ACTION ITEMS: We need your help to let the Senate know that the House’s extreme agenda doesn’t actually reflect our Idaho values. There’s a lot going on and WE NEED YOU to make your voices heard.Here's a link to Bonneville County legislator contact: https://www.facebook.com/notes/bonneville-democrats/contact-our-representatives/2071038702912772/1. Support the Idaho Patient Act (HB 515): We need more protections against predatory medical billing practices. Let our Senators know we’re behind this — and thank those who helped pass this bill. Unfortunately, you know that our own D33 “representatives” were against it, with Rep. Zollinger taking more than his allotted time to attempt to defend the fact that he profits off those same practices this bill is designed put a stop to. https://www.postregister.com/opinion/editorials/end-legislative-corruption/article_92fd5870-f478-597d-a7e0-804902fccc3a.html2. Stop the harmful bills designed to harm vulnerable populations. As Rep. Ilana Rubel points out, these attempts at winning the crown of “extreme cultural warrior” don’t actually address actual issues Idahoans care about, like property taxes, infrastructure, education or making sure our economy works for ordinary families.https://twitter.com/IlanaRubel/status/1233132571396984833Tell our Senators to VOTE NO on HB500 and HB509, whenever they pop up. Start letting them know NOW. The science on these issues is nuanced, as you can see from this article, which we will continue to share, and encourage you to share.http://barbellmedicine.com/blog/shades-of-gray-sex-gender-and-fairness-in-sportThis article makes it clear that the Olympic committee has ALREADY TRIED to do “scientific” testing related to hormones and chromosomes and it’s been ineffective. Associations at the high school and college level in Idaho already have rules about how long someone must be on hormone therapy before competing in certain areas. Even Nike, who Rep. Ehardt invoked in her defense of this unconscionable bill which would make the government and anyone with a grudge the arbiter of who should be subject to invasive exams, supports transgender athletes. https://idahonews.com/news/local/nike-endorsed-transgender-usa-team-athlete-to-visit-boise-speak-out-against-bill3. Let our House Representatives know to VOTE NO on HB525. This bill’s practical consequences would further limit healthcare choices for those most in need. Public money is ALREADY NOT GOING TO ABORTION. All this bill does is restrict choices, muddy the water and serve to take away important cancer screenings, routine checkups and cause other problems. The majority of what providers do has nothing to do with abortion and this is yet another ridiculous overreach. If you actually want policies that reduce abortions, the data show that you would implement comprehensive sex ed and increase access to affordable birth control. https://coloradosun.com/2019/10/21/colorado-abortion-rates-keep-declining-free-iuds-and-easier-access-to-the-pill-are-the-reason/Meanwhile, an outright abortion ban has been introduced in committee. We’ll be watching for what happens, but, again, this is a red herring that doesn’t actually save lives or achieve stated policy desires. https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/05/16/what-actually-happens-when-a-country-bans-abortion-romania-alabama/https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/abortion-rates-go-down-when-countries-make-it-legal-report-n8584764. Ask Senators to VOTE NO on HB409: It sounds good in theory, but this property freeze tax doesn’t actually solve the problem. Rep. Rubel points out that there are plenty of actual solutions proposed by Democrats that aren’t seeing the light of day. However, a real solution might be in the form of a bi-partisan effort that D33 Senator Dave Lent is working on — raising the “circuit breaker” tax. Let’s stop with these silly half-measures and actually focus on real solutions.5. Ask Senators to VOTE NO on HB340A, which exempts a teen treatment facility from child care licensing. This just seems like a bad idea. https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/house-backs-child-care-licensing-exemption-for-one-north-idaho/article_01625b2b-4f9a-5800-b5b9-4f2b7a9d0e54.htmlI mean, the Idaho House already thinks it’s totes cool to cost the state potentially millions of dollars and not require seatbelts, so what could go wrong by setting a precedent to exempt facilities meant to provide care from being licensed to provide that care?https://idahonews.com/news/local/idaho-house-rejects-child-care-update-bill6. PLEASE, if you want to help make a difference at the county level, run as a precinct captain. The filing period is open from now until March 13. https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article240692996.htmlYou can download a form on the website. You can also file to run for open county commission and state legislative positions. Forms should be notarized and returned to the county elections office at 825 Shoup Avehttps://ea7332.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Prec.-Comm.-Declaration-of-Candidacy-1.pdf7. Don’t forget that early voting is available at 825 Shoup Ave until 5 pm on Friday, March 6. This is for the SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, to be held on March 10. Find out more about the process on the IDP websitehttps://idahodems.org/2020primary/
ACTION ITEMS: We need your help to let the Senate know that the House’s extreme agenda doesn’t actually reflect our Idaho values. There’s a lot going on and WE NEED YOU to make your voices heard.
