When "No" is a Positive Word: Education Budgets
Last week the House voted down two key budget bills regarding education. Naturally, anyone directly related to education programs, schools, or administration regarding those budgets were concerned. But they don't need to be concerned, here's why. Let's be clear on what a failed budget bill really means. It DOES NOT mean the program or department is "defunded" and will be discontinued. Instead, it means that particular budget proposal is not approved, and the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) must go back to the drawing board to draft a more acceptable budget bill. The program or department will be funded once the legislature decides on the best budget and intentions for it.
There are lots of reasons to vote against a budget bill. Here are a few:
- The proposed budget was too high.
- The proposed budget was too low.
- The budget included some spending items that were unacceptable.
- The budget omitted some spending items that were needed.
- The budget intent language was too restrictive or too lenient.
- The budget funding source needed to be changed.
- Technical errors in the budget bill.
If any of these problems are present, then good legislators should vote "NO" and then get to work on producing a better budget bill. That's exactly what is happening with the budget bills to fund higher education (S1179) and public school teachers (H354). The higher education budget has several problems. The budget was too high, it includes spending on unacceptable items, and it needs added intent language. In my last newsletter I identified the unacceptable spending items supporting Social Justice activism and Critical Race Theory promotion on our campuses. The K-12 teacher's budget is a good budget, but it needs additional intent language, also to protect teachers and students from having Social Justice and Critical Race Theory curriculum forced on teachers and students.
I'm confident we can get both the budgets right. The budget process will work for the benefit of all Idahoans. We need to fund excellent education at both the K-12 level and the college level without introducing pernicious and questionable programs that work against Idaho values and American idealism.
Vigilance and the Government You Deserve
One of my good colleagues, Representative Heather Scott pretty much nails it about the dangers facing Idaho and our nation. Now more than ever, we need strong elected leaders in Idaho who will stand up against the avalanche of bad policy coming from the Biden Administration, our own Governor's office, and some even introduced in the Idaho legislature. She writes:
"Idaho folks are generally less fearful than others around the country, but even Idaho citizens are getting jittery about whether the majority of their elected officials will step up and defend those rights and liberties we hold so dear. The overt and covert governmental and globalist assaults on our nation, state, and citizens, have been staggering, and there is good reason to be jittery. If you are depending on your elected state and local politicians/leaders to protect you, you could be making a big mistake.
The coming avalanche is churning with federal gun restrictions; forced vaccines; immunization passes; forced mask mandates by corrupt courts, judges, city officials and hospitals; illegal aliens flooding our country; cozy China-Idaho relationships; critical race theory for pre-school kids; social justice activism; black lives matters activism and Antifa; higher taxes; corrupt elected officials; contact tracing; interagency data sharing; national and state spending; carbon credits; election fraud; and the list could continue on for many pages. Never in my life have I witnessed such broad sweeping changes to our Republic so quickly. The bitter carrot is big and shiny and disguised as COVID relief (and ARPA funding).
I never tire of reminding citizens that elections have consequences because I am reminded every day the legislature is in session and the governor is in the Capitol! The lack of strong Idaho-focused leadership is glaring. Unfortunately, so many of Idaho’s state legislators either turn a blind eye, or openly embrace these changes happening to our country and state. Many bills have passed, from creating committees to study illegal alien drivers’ licenses (SCR107), to funding pre-kindergarten (0-5 yrs old) critical race theory training (SB1193), But, not much has policy has been passed to help protect Idaho citizens' rights or our state sovereignty. And now the focus has turned to spending the 5.3 billion soon-to-be hyperinflated dollars coming into Idaho to federalize our state, with no consideration for the strings attached.
We have work to do to preserve our great state and our Idaho values. Thomas Jefferson said, "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance." I've also heard it often said that "the government you elect is the government you deserve" (also Thomas Jefferson). Now, more than ever, it's important for all citizens to know what their government is doing, know who their elected officials are, contact their leaders to tell them what Idaho needs to be doing (or not doing), and taking notes for the next election. We must be vigilant! Elections have consequences, and voters determine elections. So, please join me in keeping Idaho free and amazing.
