Capitol Letters: Gov. Brad Little pitches workforce grants to students
By Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter
Idaho Gov. Brad Little yesterday visited a Kuna high school to tell students about his proposal to create scholarships for in-demand careers.
The bill would create a fund that provides up to $8,500 in grants to Idaho high school graduates enrolling in state and community colleges as well as workforce training programs.
Speaking in automotive and woodworking shops at Swan Falls High School, which caters to career and technical education students, Little asked how many students would like help paying for college or vocational training after they graduate. Most raised their hands. Many indicated they’re planning for careers in health care or construction.
House Republicans weren’t as enthusiastic when the scholarship legislation narrowly cleared the House earlier this month. Most members of Little’s party opposed the plan, arguing it’s not taxpayers’ responsibility to subsidize higher education or influence the job market. Others said students don’t need the state’s help paying for college.
In an interview with the Idaho Statesman, Little said the criticism was unfair. He referenced the nearby Northwest Lineman College in Meridian, which trains energy industry workers.
“We are not giving these kids anything,” he said. “We’re just making the opportunities more accessible, more affordable.”
The Idaho Workforce Development Council would administer the grants, giving priority to in-demand careers. The governor appoints members of the council, made up of representatives from various Idaho industries as well as lawmakers.
Little said he urges each member of the council to disclose a conflict, or perceived conflict, of interest if their industry would benefit from something the council is considering.
“Who better to decide what we do in health care than somebody in the health care industry?” Little said. “Our responsibility is to do the K-12 education and then provide more opportunities going forward. This is just fulfilling our obligation. This is not going to be a freebie for anything.”
The scholarship bill is awaiting a committee hearing in the Senate.
Opinion: Republican’s moving testimony on transgender bill
By Scott McIntosh, Opinion Editor
Idaho Republican Rep. Lori McCann, of Lewiston, gave the most compelling, heartfelt, empathetic and reasonable testimony on the House floor Tuesday against House Bill 71, which criminalizes gender-affirming care for transgender children.
McCann actually took the time to meet with parents of transgender children and a transgender 16-year-old girl.
“I’ve lost a lot of sleep over this bill,” she said. “I’ve wrestled with it. I’ve talked with professionals. I’ve talked with medical folks, parents. I’ve talked with actual transgender people, and I want them to know that I care, I feel for them, and it is real. It is something that is real that we all need to try to understand.”
House Bill 71 bans surgeries for transgender children under 18 and criminalizes gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, punishable as a felony with up to 10 years in prison.
“My heart is with these people, these lovely individuals that I’ve met, and they touched me deeply,” McCann said.
So she must have voted against the bill, right?
Wrong.
What to expect today
- 8 a.m. Joint Finance-Administration. The Legislative Services Office will present budget requests from departments that include the Department of Health and Welfare.
- 8 a.m. Senate State Affairs. Bills on tobacco products and sheriff qualifications are on the docket.
- 9 a.m. House Education. Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, will introduce legislation on “parental rights and responsibilities.”
- 9 a.m. House State Affairs. Lawmakers will consider pieces of legislation involving 60-day non-renewal notices for leases, accessory dwelling units and emergency evacuation.
- 9 a.m. House Health and Welfare. The committee will consider legislation involving public health districts.
- 1:30 p.m. House Judiciary, Rules and Administration. The committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 66, to make falsely reporting child abuse a misdemeanor, and bills that would shield criminal history records from disclosure in certain circumstances.
Find the full list of committee meetings and agendas for the House here, and for the Senate here.
What else happened?
Keep track of high-profile bills as they go through the legislative process. You can find yesterday’s updates here.
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This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Capitol Letters: Gov. Brad Little pitches workforce grants to students."
