Capitol Letters | The Idaho Legislature Report
By Hayat Norimine, Accountability Editor; Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter; and Sally Krutzig, Breaking News/Local Government Reporter
MyPillow CEO continues false voter fraud claims
Back in the fall, Secretary of State officials completed audits that disproved the MyPillow CEO’s claims of voter fraud in Idaho.
The CEO, Mike Lindell, claimed that 2020 presidential election results in all 44 Idaho counties were electronically manipulated to switch votes from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. Seven of those counties had no electronic means to count votes. Trump also won in Idaho with 64% support.
So Idaho officials sent Lindell a $6,559 bill to pay for the state’s costs in auditing counties — and a cease-and-desist letter. The false election fraud claims are still on Lindell’s website.
Chief Deputy Secretary of State Chad Houck told the Idaho Statesman that since Lindell’s false statements, election officials have faced threats and harassment. Read Statesman reporter Sally Krutzig’s full story here.
House passes bill to cut income taxes
House members overwhelmingly supported a bill that would use $600 million to cut income taxes and provide one-time rebates. The vote fell mostly on party lines — Rep. Fred Wood was the only Republican who opposed it alongside Democrats.
Here are some examples of how House Bill 436 would affect Idaho residents:
A family of four — two adult workers with two children — that made $110,000 per year in 2020 would get about $988. That would be $384 in ongoing tax cuts and $582 from the rebate.
A family of four that made $50,000 would see an $80 ongoing tax cut and a $300 rebate.
An individual who made less than $26,000 in 2020 would get a $2 ongoing tax cut and a $75 rebate.
The bill will still need Senate approval. Read State Politics Reporter Ryan Suppe’s full story here.
What to expect today
A “Day of Tears”: The House could vote on a resolution that mourns abortions. House Resolution 5 would fly flags at half-staff once a year on Jan. 22, the day the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Roe v. Wade decision and provided a constitutional right to an abortion. The House is scheduled to be on the floor at 8 a.m.
Only one committee is scheduled to meet. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will hold its regular 8 a.m. meeting to discuss budgets, with presentations from Department of Lands and Veterans Services. Here’s the full agenda, and here’s where to watch remotely.
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