We’re in the homestretch of the 2020 session. Friday morning marks the final day of official budget setting on JFAC. The afternoon committees will also start wrapping up business for the year. One issue has cropped up in recent weeks that I don’t believe any of us saw coming when we started the session. The coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, …
Continue reading
No one likes property taxes. I don’t like them. I’m betting you don’t like them, too. They’re an imperfect way to pay for services a community needs, like roads, schools, and snow removal. The fact that they’re unpopular is exactly why the Idaho House moved yesterday to implement a one-year budget freeze on all taxing districts except for schools. It …
Continue reading
The first two weeks of the 2020 session have flown by. From Day 1, we’ve been busy, and few places have been busier than the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC). I love serving on JFAC. We listen carefully to Governor Little’s recommendations and the different agencies’ requests. We then ask questions and assess each submission carefully to measure needs and wants to …
Continue reading
As you’re reading, the odds are pretty good I’m flying somewhere off the west coast of the United States. For the last 11 days, I’ve been in Japan with a group called the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL). Each year, ACYPL puts together bi-partisan delegations to participate in exchanges with countries around the world. I had the good …
Continue reading
In September, I joined Reps. Ricks, Raymond, and Furniss for a joint, District 34-35 town hall with House leadership. The questions ranged from wildlife overpasses and road construction to education standards and water management. As I sat and listened when the others spoke, I was struck by how many issues we’ve already worked together on even as we represent different …
Continue reading
For the last few weeks, we’ve been digging potatoes. It’s not glamorous, and it’s far from straightforward when you consider everything that goes into growing a crop. But I love it, and it’s something I’ve been a part of for 40 years. I want similar, long-term opportunities for our rural communities throughout Idaho. It’s no secret that a lot of …
Continue reading