Letters to the editor: Transgender children, property taxes, faith healing
Transgender children
I’ve spent more than 40 years in classrooms as a teacher and then as a professor of education. As the mother of a member of the LGBTQ community, as well as an educator, I think it’s wonderful that kids are not all alike. Sadly, the Idaho Legislature appears set on waging a war on transgender children, who are already disproportionately at risk for bullying, depression, self-harm and suicide.
For many transgender kids, a teacher, counselor or health care provider is the only person they can trust. House Bill 465 would prosecute those who provide medically necessary, gender-affirming care to transgender children, meaning parents and physicians could face jail time for supporting these kids. Two other bills that don’t yet have bill numbers also target transgender people. One would bar people from legally changing their sex on government documents, and the other would ban transgender student athletes from playing on the sports team of their lived gender. Being a teenager is difficult enough. Why do our legislators want to make it even harder on these kids, their families and health care providers?
Contact Speaker Bedke to end these awful bills: sbedke@house.idaho.gov.
Patti Copple, Nampa
Taxes
Once again, the West Ada School District is coming back to the property taxpayers to ask for funds for new schools. I’m a big supporter of our local public schools, but I am frustrated with my taxes going up and up as the need for schools continues. I did some digging into this issue and found out that schools are not allowed to charge impact fees to developers — meaning that growth is not paying for itself. Meanwhile, my Representative (Mike Moyle - Star) is pushing the notion that a property tax freeze will somehow help with my tax burden, but he has even acknowledged that a freeze won’t keep residential taxes from going up!
I’m interested in solutions that will help our kids, lower my taxes and make growth pay for itself. Let the schools charge impact fees to developers. Developers can afford it and our kids deserve it.
Greta Dunlap, Star
Taxes
Why are my property taxes skyrocketing? Rep. Mike Moyle of Star would have have you believe that he is a champion of local property taxpayers, but that’s wrong. In reality, he is the architect behind every recent tax policy that has burdened average residents. He’s pushed general fund tax cuts that have forced local school districts to turn to property taxpayers. He wrote and championed the 2015 business equipment property tax exemption, he voted to cap the homeowner’s exemption in 2016 and he has consistently blocked efforts to let schools charge developers impact fees.
Clearly, Rep. Moyle is afraid we’ll realize he is the source of soaring residential taxes. Instead of reversing course, he’s attempting to pin the blame on local governments while acknowledging that the freeze will still cause residential values to go up. Don’t let him pretend that our high property taxes aren’t his fault. Tell your state representative to reject the property tax freeze. Email Speaker Bedke and tell him we want real reform: sbedke@house.idaho.gov
Elizabeth Roberts, Eagle
Faith healing
So legal abortion is “murder,” but death by “faith healing” is “God’s will,” so hey, it’s okie-dokie with Idaho Republicans? Maybe more “abortion doctors” should simply pray to Jesus as they work…that’ll make it okay with God and the Republicans.
Jefferson Young, Boise