on the side of both victims and the Constitution.  We can find solutions, but unfortunately, H585 was not a legally sound option.

 


Bills-of-Interest Update:

H376 - Human Trafficking - House 3rd Reading Calendar

H389 - Highway Speed Limit - House Transportation Committee

H405 - Repeal Unfair Sales Act - Senate Commerce Committee

H412 - Repeal Common Core - Stalled in House Ways & Means Comm.

H413 - Education Freedom in Idaho - Stalled, House Ways & Means Comm.

H579 - Sex Education Standards - House Education Committee

H418 - Lobbyist Limits (no state employees) - House State Affairs Comm.

H420 - Electronic Public Notice - Failed, House State Affairs Committee

H443 - Firearms Safety Education - Senate Education Committee

H444 - Stand Your Ground - House State Affairs Committee  (Held by chair)

H447 - Civil Asset Forfeiture Protection - Senate 2nd Reading

H448 - Breastfeeding Protection - Senate 3rd Reading

H449 - Precious Metals Income Tax Exempt. - Failed in Senate Comm.

H452 - Short Term Rentals Clarification - Passed Senate, sent to Governor

H463 - Income Tax Cut (Otter) -  Passed Senate, sent to Governor

H466 - Minimum Wage Exemption - Passed House, Senate Commerce

H496 - Agency Directors (Harriman?) -  House General Orders

H536 - Trespass, Civil, Criminal -  House 3rd Reading

H557 - BIG Tax Relief Plan - House Rev. & Tax. Committee (held by chair)

H574 - County Commissioner Elections - Failed, House State Affairs Comm.

H575 - Huckleberry Pie - House State Affairs Committee

H577 - Cannabidiol Oil - Senate Health & Welfare Committee

H626 - Bond Disclosure - Senate Local Government & Finance Comm.

HCR32 - Call for Convention of the States - Defeated in House State Affairs

S1243 - Abortion Pill Reversal Information - House State Affairs Comm.

S1284 - Parking / Booting Regulation - House Transportation Committee

 


BYU-Idaho Social Work Students

Visitors from Rexburg

   It's always a pleasure to host visitors from home.  The group above is Professor Richard Whiting's Social Work student group who came to Boise to attend a conference and visit with state officials and lawmakers.  We had a great time on the floor of the House talking about how the legislative process works and answering questions about specific bills and proposed legislation.  BYU-Idaho is well represented by these great students and their teacher!

 


Growing Freedom - Get Involved!

   Please visit the Growing Freedom Idaho website to help all citizens be more involved with what is going on in the Idaho Legislature and how to effectively make their voices heard.  The site includes a Freedom Agenda of legislation brought to the legislature by citizens and is what liberty minded legislators are pursuing this session.

www.GrowingFreedomIdaho.com

 


 

Stay in Touch!

   As always my goals are to best represent District 34’s views and interests, keep my oath to protect and defend the U.S. and State Constitutions, restrain government influence, keep taxes low, and support legislation that is constitutional, economical, and moral.  I always appreciate feedback from voters and citizens.  As you probably know, citizen input is very important and influential.  When you and others contact legislators, they have the power and incentives to protect rights and keep their oaths.  Together, we can keep Idaho great and free.

   You and your friends can contact your legislators to make your views known by emailing or calling them.  To find your representatives’ and senators’ contact information you can click here for representatives, and here for senators

Please email me your questions and comments:  nater@house.idaho.gov

 


 

Ronald Nate

Rep. Ronald Nate

   District 34 - nater@house.idaho.gov

   Committees:

  •  Revenue and Taxation
  •  Judiciary, Rules, and Administration
  •  Environment, Energy, and Technology

State Capitol  |  P.O. Box 83720 
Boise, Idaho 83720-0081  |  (208) 403-3609