THANKS to the Idaho Press-Tribune for giving Democratic lawmakers this opportunity to share news and views with you. For Democratic Party updates throughout the year, please visit your Canyon County Democrats on the web.

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The 2009 Idaho Legislature has finally concluded after 117 days and a cost of more than $3.5 million to taxpayers. After the second-longest session in Idaho Legislative history, many of us are asking "What do Idahoans have to show for it?"

While transportation funding was the Legislature's main hurdle, the economy was the real story of the session. Over the past year, Idaho has gone...read more

Sen. Elliot Werk (District 17, Boise) sent the following message to constituents in his newsletter last weekend. The session is now in its 113th day, and there's no end in sight to the standoff.

The Idaho legislative session is now in its 111th day - the 2nd longest session in history. The conservative Republican Governor is locked in a battle to raise the gas tax in the deepest recession in...read more

The Idaho House adjourned "Sine Die" (without a planned date to meet again) shortly before 9 p.m. on April 29, over the objections of House Democrats

House Minority Leader John Rusche said "I don't believe it's constitutional," and reminded his colleagues that when the Senate attempted to adjourn without concurrence of the House in 1980, they were not permitted to do so...read more

April 28 marks Equal Pay Day in Idaho, the result of a resolution passed by the Idaho Legislature earlier this month. It recognizes the fact that on average, Idaho women must work 16 months to collect the annual wages earned by the typical Idaho man.

Writing in the Idaho Statesman, Democratic lawmakers Anne Pasley-Stuart and Les Bock tell why they introduced the measure:

Pay for women in Idaho has...read more

The Idaho Democratic Legislative Caucus sent this statement in response to Gov. Butch Otter's veto of two bills today:

"As elected officials, we are tasked with solving a broad range of problems on behalf of Idaho's citizens. Yet the Governor and other Republican leaders are more interested in power plays than solving problems," Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly said today, after...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents about Week 13 of the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know

Rep. Liz Chavez (District 7) - ... Last week there was a glimmer of hope that the slashing of 5 percent across the...read more

Idaho House Democrats today voted to preserve and create transportation jobs through support for GARVEE bonds that will continue transportation funding around Idaho.

"These are projects that are already making a difference in our state," said House Minority Leader John Rusche. "GARVEE spending will improve our roads as well as keep Idahoans working during this recession."

"Like...read more

A majority of Idaho House Democrats voted today against a fuel-tax increase while pledging support for comprehensive transportation solutions and smart use of taxpayer dollars.

"Democrats have been saying since January that this is no time for the state to raise taxes on struggling Idaho families and businesses," House Minority Leader John Rusche said after the vote. Fourteen of the 18...read more

The Idaho Democratic Legislative Caucus' "Legislative Listening Tour" will be in Canyon County on Wednesday, April 8. Citizens are invited to come learn how Democrats would represent Canyon County residents on issues including public transportation, education, good-paying jobs and energy independence. The forum is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Langroise Hall on the College of Idaho campus...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents about Weeks 11 and 12 of the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. James Rusche (District 7) - Our House Democratic fundraiser is being held this Thursday. This is an...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents about Week 10 of the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. John Rusche (District 7) - What many have called our "going home" bill failed on the House Floor...read more

Democrats in the Idaho House voted today to defeat a tax increase sought by Gov. Butch Otter.

"While I agree that Idaho's highways and bridges are in need of repair and we have an investment we need to protect, I disagree with the timing for a tax increase on Idahoans," House Minority Leader John Rusche of Lewiston said after the vote. During floor debate, Rusche said, "We do...read more

In a recent speech on education, President Obama surprised some listeners by saying that the nation needs more charter schools. It's true that, at their best, charter schools can be laboratories of educational innovation. However, many states are struggling with how to fund charter school expansion at a time of shrinking or stagnant budgets for traditional public schools. Boise School District...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents about Week 9 of the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. John Rusche (District 7) - Governor Otter announced Wednesday that he will be using all of the American Recovery...read more

Democratic leadership in the Idaho Legislature praised Governor Butch Otter for accepting the federal stimulus money and for involving former Democratic and Republican governors in his deliberations. At the same time, House Minority Leader John Rusche and Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly questioned whether the governor's plan will preserve as many Idaho jobs as possible.

