Latest news with #BradLittle
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ID governor joins letter to Trump supporting bill that cuts billions from Medicaid, food assistance
Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives a press conference after delivering his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, in the Lincoln Auditorium in the Idaho Capitol. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho Gov. Brad Little is among 20 Republican governors who have sent a letter to President Donald Trump expressing support for his 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill that's been held up as U.S. House Republicans continue to fight over it. 'As Republican Governors, we stand UNITED in strong support of your One, Big, Beautiful Bill,' the governors wrote in the letter dated Tuesday. 'This landmark piece of legislation embodies your powerful vision to bring about the next great American revival.' They added that the bill 'truly delivers on the bold promises all Republicans made to the American people to restore the security, prosperity, and fiscal sanity for our nation.' CBO analysis shows U.S. House GOP budget measure tilted toward upper-income taxpayers The massive, 1,116-page bill package includes sweeping tax breaks and controversial cuts of more than $600 billion over the next decade from Medicaid, the government health program for low-income individuals and those with disabilities. However, negotiations continue over the bill and it's not yet clear whether it has the support it needs from the U.S. House Republicans' slim majority. Earlier Tuesday, Republicans who have yet to rally behind the bill huddled in Speaker Mike Johnson's office to hash out agreements on Medicaid and other outstanding issues. Johnson said he hopes to pass the legislation this week, though he didn't appear to have the votes as of Tuesday afternoon. Even as the bill remains snagged, Republican governors signaled to the president that he has their support, writing 'after four long years of tremendous hardship under President Joe Biden and (Vice President) Kamala Harris, the American people cannot wait any longer for Congress to enact the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.' 'The American people have witnessed the tireless work undertaken by you and your administration to reverse the disastrous consequences of President Biden's failed and often illegal policies,' the governors' letter says. 'You have demonstrated a commitment to using every ounce of Executive authority available to reinstitute fiscal sanity, fight the deep state, secure our borders, and achieve energy dominance.' Little and other governors also called on Congress to act to 'fully and permanently implement' Trump's 'America First agenda.' 'Thankfully, your One, Big, Beautiful Bill would accomplish this,' their letter continues. 'It would provide you with the resources you need to permanently secure the border, remove barriers needed to truly unleash American energy production, protect Americans by making a once-in-a-lifetime investment in military technology that once seemed like science fiction, give working class families tax cuts worth thousands of dollars each, and ensure your administration has the tools needed to deport illegal alien murders (sic) and rapists.' They concluded their letter saying they agree that Republicans must 'UNIFY around this unprecedented piece of conservative legislation.' They added that 'we cannot miss this chance to save taxpayers $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years.' 'We stand by your side and will support you in any way to ensure this necessary piece of legislation is enacted,' the governors wrote. The 20 governors who signed the letter include: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Idaho Gov. Brad Little Indiana Gov. Mike Braun Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong South Carolina Gov. Henry Dargan McMaster Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon Read the letter here: FINAL-Joint-Governors-Letter-to-President-Trump-on-One-Big-Beautiful-Bill-May-2025-1 Utah News Dispatch, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@
Newsweek
19-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
SNAP Ban on Candy and Soda Pushing Ahead In Idaho
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Idaho submitted a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from purchasing soft drinks and candy, East Idaho News reported on Sunday. Governor Brad Little directed the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to pursue federal approval following his April signature on House Bill 109. The change depends on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) response to the waiver application. Newsweek has contacted Little's office for comment via email. Why It Matters Several states are either considering SNAP bans on soda and other items or have already submitted waiver requests to the USDA as part of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. In the 2024 fiscal year, SNAP served 130,900 Idaho residents—about 7 percent of the state's population. As of 2023, SNAP served about 42.1 million people monthly nationwide, or 12.6 percent of the U.S. population. What To Know House Bill 109 passed both chambers—48-20 in the House and 25-10 in the Senate—and received Governor Little's signature in April. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare then submitted a formal waiver request to the USDA on Friday, a necessary step as current federal rules require USDA approval for any state-level restrictions on what SNAP can purchase. In April, Agriculture Secretary Rollins and Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. published a joint article in USA Today calling on "all governors to submit waivers to help promote access to these critical sources of nutrition, including waivers that can limit what can be purchased with food stamps." Stock image/file photo: A person shopping in a grocery stores. Stock image/file photo: A person shopping in a grocery stores. GETTY The USDA has confirmed to Newsweek that Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Indiana have all submitted similar waivers to change what can be purchased using SNAP benefits. "States have always been the greatest laboratories of democracy, and I am confident the best ideas will come from them," USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement sent to Newsweek. "Whether demonstration pilots on allowable purchases, or newfound ways to connect work-capable adults to jobs, or even new ways to get food to communities, I will continue to encourage States to be bold and enact change." Food policy advocates are sharply divided. Supporters say the goal is to reduce preventable chronic health conditions by encouraging healthier food choices through SNAP. But critics have argued the policy is paternalistic and fails to address the fact that many low-income communities lack access to healthy, affordable food options. What People Are Saying Governor Brad Little said on the signing of House Bill 109: "Idaho welcomes the MAHA movement. It is all about looking for creative ways to improve nutrition and increase exercise, the two main factors that influence overall health. Secretary Kennedy said it so well: we need to take better care of ourselves and each other. He said it is an act of patriotism, and the future of our nation depends on it. Idaho couldn't agree more." Valerie Imbruce, the director of the Center for Environment and Society at Washington College, previously told Newsweek: "Controlling how the poor eat is a paternalistic response to a problem that is not based in SNAP recipients' inability to make good decisions about healthy foods, it is a problem of the price differential in choosing healthy or junk foods." What Happens Next If the waiver request is approved, Idaho's soda and candy ban for SNAP will take effect on July 1.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho Gov. Little says state can afford $400M in tax cuts as he recaps 2025 legislative session
In a news conference in Nampa, Idaho Gov. Brad Little recapped the 2025 legislative session, touting $400 million in tax cuts. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) NAMPA — Gov. Brad Little touted tax cuts and public school funding as key takeaways from this year's legislative session. In a news conference on Monday in Nampa, Little reflected on the outcome of the 2025 session of the Idaho Legislature and ongoing federal cuts — by the executive branch and proposed by Congress. With the over $400 million in tax cuts Little signed into law this year, the governor said he and state lawmakers have cut taxes by $6 billion in the six years he's been in office. 'Idaho has proven that we can give back consistently while taking care of the needs of a very fast growing state,' Little told reporters. He also said since he became Idaho's governor, the state's support for public schools has boosted 60% — from a $1.7 billion budget to now over $2.6 billion. Early on in the legislative session, Little expressed concern about the high amount of tax cuts proposed by the Legislature — which were well over the $100 million the governor proposed in his budget. Asked how he felt about the state's finances after signing the tax cut bills, Little pointed to the future. 'I remember the speaker saying, 'Oh yeah, we can afford it.' And he's exactly right. We can afford the 400 million. But the issue is, where are you in year two, year three, year four?' he said. 'Right now, we're still about the fastest growing state. And if we can continue, we're going to be fine. But I just don't think most Idahoans think we ought to bet on being the fastest growing state forever,' Little continued. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In his State of the State address at the start of the legislative session, Little proposed putting $50 million to allow tax dollars to be spent on private schools. But later in the legislative session, he said he worried the private school tax credit bill — which proposed that same amount of funding — didn't have enough accountability. Asked why he signed the bill, Little said government oversight of those funds rose to six state tax commission employees amid negotiations. And he said the bill excludes families earning over a certain high income, and overweighs for disadvantaged students. 'Those were all components of what I asked for,' Little said. 'I would have done it a little differently. But literally, everything I get from the Legislature, I would have done a little differently. That's part of our constitutional process.' The governor only vetoed one bill from the Idaho Legislature this year: A sweeping 'medical freedom' bill that bans requirements for vaccines or any medical treatment as a condition of entering or receiving services from businesses, schools, and state and local governments In his veto letter, Little said he worried the bill would prevent schools from sending home sick kids. Then about a week later, he signed a revised version of the bill that allows schools to send home sick kids. Little told reporters Monday that lawmakers fixed his issue with the bill. But asked whether the bill will also block businesses from sending home sick employees or customers, he didn't seem sure. 'That will obviously be determined,' Little said. 'My veto was predicated on what it did for public schools.' Little said on Tuesday he's heading to Washington, D.C., to talk about executive branch federal cuts that affect Idaho — including those by the executive branch that ended grants for the city of Pocatello. For many of the grants halted or paused, the money is still available, he said. 'We need to see how the money gets reallocated. There's a lot of that taking place. I haven't seen anything that rises to the magnitude that is something that we need to be urgently concerned about,' Little said. Congress is also debating massive federal cuts to extend tax cuts in what has been dubbed the 'big, beautiful bill.' Little said he wonders what'll be in the bill, and how it impacts Idaho. 'We're one of the most efficient states,' Little said of Idaho's management of Medicaid. 'And that's one of the things I'm worried about is they categorically tell all the states 'We're going to cut your program by such and such.'' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State official: Claims of a new $400 million education investment are ‘misleading at best'
The Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise shines in the sunlight on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) This story originally posted on on May 9, 2025 A state education official tempered what he implied were exaggerated claims about investments in public education during a post-legislative tour stop in Pocatello Thursday. The Legislature did increase funding this year for public education — but debate over the amount continues between politicians, education stakeholders and the Idaho Department of Education (IDE). IDE staff directly countered Rep. Wendy Horman's touting of $400 million in new public education investments, and watered down Gov. Brad Little's showcasing of $50 million for rural school facilities. Some Idaho education groups concerned with state's new public schools budgets, operations funding Gideon Tolman, the IDE'S chief financial officer, did not mention Horman by name, but said claims of a new $400 million investment were 'misleading at best.' Public education's financial gains were few but appreciated, IDE leaders said, during a 2025 legislative session that had moments ranging from surprising to heartbreaking. From a failed $3 million request for high-needs students to the state's first private school choice tax credit, the repercussions led to a sense of gloom among the district leaders and superintendents who gathered at Idaho State University for a recap of the session. As politicians and educators scramble to craft the narrative over what the session meant for public education, Little held his own press event Thursday, where he said 'it's both our constitutional and our moral obligation to the next generation that we increase funding, and more importantly, have better outcomes for public schools.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In a column for EdNews, Horman wrote that 'public education received $400 million in new funding.' That sparked frustration among education stakeholders who said the public schools budget provides no new additional state funding for anything other than pay increases and benefits for school staff, as Clark Corbin of the Idaho Capital Sun reported. In response, Horman told Corbin that just $100 million in new general fund dollars will go to pay and benefits. The other $300 million is located outside public school budgets in the form of tax cuts and facilities payments sent to districts to pay down levies and bonds. IDE staff publicly chimed in Thursday. Tolman said there was a $100 million increase for pay and benefits — a fact stakeholders and politicians seem to be able to agree on. The other $300 million is not accessible to charter schools, Tolman said. For traditional school districts, this funding is either 'very restricted or has been repurposed' — meaning it was already in education coffers, but got moved from one account to another. For example, Little has touted a $50 million investment for rural school facilities, a promise he outlined in his state of the state address. But that $50 million isn't as new or accessible as it seems, Tolman said. Half of it had been sitting in a facilities cooperative fund, 'which has been on the books for about 20 years,' Tolman said. To access it, a district had to run a failed bond or levy, and document a health and safety concern in the building. Over the 20 years, only two districts have been able to use the fund — Plummer-Worley to build a new school, and Salmon to replace a roof. School districts that meet those conditions can apply for and receive the funds, but would have to pay back the funds with state dollars they received for paying down bonds and levies, if possible, Tolman said. But, if the money isn't repaid within 20 years, it will be forgiven. The second half of the $50 million comes from a preexisting bond levy equalization fund, which was discontinued in the 2024 session — but the cash remained. So this year, legislators moved those dollars into this new fund. That, Tolman said, helps illustrate why the $400 million claim is misleading — 'because it's repurposing funding that either was given to you and taken away and now given back to you, or was already in the account, or that doesn't apply to charters.' At a separate event held the same day, hours later, Little touted 'an additional $50 million for rural school facilities.' He also cited $85 million for increased teacher pay, and 'additional literacy investments. While Little's claims about public education investments were more modest than Horman's, he seemed to defend her thinking when asked about the $400 million. 'If a district receives money to pay for facilities, pay for maintenance, that's money they can use elsewhere,' Little said. Facing an $82 million special education funding gap, state superintendent Debbie Critchfield pushed to shore up funding in two ways — a new, student-weighted funding formula and a $3 million funding request for high-needs students. Both failed. The fate of the funding formula rewrite — a long sought-after change that legislators have previously pursued, without success — was likely not a shock. But IDE staff were 'surprised' that the relatively small, $3 million ask 'ended up being a fiscal hangup for some,' said Greg Wilson, Critchfield's chief of staff. 