Massive ARPA $$ for Anything and Everything
Last week's newsletter discussed how ARPA (Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act) spending threatens Idaho's sovereignty. Let's also remember that ARPA money is borrowed money and will have to be paid back by our kids and grandkids.
It's irresponsible to spend up borrowed money like we are drunken sailors.
Nonetheless, the spending spree has begun. This week the proposed spending is gushing out of JFAC and onto the Senate and House chambers. Here are some of the budget votes this week in JFAC and the legislature.:
$ The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare requested and JFAC approved over $10 million of ARPA (Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act) funding to be used for a "campaign to increase vaccine confidence." The request is based on survey results that reported that 37% of Idahoans would not get the shot at this time, but that 19% of Idahoans (part of the 37%) might be open to persuasion.
$ JFAC voted to approve $40 million of ARPA money for COVID-19 testing recruitment efforts in Idaho public and private schools. I asked if the testing was optional, required consent, and what happens with the results. The answers were that the testing was optional (although this money is intended to recruit more schools and kids to be tested), it requires consent from the parents, and the results were kept private unless they came back positive (in which case they're sent along to the Public Health District and the school the child attends). The lack of privacy is concerning and also the problem that no plan has been developed as yet.
$ JFAC approved a FY21 $1,000,000 supplemental appropriation (which won't be spent until FY22, so it shouldn't really be a supplemental) to allow the Director of the Department of Commerce to offset public costs associated with the recruitment of private companies to Idaho. Previously, funds were used to help Chobani with their sewer system and Costco with a road intersection.
$ JFAC and the Senate voted for a second time to cut $7,400 from the Lt. Governor's budget and convert one of her employees from full time to half time (her proposed budget would have enabled her to keep all of her staff on board through the remainder of the year). It should be noted that the Senate leadership removed her key card access from the senate chambers where she is the presiding officer; she is also the only official that has had to present her budget request to the budget committee twice, allowing members to grill her with additional, inappropriate questions.
Rep. Giddings introduced a motion that was also shot down, which requested $4000 to help support the Lt. Governor's Task Force. The Task Force will investigate the misuse of K-12 public funds promoting social justice activism and critical race theory in Idaho. Those who voted for cutting her budget (substitute motion) and the Task Force (amended substitute motion) are Senators Agenbroad, Crabtree, Grow, Woodward, Lent, Riggs, Ward-Engelking, Nye, and Representatives, Troy, Syme, Green, and Nash. Even though the extra funding was not approved, the Task Force has still been commissioned.
Weekly Peek: Social Justice Activism on Campus
Check out items in this research article (below) regarding the Writing Center at Boise State University, by Amanda Hawks and Dr. Whitney Douglas. In this section "bodies of color" literally means people who fit the description of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, or BIPOC, as they're known in Social Justice activism circles. Apparently, the term "bodies" is a preferred term to "people" or "individuals"--who knows why? According to the article, the term "emotional labor" refers to the burden that students of color might be asked to or might feel they must act as a representative for their whole identity when the issue of race comes up. You can click on the picture to go to the article dedicated to Critical Race Theory-induced anxieties about the writing center.
The article continues with a small section titled, Main Argument, providing the following conclusion: "My research argues that emotional labor is experienced differently by people of color, and for this project specifically, I'm examining the ways that people of color perform emotional labor in the workplace, specifically within writing centers."
Conservative News
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Click here to read Greg Pruett's latest article regarding all the progressive organizations that are infiltrating conservative Idaho. Political activists are turning Idaho into another Rocky Mountain Heist--a Gem State Heist.
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True Idaho News compiled a good article about the problems regarding Governor Little's vaccine passport executive order that can be read here.
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Representative Adams, a new legislator from Nampa, gave a riveting floor speech this week that has gone viral. Idaho Dispatch has a nice article titled after his comments,
“Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way…” The article and Rep. Adams’ speech are linked here.
