Latest news with #HB96
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Heather Scott made fools of her allies on the flag bill
State Rep. Heather Scott, sponsor of HB 96, sure made of fool out of herself and dragged fellow Republican legislators as well as Gov. Brad Little along with her. Scott's thinly disguised attempt to ban gay pride flags by listing all the flags that are acceptable was sure to miss many acceptable flags. As the May 11 Idaho Statesman editorial so aptly put it, 'Isn't it odd that the party speaking the words 'freedom' and 'liberty' every chance it gets, also passes so many bills telling everyone what they are not allowed to do?' Here's a thought: Everyone is, or should be, welcome here and has something of value to contribute to Idaho. Three cheers for Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and the town of Bonners Ferry. Noel Schoneman, Star As a federal employee, I had annual ethics training and knew I was prohibited from accepting any gifts, even a bag of potatoes from the local farmer. President Donald Trump is ready to accept a gift of a $400 airplane from Qatar which is apparently OK with the AG who was paid by Qatar in a previous position. Trump would be able to use this airplane long after his term expires. Who should be terminated — the federal employee who follows the ethics rules or Donald Trump who makes his own rules and is supported by his 'what's in it for me' Cabinet? Pam Johansen, Meridian What are the consequences for a society when local/national governments flagrantly cut or significantly reduce funding for higher and children's education? The complexities of today's society demand this most vital investment: educating our children, beginning with early childhood learning, and ardently supporting the challenging work of teachers and parents to fulfill this most essential objective. Learning is not limited to just the classroom. Such educational media programming as PBS and NPR provides a vast opportunity to learn for parents and children alike. Yet, we have supposed government representatives of the people — GOP legislators serving as President Trump's lap dogs, shamefully failing to oppose his devastating proposal to abolish the U.S. Department of Education and STEM programming. Delegating such a crucial responsibility to individual states deliberately undermines our nationally 'unified' educational institution that should meet the needs of all children in all 50 states. Though I am not a parent, as a retired teacher and children's librarian, I believe that quality education is contingent upon dedicated/well well-prepared educators. The responsibility of 'principled' elected officials is to fervently fund/support a nationally unified educational system for the benefit of us all. Susan L. Price, Boise I'd like to publicly support our Congressman Mike Simpson's recent remarks about the impoundment of federal funds by the president. As a former fifth-grade teacher, I taught young people about the balance of power established by the framers of our Constitution. That balance has sustained us well (if not perfectly) for 250 years. I have honest disagreements with Rep. Simpson about many policies, but I have great respect for his leadership on this issue. Congress has the power of the purse and must use it to maintain the balance among the executive, judicial and legislative branches. Each branch has its responsibilities, which, when enacted responsibly, help us maintain a government that represents Idahoans and Americans. I am grateful for Congressman Simpson's remarks about the balance of power in our great country. Deb Eisinger, Boise The House just passed a bill, declaring the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. It is now headed to the Senate. The economy is in shambles. We have an incompetent Secretary of Health, wasting time on stigmatizing autism, instead of the deadly measles outbreak spreading through our country. The Secretary of Defense is using insecure methods, and including individuals without the proper security clearances, to send confidential military information. Climate change is threatening the future of our planet, while the current administration guts any protective measures taken by the former President. Immigrants, whether illegal or not, are being deported, without due process, ignoring a court order. An executive order was just signed canceling funding to NPR and PBS because they don't only include programs favorable to the current administration. Is the name of a body of water really what you think concerns every day Americans today? Please vote against this bill, and then get to work fixing all of the above issues, and any others that I may have missed! Michal Voloshen, Boise How about a little history lesson: How long have we had trickle-down economics? Forty-five years. Now, are you seeing any manufacturing jobs in your country? Nothing? Consider this: The job of a CEO is to maximize profits, now you don't do that when you hire Americans to do a job that can be done by someone from India, China or Vietnam. And they will do it for one-tenth of the wages you have to pay the American worker. Now, the non-economist Trump has decided that trickle-down is the way to go. Even though it has been a failure for the last 45 years. What is worse is those Republicans that you voted into office are all for this trickle down, knowing full well it won't add one job to the American economy. But since they don't care a bit about you and your family. Now, I would suggest that we change the tax laws and all income over one million is taxed at 90%. Now, we can use that money to get the Corps of Engineers to design and build a factory that can make some of items coming from China and the rich will subsidize the company. Jerry Johnson, Payette
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boise-area sheriff criticizes a new Idaho law he says police can't enforce
Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford on Wednesday criticized a new law that bans the city of Boise from flying Pride flags, saying it was unclear how police could enforce it as written. The law, originally House Bill 96, limits governments to flying certain flags, including the American flag, the Idaho flag, military flags and flags representing government entities. The legislation went into effect April 3, but the city of Boise has kept its Pride flag up, prompting a warning letter from the Idaho Attorney General's Office. Many people also reported the city to the Ada County Sheriff's Office, Clifford said in a statement emailed to the Idaho Statesman. After the public complaints, Clifford asked his legal team to review the new code, he said. But the lawyers found that there are no penalties, no information about what level of crime is involved (misdemeanor or felony, for example) and no explanation as to how an officer would enforce the law, the statement said. 'Without clear direction in the law, no law enforcement in the state of Idaho has the authority to issue citations or make arrests in this situation,' Clifford said. 'This situation highlights the importance of thoughtful collaboration in the legislative process. I strongly urge Idaho legislators to work closely with subject matter experts when drafting legislation to ensure that future statutes are clearly enforceable and contain the necessary legal structure to support their implementation.' Bill sponsor Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, did not immediately return a request for comment. Clifford sent a letter to the city of Boise similar to his public statement. He also indicated that the volume of flag complaints has been burdensome for his department. 'These messages have come in through nearly every channel available to the public — Ada County Dispatch, patrol supervisors, our social media accounts, and our general public inbox,' Clifford said. 'Responding to these concerns has placed a strain on our staff and resources, pulling attention away from other essential duties.' Clifford's message struck a very different tone from Attorney General Raúl Labrador's letter, which said Boise could lose state money if it continues to fly the Pride flag. Labrador also said he had spoken with legislative leaders who said they 'will respond next session with strong enforcement tools.' However, his letter also highlighted the lack of penalties, with Labrador writing that the law 'relied on the good will of elected officials for its enforcement.' 'While we are sorting out the reach and impact of HB 96 — which includes neither definitions nor enforcement mechanisms, we will continue to fly the flags currently on display at City Hall,' Boise spokesperson Emilee Ayers told the Statesman. During this year's legislative session, no one testified or debated about the bill's enforcement mechanisms. However, a couple lawmakers did express concern with the lack of definitions in the bill, such as not defining what a flag is. 'There's always going to be some interpretation of law and we're going to have to say what's a sign and what's a flag. That's the only interpretation that's going to have to be determined,' said the bill's Senate floor sponsor, Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d'Alene, during debate. 'Other than that, it's very definitive.'
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio budget plan would ‘recognize two sexes,' restrict LGBTQ+ library books
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio's latest budget proposal would define gender as two sexes, require libraries to limit access to LGBTQ+ books, and prohibit state agencies from flying certain flags. House Finance Committee members folded countless provisions last week into House Bill 96, legislation meant to outline Ohio's budget for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. However, Equality Ohio executive director Dwayne Steward argues the proposal 'is the most reckless bill to come out of the Ohio legislature' given the document is home to the following 'anti-LGBTQ+' directives: Codify state policy recognizing two sexes, male and female, and that 'these sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.' Require public libraries to place material 'related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of the persons under the age of 18.' Bar funding to youth homeless shelters 'that promote or affirm social gender transition.' Prohibit state agencies from displaying any flag, like a Pride flag or other political symbols, except for Ohio, U.S. and POW/MIA flags. 'These policies threaten free access to information, the mental health of houseless and vulnerable youth, and even the ability of trans people to access medical care and social support,' Steward said. 'Let's be clear, no public funds should be weaponized to dismantle our rights or erase our existence. This is censorship. This is harm.' DeWine defends right to protest, takes wait and see approach to Trump moves House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) argued it's admissible for the fiscal document to include a sex provision given 'it's accepted science that there are two genders.' When asked about the 2% of people worldwide that are born intersex, Huffman said he doesn't 'think that those folks are going to lose their rights' and that they 'should come in and testify about the bill.' 'This simply ends the discussion in the state of Ohio which I think most voters, most citizens of Ohio agree with, and it also prevents us from having months and months and weeks of arguments if we do it in a bill or otherwise,' Huffman said. Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), House Finance Committee chair, argued the provisions are 'common sense' and said the sex provision helps Ohio conform with a Trump administration order that also recognizes two sexes. The legislator also said HB 96's flag rule is a means to remove 'some of this divisiveness out of our discourse.' 'Whether it's a conservative-coded flag or a liberal-coded flag, let's just go back to our public buildings [being] for everybody,' Stewart said. 'The flags that fly outside should be symbols that are broadly accepted by everybody rather than sort of inserting government into these more divisive ideas.' Former Ohio governor speaks about current political climate Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake), House Finance Committee ranking member, said the proposal continues the Statehouse's 'attack on our LGBTQ+ community' and argued the provisions have 'no place anywhere in state code.' Sweeney said 'anything of that nature should be a standalone bill' and is calling on Republican lawmakers to remove the measures from the budget. 'Anything that has nothing to do with substantive funding of government, which all of those provisions have no correlation at all, I would ask why they feel the need to put this into the state budget,' the legislator said. 'They should do a standalone bill, have people be able to come in and testify for or against that piece of legislation.' Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said the provisions are 'a bunch of red meat for some of their members' and a 'distraction from all the stuff they aren't actually doing and the damage that this budget is doing to real people.' The committee will continue debating HB 96 before the proposal proceeds to the House floor. Once passed by the House, the budget will go under consideration in the Ohio Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
