On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public TV, I join new host Greg Hahn, Jim Weatherby and Brian Murphy to discuss the events of the week, including the historic public hearing that JFAC held today on health and welfare funding, drawing nearly a thousand people…
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, has introduced legislation to crack down on tax compromises, requiring them to be made public and not to be granted without review by at least three tax commissioners and the tax auditors involved in the cases. She said, "I'm thinking since…
The sales tax rebate that Idaho has been providing to developers of alternative energy projects, including wind farms, may fall victim to its own success, AP reporter John Miller reports. The rebate expires in June, and higher-than-expected claims are giving pause to some state officials,…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's historic public hearing on funding for Health and Welfare programs in Idaho; it drew close to a thousand people to the Idaho Statehouse to decry cuts in services for the disabled. Many called for…
JFAC Co-Chairs Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, and Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, were clearly affected by the outpouring of input that close to a thousand people brought to the Statehouse today on Health and Welfare funding, with most pleading for the state to avoid cuts in…
The heart-wrenching testimony at today's public hearing on funding for Health and Welfare programs moved Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, to tears. "We had some very moving testimony from people that clearly have no other sources for assistance other than their government - that's pretty compelling,"…
At noon, after four hours of testimony from 82 people from all over the state, JFAC has closed its public hearing on Health & Welfare funding. "We appreciate your input," said Co-Chair Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. He encouraged those who didn't get a chance to testify…
The 78th person to testify at today's "listening hearing" on Health & Welfare funding is Brian Dulin of Moscow, head of Latah County Probation. He said behavioral health services provided through the Department of Health & Welfare have helped his department divert kids from going…
Even as dozens of Idahoans are testifying to JFAC that Idaho should look to more revenue - including, many have suggested, possibly taxing Internet sales - rather than cutting services to the disabled, House Speaker Lawerence Denney has single-handedly sidelined a bill that was moving…
Shirleane Abbott of Garden Valley, a psycho-social rehabilitation services provider who survived her own struggles with mental illness, told lawmakers, "What we need is more PSR, not less." Idaho shouldn't go back to relying on hospitalization, she said. "This is really a time to test…
Terri Scarrow of Jerome told of how her 15-year-old daughter, a bright, promising, straight-A student, was hit by a drunk driver and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Now disabled, she lives at home while receiving care, thanks to the certified family home program; Scarrow said…
Doug Loertscher of Boise told lawmakers he's testifying in opposition to the "blunt approach," one of two options for cuts that state Health & Welfare officials have outlined to lawmakers, and that calls for eliminating developmental disability center services and psycho-social rehabilitation services. "I personally…
Jack Hansen of Boise, a young man with disabilities, told JFAC, "I've been in two group homes and I know for a fact that it's not very fun." He said, "You guys are my only hope. I live in a certified family home right now.…
Denise Wetzel of Coeur d'Alene, mother of a 10-year-old son with disabilities, said she's grateful that her son has been able to attend his local public school and receive developmental therapy that he needs. "I never give up ... on what he can accomplish and…
Rick Heikkila of Nampa, a licensed clinical social worker, said if lawmakers cut psycho-social rehabilitation services, "Idaho will see an increase in homelessness, an increase in psychiatric care at inpatient hospitals, an increase in emergency room visits," and more people landing in jail. "I propose…
Bob Van Arnem of Eagle said he was prompted to testify because of his property tax bill, but he said after listening to the testimony at the JFAC hearing today, "I realize how light my burden is." Van Arnem said he's seen a property tax…
So far, 43 people have testified in two hours to JFAC on Health & Welfare funding this morning, including disabled people who receive services, their advocates, parents and other family members, and numerous providers, ranging from dentists to those who provide psycho-social rehabilitation services to…
Kevin Nye of Meridian urged lawmakers to raise the cigarette tax. Jill Payne of Idaho Falls said cutting services to the disabled would harm the economy; "Such an ill-informed decision to remove millions from the economy is unconscionable," she said. John Chambers of Gooding told…
Katherine Hansen of Boise presented lawmakers with 13,740 petitions signed by Idahoans calling for lawmakers to consider a tax increase rather than cut home and community-based services for people with disabilities. The signers, she said, are "13,740 Idahoans from every county and every city in…
Tonia Stephens of Nampa, accompanied by her son Ricky, said, "If his services were cut it would impact his well being and he would regress. ... If he loses services, I lose my job. I would have to quit my job and stay home to…
Cynthia McCurdy of Rexburg, mother of a daughter with developmental delays and other health problems, told lawmakers, "Please, let's not have another Jeff D lawsuit. That cost us millions." She urged against reducing services for the developmentally disabled, saying without them her daughter's condition will…
Jodi Smith of Coeur d'Alene, a PSR provider, said Idaho is the first state in the nation to require new certification credentials for providers of psycho-social rehabilitation services, a requirement that's now pending. Yet the state is considering eliminating those services as part of $25…
Michelle Bartlett, a licensed midwife and representative of the Idaho Midwifery Council, told JFAC that the state could save $130,000 per year by funding births attended by midwives, rather than in hospitals. That could be part of the solution, she said. Robert Vande Merwe told…
Elizabeth Reedy, a Boise youngster, told lawmakers, "I am 14 years old. I am a person with autism. ... I want to go to junior high. I want to go to college. I want to have a job ... and a cat named Adam. ...…
Ryan Jacobsen of Coeur d'Alene, regional director for Addus Health Care, said his firm provides home care throughout the state and has 560 employees. "We are part of the solution," Jacobsen told JFAC. He called for more collaboration with home-care agencies to set appropriate standards…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