1. Support the Idaho Patient Act (HB 515): We need more protections against predatory medical billing practices. Let our Senators know we’re behind this — and thank those who helped pass this bill. Unfortunately, you know that our own D33 “representatives” were against it, with Rep. Zollinger taking more than his allotted time to attempt to defend the fact that he profits off those same practices this bill is designed put a stop to.
2. Stop the harmful bills designed to harm vulnerable populations. As Rep. Ilana Rubel points out, these attempts at winning the crown of “extreme cultural warrior” don’t actually address actual issues Idahoans care about, like property taxes, infrastructure, education or making sure our economy works for ordinary families.
The third anti-transgender bill of the week. None of this will lower property taxes, fix roads and bridges, help kids afford college, pay teachers a competitive wage, or otherwise do anything remotely helpful. Can we PLEASE stop this divisive, hurtful nonsense? #idpol#idleghttps://t.co/IbDRjOmdnf
This article makes it clear that the Olympic committee has ALREADY TRIED to do “scientific” testing related to hormones and chromosomes and it’s been ineffective. Associations at the high school and college level in Idaho already have rules about how long someone must be on hormone therapy before competing in certain areas.
Even Nike, who Rep. Ehardt invoked in her defense of this unconscionable bill which would make the government and anyone with a grudge the arbiter of who should be subject to invasive exams, supports transgender athletes.
3. Let our House Representatives know to VOTE NO on HB525. This bill’s practical consequences would further limit healthcare choices for those most in need. Public money is ALREADY NOT GOING TO ABORTION. All this bill does is restrict choices, muddy the water and serve to take away important cancer screenings, routine checkups and cause other problems. The majority of what providers do has nothing to do with abortion and this is yet another ridiculous overreach. If you actually want policies that reduce abortions, the data show that you would implement comprehensive sex ed and increase access to affordable birth control.
Meanwhile, an outright abortion ban has been introduced in committee. We’ll be watching for what happens, but, again, this is a red herring that doesn’t actually save lives or achieve stated policy desires.
4. Ask Senators to VOTE NO on HB409: It sounds good in theory, but this property freeze tax doesn’t actually solve the problem. Rep. Rubel points out that there are plenty of actual solutions proposed by Democrats that aren’t seeing the light of day. However, a real solution might be in the form of a bi-partisan effort that D33 Senator Dave Lent is working on — raising the “circuit breaker” tax. Let’s stop with these silly half-measures and actually focus on real solutions.
5. Ask Senators to VOTE NO on HB340A, which exempts a teen treatment facility from child care licensing. This just seems like a bad idea.
I mean, the Idaho House already thinks it’s totes cool to cost the state potentially millions of dollars and not require seatbelts, so what could go wrong by setting a precedent to exempt facilities meant to provide care from being licensed to provide that care?
You can download a form on the website. You can also file to run for open county commission and state legislative positions. Forms should be notarized and returned to the county elections office at 825 Shoup Ave
7. Don’t forget that early voting is available at 825 Shoup Ave until 5 pm on Friday, March 6. This is for the SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, to be held on March 10. Find out more about the process on the IDP website
