Capitol Letters | The Idaho Legislature Report
By Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter
A new Idaho bill would withhold tax money from local governments that defy the state’s abortion ban.
If local officials fail to enforce felony statutes, “we’re going to end up like Portland or Seattle, in anarchy,” bill sponsor Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, told the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
The bill would direct the Idaho State Tax Commission to withhold sales and use taxes owed to a city or county government if local officials declare that they won’t enforce Idaho’s criminal abortion statutes.
Last year, the Boise City Council passed a resolution declaring that the city won’t “prioritize” or spend “additional resources” on abortion investigations.
House State Affairs members voted to introduce the bill, which will later return to the committee for a public hearing.
Read my full story here.
Homeless camp lawsuit dismissed
A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit between seven homeless Idahoans, who protested a lack of affordable housing by camping on state Capitol grounds, and three Idaho officials, including Gov. Brad Little.
The plaintiffs filed six claims against the officials, alleging that the state unconstitutionally blocked their protest and seized their property, among other claims.
“The campers conflate and confuse the issues, which, coupled with lean factual meat, means that the court must dismiss the complaint,” wrote Chief U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye in his decision.
The three-month encampment dispersed in March, after the state sued to have the campers removed. The state withdrew that lawsuit.
“Idaho does not tolerate illegal public encampments and destruction of public property,” Little said in an April news release. “Idaho is not San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle, where public officials have engaged in failed experiments to permit and encourage unsafe and destructive public camping.”
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador on Tuesday celebrated the state’s latest legal victory as a “big win.”
“Idaho law still protects everyday citizens and small business owners from the miserable chaos we see on the city streets of San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland!” Labrador said in a tweet.
Nye offered the campers an opportunity to amend and refile four of their six claims.
Slow start to session continues
Lawmakers’ slow first week carries on Thursday. Committee meetings early in the session often involve organizational tasks.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will continue its multi-day “boot camp” covering the basics of budget-setting. Thursday’s topics include agencies that provide services to other agencies, deficiency warrants and supplemental appropriations.
The committee meets at 8 a.m. Meetings are streamed online by Idaho Public Television’s Idaho in Session here.
Catch up on last session
Last year, in 81 days of the legislative session, the Statesman wrote at least 84 in-depth stories and 54 Capitol Letters newsletters, covering more than 40 pieces of legislation.
Lost track of high-profile bills? We got that covered. Find out where they landed at the end of last year’s regular legislative session here.
Capitol opinion: Senator’s behavior at school board meeting
By Scott McIntosh, Opinion Editor
Newly elected Idaho state Sen. Chris Trakel, R-Idaho, displayed deplorable, belligerent behavior, yelled at volunteer school board members and tried to leverage his position as a state legislator to get his way at a Caldwell school board meeting this week.
As reported by Idaho Education News, an unruly audience volleyed insults and threats at Caldwell school board members on Monday night over a potential policy that, among other things, would allow students to use bathrooms and locker rooms aligning with their gender identity and protect students from being denied participation in overnight trips due to their sexual orientation.
Angrily yelling at volunteer school board members unless they do what you say is sadly becoming all too common. Such threatening behavior is a form of bullying, and in some ways illustrates the need for the policy to begin with. Such intolerance of LGBTQ students is harmful and unacceptable.
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