Legislation put forward in the Idaho Legislature to abolish the Constitutional Legal Defense Fund

Mark Reinhardt- Boise Idaho Representative Steve Berch of District 15 has put forward legislation to abolish the Constitutional Legal Defense Fund of the Idaho Legislature. In the bill’s statement of purpose, he mentioned how it cost taxpayers millions of dollars in years past. The purpose of the legal defense fund, was to defend the legislature from lawsuits in court, citing legal challenges of pieces of legislation signed into law by the Governor of Idaho. An example of this was the lawsuit filed by the Occupy Boise Movement, known as “Watters V. Otter” which ruled, tents could be symbolically set up on the Old Ada County Court House property, but the people pitching the tents could not live in them. Idaho District Federal Court Judge, Lynn Winmill, ruled against legislation passed by the Idaho Legislature designed to prevent undercover filming of Dairy Farms. This legislation, otherwise known as, “Ag-Gag” legislation by those against its passage. Had its defeat in federal court paid out of the legal defense fund at taxpayer expense According to the Legislature’s website, the legislation known as HB 34 was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for a hearing. No further action was taken as to when a hearing will take place. More information to come as soon as it comes available. https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2023/legislation/H0034.pdf https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title67/T67CH4/SECT67-451A https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2023/legislation/H0034SOP.pdf https://www.acluidaho.org/en/news/idaho-ag-gag-law-ruled-unconstitutional-federal-court https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2023/legislation/minidata/ https://www.acluidaho.org/en/cases/watters-v-otter

The Idaho Legislature puts forward another Election Audit Bill

Mark Reinhardt- Boise Idaho In a recent legislative session, the Idaho State Legislature passed an Elections Audit bill, which was signed into law by Governor Brad Little. Seven months ago, according to KTVB, an elections audit was conducted. Last month, according to the same News Channel, they found an election audit had found few variations. According to House Bill 1, which was assigned to the Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee. The new audit legislation would require counties facing an election audit, to have their ballots impounded by the County Sherriff with the inspected ballots being returned after being inspected to the County Clerk’s office. The audit itself would be conducted by the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office while being facilitated by the County Clerk. More information to come as soon as it becomes available.

H0001 by Mark Reinhardt on Scribd

Update: The Legislator putting forward the bill is Representative Julianne Young.

Editorial: In the event of an Economic Downturn, the State of Idaho will cut Medicaid again

Mark Reinhardt- Boise Idaho I was one of many people with Disabilities who testified at the Idaho State Legislature during the Medicaid Matters initiative in 2012. What I eventually figured out during the process of my testimony was that the Legislature was going to do whatever they wanted regardless of the desires we expressed in our testimony. It was from there, I figured, Corporations mattered more than those who were on Medicaid. The Legislature at the time was looking to pass House Bill 260 that would cut Medicaid funding to Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Developmental Therapy Services. When it did go into law, the resulting action, was the Federal Government told them to fix the situation or lose Federal Funds. The reality is, without safeguards for people with Disabilities on Medicaid, they will be forced to bear the brunt of Legislative budgeting decisions. Most decisions made in the State of Idaho are to the benefit of wealthy Corporations at the expense of the average person. This ultimately includes those who are living in poverty. One need, only look at, the tax receipt collections from the Idaho Tax Commission. As of November 2022, Individual Income Tax Collections were shown to be $171,571,658.76; whereas Corporate Income Tax Collections were shown to be $26,879,610.94. I am sure there are those in the Statehouse who do care about the average person, but those are few and far between. We will see what the new crop of State Legislators will do in such events. What needs to happen; yet will likely not happen, is an increase in corporate taxes to fund social services. This should be the solution instead of relying on the average taxpayer to fund programs to help people with Disabilities stay in the community. I am certain investing in a trained care provision workforce, will provide for a better-quality service, with the use of increased corporate taxes. Not everyone with Disabilities is a drain on society, there are those who do want to contribute, they just need a little assistance. It may just take time to learn the skills we need to be a part of the community. https://tax.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/reports/EPB00073/EPB00073_11-30-2022.pdf