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House Bills:
H1 Governor's Powers in Emergency House State Affairs
H4 Parental Rights in Disasters House Judiciary and Rules
H7 Idaho Treasury Gold/Silver Holdings Senate State Affairs
H21 Lemonade Stand Freedom Senate Local Government - held
H53 Electronic Public Notice House Failed
H56 Abolish Abortion House Ways and Means
H63 Vaccination Freedom House Ways and Means
H66 Bond and Levy Ballot Disclosure Senate Amending Orders
H72 Powerball Lottery Continuance House State Affairs - dead
H77 Responsible Childhood Independence House Judiciary and Rules - held
H133 Idaho Roads and Bridges House Transportation
H135 Emergency Declarations, Rights To Governor
H140 Vaccination Freedom Protections Senate Commerce
H175 Mandates In-Person Public Schools Senate 3rd Reading
H195 Targeted Picketing House Failed - dead
H199 Sales / Income Tax Cuts House Revenue & Taxation - dead
H213 Income Tax Exemption, Relief House Revenue & Taxation - dead
H216 Medicaid, Supplemental Appropriation Signed, LAW
H238 Wolves, Predator & Hunting House Resources
H246 Disasters, Parental Rights Senate Amending Orders
H256 Sales in Cash, Requirement House Revenue & Taxation
H266 Cloud Seeding Senate 3rd Reading
H291 Business Bill of Rights Senate State Affairs
H294 Education Expenses, School Choice Senate - Failed
H300 2nd Amendment Firearms House State Affairs - Held
H332 Income Tax Cut, Rebates Senate Amending Orders
H339 Prohibiting Mask Mandates House General Orders
H342 Local and State Roads Projects Senate Transportation
H347 Income Tax Filing Deadline House 3rd Reading
H352 Education, Racist & Sexist Concepts House - Held at Desk
H354 Appropriation, Education - Teachers House - Failed
H362 Local and State Roads Projects Senate 3rd Reading
HCR1 Resolution to End Emergency House State Affairs
HCR5 Gatherings and Group Size Senate State Affairs
HJR1 Legislature Calling Sessions Senate State Affairs - held
HJR4 Psychoactive Drugs Amendment House - Failed
Senate Bills:
S1001 Disaster, Governor Powers Senate State Affairs
S1002 Disaster, Governor Spending Powers Senate State Affairs
S1003 Governor Powers, Martial Law Senate State Affairs
S1027 Idaho Wrongful Conviction Act Signed, LAW
S1028 Minimum Wage Increase Senate State Affairs
S1044 Eminent Domain Limitation Signed, LAW
S1069 Elections, Absentee Ballots House State Affairs
S1085 Fetal Heartbeat - Pro-Life Senate State Affairs
S1087 Smoking Age to 21 House FAILED
S1099 Red Light Fines - Triple Senate Transportation
S1043 Student Expulsions, Exec. Session House 3rd Reading
S1110 Ballot Initiatives, Voting To Governor
S1135 Firearms, Schools Senate State Affairs
S1179 Appropriations, Colleges & Universities House - FAILED
S1193 Pre-K Federal Grant House 3rd Reading
S1202 State Board / Pre-K Federal Grant House 1st Reading
S1205 2nd Amendment, Firearms Senate State Affairs
SCR101 Terminating Disaster Emergency Senate State Affairs
SJR101 Psychoactive Drugs Amendment House State Affairs
SJR102 Legislative Sessions, Special Call House State Affairs
You can learn more about all the legislation being considered in the legislature.
Just check the House and Senate Reading Calendars found at the links below:
House Reading Calendar: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/agenda/hcal/
Senate Reading Calendar: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/agenda/scal/
How Are Your Legislators Voting?
Every vote your legislator makes offers insight into their beliefs, principles and willingness to follow the constitution. Below is a link to a website that tracks Idaho legislators' votes, and scored them. How do your legislators rate? Click below to find out!
Here is a link to a non-profit (Idaho Freedom Foundation) that tracks all Idaho legislators' voting records. Bills are scored using a rating metric based on adherence to the constitution, if the bill grows government, if it hinders private business, along with other standards. Where does your legislator stand? Will you hold them accountable?
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