End of Week Update for the Legislature:
On Monday the Senate passed HCR 5; this resolution supports renaming the Capitol Auditorium the"Abraham Lincoln Auditorium. The move honors one of America’s greatest Presidents and marks the sesquicentennial territorial celebration for Idaho. Idaho’s Senators and Governor attended the festivities and Governor Otter spoke, stating"Idaho’s people are no different today than they were in 1863. They had then and we have now an obligation to be the architects of our own destiny.” The creation of the Idaho Territory was a critical strategic move on Pres. Lincoln's part to block slavery moving into the West, while being able to leverage the gold and silver from the Gem State to pay for soldiers, arms and ammunition to win the civil war. Earlier in the morning JFAC set the teachers division and operating divisions for Idaho’s public education budget.
Wednesday was a very busy day in the Legislature. JFAC set the budgets for the Department of Administration, the State Department of Corrections and the Permanent Building Fund. In State Affairs legislators approved SB 1108 which would ensure that a greater geographic distribution of votes by legislative districts would be required to have an initiative qualify for the ballot. This would allow rural voters to have a greater say in the process while not disenfranchising urban voters. SB 1117 passed the full Senate. The bill would allow state and local roadway managers to allow extra-heavy trucks to traverse Idaho roads. This would allow businesses to ship goods more efficiently and save money to hire more employees.
On Thursday the Senate passed SB 1078 which prohibits Idaho public postsecondary educational institutions from discriminating against a religious student group based on the religious student group's requirement that its leaders adhere to its sincerely held religious. The law protects the rights of religious student groups to choose their members and preserves their 1st Amendment’s right to freedom of religion.
Friday morning JFAC set Idaho’s budget at $2.783 billion. The budget is a 3% increase from last year and accounts for increased demand for public services and providing additional support to education. Over the next month JFAC will work with the Legislative Services Office to set individual agencies budgets and provide agencies with the resources and flexibility they need to help keep Idaho thriving. Idaho Senators also had the chance to chat with the newest Idaho State Police graduating class. These brave men and women put their lives on the line to serve Idaho’s citizens and we should all be grateful they do.
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