'It goes back to how these requests, however minuscule, require a high bar in order to get them across the finish line.' Wilson said he knew the $3 million 'isn't a lot,' but said it seemed a 'reasonable amount to get it through the (legislative) process and get something in place.' Scott Muir, superintendent of Soda Springs School District, asked IDE leaders why legislators oppose additional special education funding. 'As we see the rise in special education, and we cannot meet the needs, now we're going to see advocates and lawyers stepping into the process and school districts are going to suffer for that,' he said. Tolman said some legislators are not aware of the $82 million gap between what the federal government provides and what schools need. 'Other comments we have heard are, 'Why are you educating special education students at all? Why are they part of the public school system?'' Tolman said. 'There is a real lack of understanding or an unwillingness to learn more about the problem.' 'It kind of breaks your heart when you listen to the comments some of the legislators made regarding the students that we not only want to serve but are required federally to serve,' said Spencer Barzee, the IDE's deputy superintendent for eastern Idaho. Some legislators were also surprised by the high costs associated with students who might need a one-on-one aide, or who have feeding tubes or are nonverbal, Tolman said, adding that the $400 million in tax cuts may also have made it difficult to approve even small asks. Wilson said increased special education funding will be a priority in the next legislative session. Little said special education funding is also a priority for him. But there's a caveat — the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education could lead to increased uncertainty, and require a wait-and-see approach, he said. Little took a similar tack when addressing private school choice. When asked whether he planned to push for more oversight and accountability for the program, and whether he would advocate to keep its $50 million cap in place, Little was noncommittal. 'We'll see how the implementation goes,' he said. 'We'll obviously work with our legislative partners for next year. Anything is relative to what the budget looks like next year.' 'All of those issues will be on the table,' he continued. 'But public education will continue to be the top priority.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
States loosen vaccine rules — even as measles outbreak rages
The U.S. is on track to surpass 1,000 measles cases this year as the viral illness — once so rare that most young doctors don't recognize the telltale rash — makes an alarming comeback. The outbreak, which has spread to 29 states as of May 1 and claimed three lives, hasn't stopped some local lawmakers from considering or implementing policies that could make it even easier for parents to opt out of school vaccination requirements for their children. Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law last month an unprecedented ban on vaccine mandates for schools and businesses in the state, which already boasts the highest vaccine exemption rate for kindergarteners nationally. On his first day in office, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order permitting religious exemptions from school and day care immunization requirements — a major shift in one of the few states that had only allowed medical exemptions previously. And lawmakers in red states like Florida, Louisiana and Texas are weighing measures that would make it more difficult for health providers to deny care — from organ transplants to pediatric well visits — to people who aren't vaccinated. Those state efforts, alongside separate measures to limit or ban the use of messenger RNA vaccines like those developed for Covid, come amid longtime vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s ascent to power in Washington as Health and Human Service secretary. But they're hardly a new phenomenon — immunization coverage has declined nationally for kindergarteners since the 2019-2020 school year — and their roots can be traced back to a group of moms in Texas. The Lone Star state has been the cradle of domestic vaccine resistance for the last decade and is now the epicenter of an exploding measles outbreak that could end the U.S.' status as a country without sustained spread of the virus. 'The nation has caught up to Texas, because we have been dealing with this rhetoric and these little micromovements,' said Rekha Lakshmanan, chief strategy officer at The Immunization Partnership, which promotes vaccination in the state. Rebecca Hardy founded Texans for Vaccine Choice in 2015 to lobby against legislation to end religious and philosophical exemptions in the state. Since then, the group's clout has solidified, and more state lawmakers, predominantly Republicans, offer public support at events like its annual rally at the state Capitol building in Austin. 'A group of moms got together and basically said, 'Not on our watch,'' Hardy said. The social contract around vaccination — that individuals choose to get immunized to help protect their communities — in the U.S. is seemingly fraying as more parents survey social media to find pediatricians who won't force them to vaccinate their children. Parents increasingly question why their providers recommend so many shots for their kids when they didn't have to get anywhere near that number in the 1980s and 1990s. