Cutting Your Taxes
Your Idaho House Republican Caucus is working to cut your taxes. Tuesday, Speaker of the House Scott Bedke, Majority Leader Rep. Mike Moyle, and Rep. Steven Harris introduced House Bill 199. The legislation would reduce all income tax brackets and reduce the sales tax rate, with total tax relief estimated at $284 million per year. This will likely not be the final draft of our tax cut plan, but we need to start this critical conversation.
“This gets us started down the road of giving some of this money back,” said Majority Leader Moyle. “It needs to be back in the citizens’ hands to grow the economy. We don’t need to be sitting on it here or spending it here. It’s better off with the citizens.”
You are Essential
Tuesday, the House Majority Caucus overwhelmingly supported House Bill 135, passing it and sending it to the Senate. This legislation is vitally important to protecting the rights of all Idahoans. Rights guaranteed to Idahoans by the United States Constitution, and the Constitution of the state of Idaho are definitively protected in this legislation. This legislation would not eliminate the Governor’s ability to declare an emergency, would not endanger federal funds stemming from the emergency disaster declaration, and would not slow the emergency response to COVID-19 or the vaccine rollout. In fact, previous disaster events like floods and fires, would continue to be managed as they have been successfully for years.
“This legislation would ensure that all Idahoans are considered essential because they are,” said Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jason Monks, who sponsored H135. “I look forward to seeing this bill pass the Senate and delivering it to the Governor’s desk.”
Flexibility for State Agencies
House Bill 101, which would provide flexibility for state agencies to employ attorneys other than those in the Attorney General’s Office, passed the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday. Currently, only certain state agencies may choose their own attorneys to represent the State of Idaho on their behalf. This bill, co-sponsored by Representatives John Vander Woude and Bruce D. Skaug, will extend the right to choose legal counsel to all state offices, boards, commissions, and entities.
“I support free market alternatives for legal services because competition tends to create a better product,” said Representative Skaug. “I anticipate most state agencies will continue to choose the services of our Attorney General’s Office. This bill adds a good option for our agencies.”
“Agencies need the opportunity to hire the right attorney for the right job,” said Representative Vander Woude. “Let’s give them that freedom.”
The legislation now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
Righting Wrongs
Members of the House Republican Caucus are trying to right significant wrongs. Rep. Barbard Ehardt is sponsoring the Wrongful Conviction Act in the House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by Senator Doug Ricks, would pay $62,000 a year for wrongful incarceration and $75,000 per year on death row. It passed the House Judiciary and Rules Committee with a unanimous vote on Wednesday and now heads to the full House of Representatives.
Keep Updated
You can learn more about all the legislation being debated by our Caucus members. Just check the House Reading Calendar found at the link below:
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