Speaking with reporters...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents during Week 7 of the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. James Ruchti (District 29) - As many of you are aware, the proposal to raise taxes on beer and wine to pay...read more

President Obama will address Congress tonight just five weeks after taking office. His speech is set for 7 p.m. Mountain Time, 6 p.m. Pacific, and he plans to talk about the broad range of economic challenges we face as a nation.

No matter what Obama says tonight, Americans can take some comfort in the knowledge that our economy has historically done much better under Democratic presidents than...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents during Week 6 of the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. John Rusche (District 7) - The daylight is getting longer and so are the days. We seem to have hit "reset"...read more

Rep. John Rusche (District 7) - Remember when you had a secret Valentine? Secrets are hard to keep. In the end, it seems like almost all secrets get shared. That is true around the Statehouse too.

One secret related to the state's revenue numbers for the month of January, 2009. Rumors floated around the statehouse that the actual revenues for January are as high as $30 - $35 million short...read more

In the face of upcoming hearings on cuts to public education, Idaho Democratic lawmakers this week urged Idahoans to contact state officials with ideas on how to minimize those cuts and preserve future opportunities for our state

The Idaho Legislature's House and Senate Education Committees plan three days of joint hearings February 16-18 to talk about budget cuts to public education and possibly...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents during Week 4 of the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. John Rusche (District 7) - The discussion on how to fund K-12 education has started. Unfortunately, significant...read more

I serve on the House Agricultural Committee, which heard a presentation this week by the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform. The coalition is comprised primarily of agriculture groups representing dairy and farm organizations that rely on immigrants to harvest crops, perform field work and milk cows. However, food processors, construction and the general business community also are involved...read more

Here are excerpts from some of the e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents during Week 3 in the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. Shirley Ringo (District 6) - I have spent some painful days on the Joint Finance Committee (JFAC) as we discuss...read more

Democrats on the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday raised objections to the majority votes on two Department of Environmental Quality rules on groundwater quality and sub-surface sewage disposal.

"Like all Idahoans, we want clean and safe water," Senator Les Bock said. "The majority votes on these issues go against the Department of Environmental Quality's...read more

Idaho House Minority Leader John Rusche had an op-ed in the Idaho Statesman yesterday about Rep. Steven Thayn's proposal to pay parents to keep their children home from kindergarten. Here's a snip:

"Make no mistake - this is an assault on public schools, something Rep. Thayn and his ultra-conservative kind have been promoting for years. But his plan is worse than foolish. It is a dangerous...read more

Here are excerpts from e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents following the end of Week 2 in the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. Liz Chavez (District 7) - Education is the backbone of our country ... and educators have seen lean times...read more

Readers of the Press-Tribune and the Republican legislators' blog know that GOP Rep. Darrell Bolz introduced legislation this week to reject lawmakers' pay raise. But what readers may not know is that two Democratic lawmakers were the first to propose this idea more than amonth ago. From an Idaho Democratic Legislative Caucus press release issued December 17:

"Idaho Democratic legislators...read more

Idaho Democratic legislators will have a new slot on KBOI starting Friday, January 16, when Senate Minority Caucus Chair Elliot Werk and Assistant House Minority Leader James Ruchti visit with Paul J. Schneider and Chris Walton from 8:30 to 9 a.m. The show can be heard in the Treasure Valley at 670 AM or on the Internet at http://www.670kboi.com/.

Be sure to tune in as James and Elliot talk about...read more

In a response to the governor's State of the State message, Idaho Democratic leaders today questioned Gov. Butch Otter's priorities in seeking tax hikes for transportation while making deep cuts to public education.

House Minority Leader John Rusche said that Democrats recognize that the economy is in crisis and that state government must tighten its belt just as Idaho families and businesses...read more

Idaho18 blog

So what do we mean when we (Democrats in the Idaho Legislature) say "people versus potholes"? Simply stated, we mean that in a time of economic downturn, it doesn't make sense to us to raise taxes on already-hurting Idahoans to build roads while cutting critical services like education and professional technical programs.

Oh, but Senate Transportation Committee Chairman...read more

This is a blog for the Democrats in the Idaho Legislature.