Blog / Recent News
“GOP Legislators deliver gut punch to Idaho businesses” – by Rep. Ilana Rubel
In the closing weeks of the 2020 legislative session, it was apparent we were heading into a crisis of unprecedented proportions that would impact not only Idahoans’ health but also our economy, jobs, education system and every other facet of our lives. Businesses had...
Democrats Propose Slate of Solutions for Idaho
On Monday, the Idaho Democratic leadership held a press conference to propose a slate of Democratic solutions that would address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and set the state on the path to a better future. Senate Democratic Leader Michelle...
California Announces Publicly Funded Travel No Longer Allowed to Idaho
Idaho – On Monday, California announced that it is prohibiting taxpayer-funded travel to Idaho on account of Idaho’s recently passed anti-transgender laws. House Minority Leader Representative Ilana Rubel/(D-Boise) expressed her extreme disappointment in the Idaho...
House Debates Property Tax Amendment
Idaho State Capitol – On Friday, the House debated amendments to Senate Bill 1277. The original legislation made changes to the application process for the Idaho homestead exemption. However, the legislation was sent to General Orders on Friday morning. “SB 1277 was...
2/20/2020 – Article: “Democrats hold press conference about property tax bills not being heard in the Legislature”
Article: "Democrats hold press conference about property tax bills not being heard in the Legislature" “We need a cut to property taxes, we need it badly, but we don't need a cut to vital services,” Rubel said. “The time for deflection and scapegoating of our...
1/30/2020 – Article: “Bipartisan Proposal Would Give Some Former Idaho Inmates A ‘Clean Slate'”
Article: "Bipartisan Proposal Would Give Some Former Idaho Inmates A 'Clean Slate'" "We hope [this proposal] will have a transformative effect on these peoples' lives," said House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel (D-Boise). Most other states have some sort of law that...
1/22/2020 – Article: “Bipartisan bill emerges to clean Idaho criminal slate”
Article: "Bipartisan bill emerges to clean Idaho criminal slate" "Many of these folks deserve a real second chance, but we continue to hand out these collateral life sentences. We are proposing legislation referred to as a “Clean Slate” bill that would allow those who...
1/22/2020 – Article: “Idaho legislators introduce ‘Clean Slate’ bill”
Article Link: "Idaho legislators introduce 'Clean Slate' bill" Excerpt: "The idea here is to let people get their lives back on track, so they can get jobs and get housing and move forward in a constructive way," Rep. Rubel said.
“Idahoans Deserve a Second Chance” – by Rep. Ilana Rubel
Our criminal justice system is intended to ensure there is an appropriate penalty associated with crime. We refer to this as paying one’s debt to society. However, under some of Idaho’s current laws, the payment never seems to stop. Our courts assign formal penalties,...
4/5/2019 – Article: “House sticks with Medicaid work requirements”
Article Link: "House sticks with Medicaid work requirements" Excerpt: “I am beyond disappointed to be in the situation we’re in today,” Rubel said. “I feel like, after an entire session of bouncing around, we’ve really landed in the worst possible world. There was a...
4/5/2019 – Article: “Idaho House alters bill to remove people from Medicaid”
Article Link: "Idaho House alters bill to remove people from Medicaid" Excerpt: “The only thing that’s in this bill is the part where we hire an enforcement squad to chase down the poorest people in the state and kick them off Medicaid,” said Democratic Rep. Ilana...
4/5/2019 – Article/Audio: “Medicaid, Citizen Initiatives, And Two-Headed Camels”
Article Link: “Medicaid, Citizen Initiatives, And Two-Headed Camels” About: It’s been a wild session and an even wilder week. Medicaid expansion sideboards and citizen initiative bills were the headliners. Lawmakers talked about everything from two-headed camels to...
3/29/2019 – Article: “Idaho House Signs Off On Two Initiative Restriction Bills”
Article Link: "Idaho House Signs Off On Two Initiative Restriction Bills" Excerpt: Ultimately, opponents say the issue will be struck down by a judge on the grounds that it’s unconstitutional. An opinion from the Idaho Attorney General’s office says constricting the...
3/25/2019 – Sex education opt-in bill (House Bill 120) blocked in the Senate
It looks like HB120, the bill that would require parents to affirmatively opt in to allow their kids to receive sex education, has been blocked on the Senate side. And it appears that the school funding formula is unlikely to be voted on this year - there was just too...
3/25/2019 – Rep. Rubel’s “Homeowner Solar Rights Bill” (House Bill 158) signed into law last Friday!
House Bill 158, my "Homeowner Solar Rights bill", was just signed into law on Friday! This will protect homeowners from unreasonable HOA prohibitions on solar installation - a protection that is already on the books in every other Western state. This should...