Capitol Letters | The Idaho Legislature Report
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By Hayat Norimine, Accountability Editor; and Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter
The start of day four at the Capitol begins — with at least two legislators in quarantine. It didn’t take long for the resurgent coronavirus pandemic to have an effect on the session. The Boise area is seeing another COVID-19 spike, with 581 new cases reported on Wednesday in Ada County alone.
COVID at the Capitol
Two Boise Democrats left the Capitol yesterday, on day three of the legislative session, after they found out they tested positive for COVID-19.
They were both asymptomatic when they tested out of precaution, a spokesperson said. One of them, Rep. John Gannon, had testified at the Boise City Council meeting Tuesday night.
The Idaho Legislature has no COVID-19 testing or mask requirement at the Capitol. Most state legislators don’t wear masks. Gannon said he plans to attend the session remotely.
“It would not surprise me if many more legislators test positive,” Gannon told the Idaho Statesman.
Read the full story by reporters Ryan Suppe and Kyle Land.
What happened last time legislators caught COVID-19 during a session? A COVID-19 outbreak last March cost taxpayers $318,000, the Statesman reported at the time. The virus seemed to spread largely in two House committees and left at least six lawmakers testing positive in one week.
Tax rebates for everyone — the higher the earnings, the better the cut
The first bill was introduced yesterday in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. A GOP proposal would cut income tax rates and provide rebates that depend on earnings. The more taxable income you made in 2020, the higher your rebate will be. Find House Bill 436 here.
If you didn’t pay any income taxes in 2020, you’d get $75. Those actually paying larger income taxes would get 12% of what they paid in 2020. HB436 would use $350 million for those rebates.
Need more? Here’s an in-depth explanation on why income tax cuts have gotten criticism, and why Idaho Democrats are pushing for property tax cuts instead.
And read Suppe’s full story on the new bill here.
Committees to watch:
- 8 a.m. Joint Finance-Appropriations, where there will be more budget talks and another review of federal COVID-19 relief. Here’s the agenda. Here’s where to watch remotely.
- 9 a.m. House State Affairs. As many as three pieces of legislation could be introduced, including one on absentee ballots for nursing care residents. Here’s the agenda. Here’s where to watch remotely.
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
