| The Legislature has been in session for almost one month. The pace has been fast, and I have really enjoyed the challenge. Unfortunately, thus far the focus has been on power struggles and misplaced priorities. I know that working families in my district and across Idaho are struggling right now more than ever. They want us to focus our time and energies on the challenges they are facing. Business owners are having trouble making ends meet, students are having trouble keeping up, homeowners are struggling with increasing property taxes, and many are worried about making their next rent or mortgage payment. With so many issues at hand, you would think the Legislature would work to solve at least some of these problems. So far, though, that hasn’t been the focus. One of the many distractions within the Legislature right now is Joint Resolution 101, a constitutional amendment that would ban all psychoactive drugs not legal in Idaho as of 2021. Check out the legislation here. Keep in mind, because it is a constitutional amendment, this makes all psychoactive drugs—including medical marijuana—illegal in Idaho permanently. This legislation entirely misses the mark. I know of nobody who is asking the Legislature to do this. There are about a dozen other issues that need our immediate attention right now. This one just isn’t in the ballpark. Yet, it is consuming our time and will take Idaho in the wrong direction. If anything, constituents are asking the Legislature to take steps towards legalizing medical marijuana. Nearly every bordering state, including Montana, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Utah have legalized medical marijuana. If you are interested in this issue, please note that Retired Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Kitzhaber of Idaho, who is terminally ill with Stage 4 cancer, has proposed a bill to legalize medical marijuana that has bipartisan support. |
| Last week, we also saw more attempts to take away power from Governor Little. While all legislation of this type so far has either been stalled or pulled because of complications, it has had the effect of slowing down any actual progress on Covid relief and vaccine distribution. In fact, there is $900 million in new federal funding which the Legislature has yet to distribute. Governor Little was responsible for distributing federal Covid-19 aid last summer, but because the Legislature is now in session, his office has no control over its introduction. The new funding includes $851,000 for the Commission on Aging for Meals on Wheels for seniors, $164 million for rental assistance for workers who lost jobs, and $58 million for daycare centers’ operations. Also slowing important funding is conflict within the House Education Committee. When discussing Governor Little’s proposal to put $20 million toward a literacy initiative to combat new challenges due to Covid, Representative Ehardt from Idaho Falls made disparaging remarks against educators. This was disappointing. Educators are struggling to teach our kids under very difficult circumstances. Like the Governor, they need support and assistance to meet the moment, not obstacles and cheap shots. On Saturday, I hosted a Ruchti’s Recap Town Hall on education and childcare. This was a great opportunity to not only summarize what has been happening in the Legislature for the last month, but also to take a deeper dive into challenges Idaho is facing which need our attention. It is heartening to see constituents take the time out of their Saturday to learn what could make our State better and help our neighbors and families live their best lives. |
| If this last year has taught us anything, it’s to look for the good whenever we can. Amidst the misguided and mishandled legislation being created, there are a few who are working to better the lives of Idahoans. Representative John Gannon and Representative Bruce Skaug are making a bipartisan effort to speed up the vaccine process. If you or a loved one is still struggling to receive your vaccine, please check out these websites which have centralized vaccine information for our State and Bannock County: Statewide Vaccine Information: https://crushthecurveidaho.com/vaccines Bannock County Vaccine Information: https://siphidaho.org/covid19-vaccine-clinics.php I am so grateful to be here in Boise serving our community. Thank you for helping me get here. I’m looking for ways to make progress wherever possible. I hope you will, too. |
| Check out my previous newsletters here: Newsletter 4: February 1, 2021 – Idaho’s Childcare Challenges Newsletter 3 – January 25, 2021 – The Ballot Is Stronger than the Bullet Newsletter2 – January 18, 2021 – Choosing Empathy Over Partisanship Newsletter 1 – January 11, 2021 – Fighting for our Democracy |
| Sincerely, J.R. James Ruchti jruchti@house.idaho.gov |