Here's the letter I wrote earlier to the Idaho legislators. I didn't have a link to Brian Almon's article, but added it here. Please, Idaho, write your own letters to stop the hijacking of your tax dollars.
Dear Idaho State Representatives and Senator for District xx,
As you know, Governor Little is calling a September 1, 2022 special session and has already created a bill that both cuts taxes, rebates some taxes, and also gives another $410 million to the public school system. He may be hoping to:
- Steal the thunder of Reclaim Idaho's Proposition 1, currently scheduled for the November 8, 2022 ballot or;
- Prevent voters from having a say, accomplishing in legislative session what Reclaim Idaho otherwise wouldn’t get over the finish line via ballot initiative.
Imagine this: A Republican Governor trying to outspend the Democrats!
Please outright oppose or -- at least use your authority as the legislature to -- reconsider this bill.
Details:
The governor already has 37 House cosponsors and 25 Senate cosponsors. A well-informed contact told me that some signed on without fully knowing what was in the bill.
Of the $2 billion surplus, the bill sends $500 million back to taxpayers as a rebate, reduces taxes by another $160 million, and gives $410 million to K-12 education. It also includes a clause to increase that $410 million number by 3% each year. This is not good.
Not only is the governor usurping the constitutional role of the legislature to draft laws, he is also putting two issues in one bill. This violates Idaho's Constitution.
Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry (IACI) is very enthusiastic about this bill. Anything IACI favors is not likely to be good for Idahoans.
Here's the letter I wrote earlier to the Idaho legislators. I didn't have a link to Brian Almon's article, but added it here. Please, Idaho, write your own letters to stop the hijacking of your tax dollars.
Find Your Legislator Based on Your Address: https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/whosmylegislator/ (click on resulting photos for contact info)
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Dear Idaho State Representatives and Senator for District xx,
As you know, Governor Little is calling a September 1, 2022 special session and has already created a bill that both cuts taxes, rebates some taxes, and also gives another $410 million to the public school system. He may be hoping to:
- Steal the thunder of Reclaim Idaho's Proposition 1, currently scheduled for the November 8, 2022 ballot or;
- Prevent voters from having a say, accomplishing in legislative session what Reclaim Idaho otherwise wouldn’t get over the finish line via ballot initiative.
Imagine this: A Republican Governor trying to outspend the Democrats!
Please outright oppose or -- at least use your authority as the legislature to -- reconsider this bill.
Details:
The governor already has 37 House cosponsors and 25 Senate cosponsors. A well-informed contact told me that some signed on without fully knowing what was in the bill.
Of the $2 billion surplus, the bill sends $500 million back to taxpayers as a rebate, reduces taxes by another $160 million, and gives $410 million to K-12 education. It also includes a clause to increase that $410 million number by 3% each year. This is not good.
Not only is the governor usurping the constitutional role of the legislature to draft laws, he is also putting two issues in one bill. This violates Idaho's Constitution.
Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry (IACI) is very enthusiastic about this bill. Anything IACI favors is not likely to be good for Idahoans.
Links:
- Gem State | The Special Session | 8/27/22 | Brian Almon: https://gemstate.substack.com/p/the-special-session
- Proposition 1 Details (from Ballotpedia, includes source text): https://ballotpedia.org/Idaho_Proposition_1,_Income_Tax_Increases_for_Education_Funding_Initiative_(2022)
- Idaho Freedom Foundation re: Proposition 1: https://idahofreedom.org/policy/proposition-1/
- Idaho Freedom Foundation re: Special Session: https://idahofreedom.org/its-official-little-surrenders-to-socialists-in-special-session-proposal/
- IACI "About" Page: https://www.iaci.org/about-us/
Thank you for your urgent consideration,