End this session now
Michelle Stennett
"Man is not, by nature, deserving of all that he wants. When we think we are automatically entitled to something, that is when we start walking all over others to get it." --Criss Jami
Senate Democrats Move to Sine Die
House Republicans have drug out this session by rejecting budgets and insisting on trying to harm students and teachers through the budgeting process. Republicans on both sides of the rotunda continue to print new bills, often rehashing issues that have already failed to make it through the process at least once. At the same time, the legislature has failed to address many issues that would benefit the people, such as optional full-day kindergarten, early childhood education, and meaningful property tax reform.
With no end in sight and no desire to become a full time legislature, Senate Democrats moved to adjourn the session sine die. As Senator Wintrow said in explaining her yes vote to end this session, “But I think what I am lamenting is the fact that it’s taken this long, and I fear that we’re never going to leave and that we’re becoming a full-time Legislature. Many of these things could have been secured and finished very early in the session, but instead we have been addressing things that are probably least important to the people. We have been begging, practically, for this to be done.” You can read more about this here.
Just after this motion failed on the Senate floor, the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry released a survey showing that likely Republican primary voters believe this session has gone on too long and that the legislature should continue to be part-time.
At this point, Republicans are having us recess yet again and we will be returning next week with no assurances as to when we will end this session.
Respectfully,
Michelle