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that national immunization coverage among kindergarteners in the 2023-2024 school year dropped to 93 percent, with exemptions from at least one vaccine increasing to 3.3 percent of those students. Fourteen states reported exemptions above 5 percent. That dip threatens herd immunity against highly contagious diseases, like measles and whooping cough, that demand coverage rates of at least 95 percent. Measles was officially eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but that designation is now in jeopardy. Measles is no longer considered eliminated if a chain of infections lasts for more than 12 months, which public health officials expect to happen because of this latest outbreak. Public health experts fear that skepticism and the rising 'medical freedom' movement — which has dovetailed with Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' mantle — will lead to more cases of vaccine-preventable illnesses in children, many of which can cause serious complications and even death. Measles, they say, is the proverbial canary in the coal mine for other sinister but lesser-known illnesses, like whooping cough and Hib disease. Some public health experts are now puzzling over who might be 'trusted messengers' to promote vaccination as scientific institutions are falling out of favor. 'Right now, we're losing trust in our institutions in general,' Dr. Seth Berkley, the former CEO of Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, said last month at a vaccine conference in Washington. A first-in-the-nation move The bill Little signed into law in early April prohibits Idaho schools and businesses from requiring a 'medical intervention' — like a vaccine — as a condition for enrollment or employment. The measure, which goes into effect July 1, was tweaked by legislators after the governor vetoed an earlier iteration that he said would have hampered schools' ability to send home children with communicable illnesses from measles to pink eye. The legislation Little ultimately endorsed includes explicit references to sections of Idaho law permitting both school immunization requirements and exemptions, as well as allowing schools to keep students with contagious diseases out of class. Richard Hughes, a vaccine law expert at Epstein Becker Green who advised on the changes, said they leave intact Idaho's existing infrastructure for mandates and exemptions. But the law also references Idaho's parental rights statute, making its full ramifications unclear. Hughes said he fears that, as a result, vaccine opponents could challenge any school that tries to keep its existing requirements intact. The Health Freedom Defense Fund, the group that says it wrote the original Idaho bill, said in a statement days after passage that the law ensures 'no Idahoan will ever again be compelled to undergo unwanted medical interventions as a condition of employment, education, or daily life.' Louisiana lawmakers are scheduled to consider similar legislation this week in committee. 'It was definitely disappointing to see that pass in Idaho, just to know it can be used to set a precedent for potentially doing things like that in other states,' said Jennifer Herricks, founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines. While all 50 states permit medical exemptions to vaccine requirements, only five have prohibited exceptions on religious or personal grounds. But Morrisey in West Virginia has made his own move to overhaul the state's longstanding policy of limiting vaccine exemptions to medical reasons. Morrisey, a Republican, signed an executive order in January directing health officials to establish a process for residents to object to school or daycare immunization mandates on religious or conscientious grounds, citing a 2023 state religious protections law. But the state House rejected a Senate bill to codify his directive weeks before the legislature adjourned. 'I'm not a doctor — the experts that I rely upon absolutely are rock solid, rock solid, behind the fact that we need to be taking the vaccines,' GOP Sen. Jim Justice, Morrisey's predecessor who vetoed an earlier attempt to loosen vaccine policies there, told POLITICO last month. West Virginia's public health agency says it's still reviewing religious exemption requests. A webpage outlining its medical exemption process explains why — until the January order — the state didn't grant them previously. 'Non-medical exemptions have been associated with increased occurrence of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks originating in and spreading through schools,' the state website for the Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services says. Expediting exemptions In Texas, members of the state House's health committee spent nearly two hours considering testimony last month for and against Texans for Vaccine Choice-backed legislation to make it easier for parents to access vaccine exemptions from the state. The majority of the dozen-plus witnesses opposed the measure, which would allow guardians to print exemption affidavit forms at home instead of waiting for the state to mail them upon request. Overall, Texas' vaccination coverage of kindergarteners during the 2023-2024 school year was 94.4 percent for required immunizations. But there's wide variation across the state — nearly 100 private schools and public districts reported MMR vaccine rates below 75 percent. Some legislators suggested they were sympathetic to TFVC's perspective — that the bill would fix a paperwork and taxpayer burden and wouldn't necessarily increase the number of exemptions. 'This legislation doesn't affect whether kids can opt out of these vaccinations,' said Republican state Rep. Mike Olcott. 'It just has to do with the expediency of how quickly they can opt out.' But public health advocates and parents opposing it argued that's exactly what would happen — and that the state's raging measles outbreak clearly illustrates the consequences of exemption-friendly policies. 'Texas has given countless rights and protections to parents who choose not to vaccinate,' parent Heather Lacy Cook told the panel. 'I'm happy for that, but my rights are dwindling.'
