Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on new state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra’s first budget pitch to lawmakers for schools today, which was unusually brief and short on details. Ybarra said she “inherited” the budget from her predecessor, and would “absolutely” support…
The K-12 public schools budget that new state schools superintendent Sherri Ybarra sketched out this morning won’t be the budget that comes out of the 2015 Legislature, Idaho EdNews reporter Kevin Richert predicts in a new analysis here. Instead, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is likely…
Cindy Gross, chair of the Add the Words campaign, has issued the following statement in response to the rejection of the bill on a party-line vote in the House State Affairs Committee this morning: “Emotions are high after hearing three days of powerful testimony from...
The House and Senate Health & Welfare committees will hold a joint listening session Friday on all Department of Health & Welfare programs, including Medicaid, which accounts for about 80 percent of the H&W budget. The session, at which anyone may speak, will run from…
After this morning’s straight party-line vote to kill HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill people on both sides of the issue were reflective. Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise, a sponsor of the bill said, “We are in a period of mourning – we’re going to...
Legislative budget writers expressed some concerns this morning about the lack of detail state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra provided to them. “I’m a little bit nervous about the budget as you talked about it,” said Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocatello. “You were talking about we’ll see…
New state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra gave an unusually brief public school budget pitch to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, calling for a 6.4 percent increase in state funding for schools next year – well under Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed 7.4 percent increase. “I...
The amended substitute motion, to send HB 2 to the full House with no recommendation, has failed on a straight party-line vote, with the committee’s four Democrats voting in favor, and the 13 Republicans against. As the committee moved on to the substitute motion –...
Rep. Kathy Sims said, “This has been 21 hours of some very compassionate testimony and I’ve listened to it all. But you know, the time I spent on Idaho’s Human Rights Commission taught me that mediation and compassion can be effective for both sides. I’m...
Among comments from committee members on HB 2: Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, said, “When I was asked in a public forum if I would support ‘Add the Words, I said no. And I believe in this process that your word is your bond, and that...
As the House State Affairs Committee debates the three pending motions regarding HB 2, the "Add the Words" bill, here are some of their comments: Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, said he’s learned much from the three-day hearing on bill. “From this point on and…
Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, offered a substitute motion to send HB 2 to the full House with a recommendation that it pass. “We know that tolerance and inclusion is the way,” she said. “Let it get to the floor for everyone to weigh in. I…
Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise, in her closing statement in support of the "Add the Words" bill, said, “I ask for your support for HB 2. It’s fair, it’s just, and it’s worthy of your yes vote.” Rep. Ken Andrus moved to hold the bill in committee, killing it.
People are filtering in to the Lincoln Auditorium in the Capitol this morning for the House State Affairs Committee meeting; the panel is scheduled to vote on HB 2 after three days of hearings. Monday through Wednesday, 190 people testified on the bill, 134 in…
This afternoon’s hearing on HB 2, the anti-discrimination bill regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, went about 40 minutes past its scheduled 5 p.m. cut-off. "We do appreciate your participation in the process, and we do sincerely want to thank you for being here," House...
Rep. John McCrostie, D-Boise, told former Sen. Nicole LeFavour, “I want to congratulate you on finally getting your hearing after nine years. … Could you tell this body what it was that made you decide to bring forth legislation like this?” LeFavour responded, “I don’t…
Among the 18 people who have testified this afternoon on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, 14 in spoke in favor, three against, and one was neutral. Among those testifying: Nicole LeFavour, who was Idaho’s first openly gay state legislator, told the committee, “The...
In more testimony this afternoon on HB 2, the bill to ban discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity: Scott Nicholson said he grew up in the South and saw “whites-only” restrooms, drinking fountains and the…
In testimony so far this afternoon on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, seven people have testified, five for the bill, one against, and one undecided. Christine Antoniuk said, “Our son would not ever willingly subject himself to the hardship and ridicule that being…
"We will not be taking a vote today, but we will tomorrow," House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, announced at the opening of this afternoon's portions of the hearing on HB 2, the "Add the Words" bill. "I think we can get through…
Idaho’s last NRA license plate was discontinued for lack of sales, but the National Rifle Association’s Boise lobbyist says that’s because the money from the sale of the specialty plates all went to Idaho road funding. A new proposed “Friends of the NRA” plate will…
The House State Affairs Committee hearing on HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill, has recessed for the morning; it’ll reconvene at 3 p.m. “We will not be having a night session tonight, so we will go ‘til about 5 this afternoon,” said Chairman Tom...
With time running out for this morning’s portion of the hearing on HB 2, people who passed up notes saying they couldn’t return this afternoon are being called up, but urged to be very brief. Among those speaking: Michael Reineck told the panel he’s an…
More from today’s HB 2 testimony: Gretchen Bates said, “Imagine if Rosa Parks got off the bus to find another.” Things wouldn’t have changed, she said. “Religious liberty must have limits when it hurts someone else.” Breaking into tears, she said, “A few years ago...
More from this morning’s testimony, which has been heavily in favor of HB 2, the “Add the Words” bill: Hannah Brass Greer referred to earlier testimony from HB 2 opponents about Facebook’s many options for people to identify themselves. “It’s a good thing we don’t…
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