The Southwest Idaho chapter of NOW, the National Organization for Women, held a “State of the State of Idaho Women” event at the Idaho state Capitol this afternoon. “As a working taxpayer and the mother of two brilliant girls, I have deep concerns about the status of women in Idaho,” said Joy McKinnon, chapter vice president. “Their future depends on making serious changes in this state to ensure they can achieve an education, a job with good pay equal to that of men, affordable and fair health care coverage, a guarantee of a safe workplace free of harassment, and a state government morally committed to equality for women. Idaho falls short in all those areas, and today we call upon the 2018 Legislature to turn things around.”

The group’s “Idaho Women’s Equality Agenda” includes legislation to penalize private or public employers who ignore or condone sexual harassment on the job; more funding for law enforcement to target domestic violence; moves to improve women’s health; adding anti-discrimination protections for gay, lesbians and transgender people to the Idaho Human Rights Act; raising Idaho’s minimum wage; and increased compliance with the Idaho Open Meeting Law.