Outrage in Idaho

06/10/2021

**BREAKING: The Quality Education Act is ready for signatures!**

Dear supporters of Reclaim Idaho,

Idaho remains dead last of 50 states in education funding. The result is that our kids are losing access to qualified teachers, with the average teacher salary dropping $900 in 2020 and 1 in 10 teachers leaving the profession each year.

School districts across the state--especially in rural Idaho--lack funding for career-technical education and other programs that give young people the skills to make a living. Dozens of districts lack the funds for full-day kindergarten, and across the state teachers are purchasing supplies for their own classrooms.

Earlier this year, we began organizing statewide to launch an initiative campaign and give Idahoans a chance to vote for the Quality Education Act--an initiative that would invest over $200 million annually in Idaho K-12 education, paid for with a modest tax increase for corporations and the wealthiest Idahoans.

**Yesterday afternoon, the Quality Education Act was officially certified by the Idaho Secretary of State. We can now begin collecting signatures to place the initiative on the ballot!!**

You'll recall that earlier this year, the legislature enacted an anti-initiatives law designed to make grassroots initiatives virtually impossible in Idaho. We immediately filed a lawsuit against the new law, and the Idaho Supreme Court is scheduled to hear our case on June 29th.

In the event that the court does not rule in our favor, we are ready to launch a ballot-initiative campaign that would give the people of Idaho a chance to restore the initiative process. But if we prevail in court and the anti-initiatives law is struck down--which we believe is likely--we will plow forward with new momentum and continue our signature drive to place the Quality Education Act on the 2022 ballot.

That signature drive starts today. There will be many opportunities in the coming weeks to get involved. For now, will you click below and commit to join your local volunteer team?

https://www.reclaimidaho.org/localteam

And click below to print the Quality Education Act petition now and start collecting signatures from family, friends, and neighbors!

https://www.reclaimidaho.org/educationpetition

05/07/2021

**BREAKING: Today we sued the State of Idaho**

Today we filed Reclaim Idaho v. Lawerence Denney, our lawsuit in the Idaho Supreme Court to strike down the recently enacted anti-initiatives law and restore the initiative rights of the people of Idaho.

You’ll recall that on April 17, Governor Little signed into law Senate Bill 1110, giving Idaho the most restrictive initiative rules in the nation and making it virtually impossible for any grassroots organization to qualify an initiative for the ballot.

We immediately announced that we’d challenge the law in court, and in the days since we’ve received an unprecedented outpouring of support. In a matter of days, donations poured in from over 2,000 people in 110 Idaho towns and 40 of 44 Idaho counties.

This morning, less than 3 weeks after the Governor signed SB 1110 into law, we made good on our promise. Our lawsuit features written testimony from well-respected leaders and experts including:

-- Ben Ysursa, former Idaho Secretary of State who served for three terms
-- Luke Mayville, Co-Founder of Reclaim Idaho
-- Gary Moncrief, Boise State University Distinguished Professor of Political Science
-- Karen Lansing, former judge on the Idaho Court of Appeals
-- David Daley, nationally known elections expert and best-selling author
-- Robin Nettinga, former Executive Director of the Idaho Education Association and organizer of the successful 2012 referendum campaign to repeal the “Luna Laws”
-- Linda Larson, Bonner County volunteer leader of Reclaim Idaho
-- Jessica Mahuron, Kootenai County volunteer leader of the Medicaid Expansion signature drive

The Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution--a committee of distinguished Idaho lawyers--is serving as a plaintiff in the case alongside Reclaim Idaho.

We think Idaho’s anti-initiatives law is clearly unconstitutional, and we believe the Court will agree. But no matter what the Court decides, we are determined to move forward. If we win in court, we’ll plow ahead with our campaign to place the Quality Education Act on the 2022 ballot and increase funding for K-12 by over $200 million annually. If the court doesn’t rule in our favor, we’re prepared to launch a signature drive to put the Initiative Rights Act on the ballot and give Idahoans an opportunity to restore their rights.

None of this would be possible without the ongoing support and commitment of thousands of people across the state. Will you help us continue this work by chipping in $5 or more today?

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/reclaim-idaho

Thank you,

Reclaim Idaho Team

04/28/2021

BREAKING: Today we filed the Quality Education Act, a ballot initiative that would boost K-12 funding by over $200 million annually by modestly increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthiest Idahoans.

We are preparing a lawsuit against Idaho’s new anti-initiatives law, which was signed by Governor Little on April 17th. In the event that we do not prevail in court and the new anti-initiatives law remains intact, we will likely put the campaign for education funding on hold and instead launch a signature drive to qualify the Initiative Rights Act for the ballot. The Initiative Rights Act would restore the fair signature requirements that existed for most of Idaho history.

But if we do prevail in court—which we believe is likely—we will immediately begin a signature drive to place the Quality Education Act on the ballot.

Idaho is dead last out of 50 states in education funding, but our legislators believe the big problem is teachers “indoctrinating” students. What a slap in the face to the teachers of our state. It’s time to stop attacking our educators and to start investing in them.

Join an upcoming Strategy Huddle in your region. This will be a chance to learn more about our strategy in the coming weeks and months, and to begin planning a successful signature drive to place the Quality Education Act on the ballot:

https://www.mobilize.us/reclaimidaho/

04/17/2021

04/14/2021

ACT NOW TO HELP PASS A NEW BILL TO ACCEPT $6 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR IDAHO'S PRESCHOOL CHILDREN!

Remember when the Idaho State Legislature rejected the federal grant for early childhood education? Now they have another chance to get it right and we need all hands on deck.

The State Senate just passed a slightly revised version of the bill by the narrowest of margins and now that bill (Senate Bill 1193) is pending in the State House of Representatives.

Here are the easy steps to contact your state representatives TODAY-

1 - Click this link to find your two state representatives and their contact information.
https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/whosmylegislator/

2 - Call and/ or email your state representatives TODAY.

You can call any of the numbers listed for them on the legislative website. You should leave a message if they do not answer. Sample script:

“Hi my name is _____. I am one of your constituents. I am calling to urge you to vote for Senate Bill 1193, the $6 million grant to early childhood education when it is on the House floor. Thanks!” If you can add a reason that this issue matters to you that's even better.
Close with your name and city

OR…..

Email your legislators. Sample text:

Dear _______,
As your constituent, I am emailing to urge you to vote yes on Senate Bill 1193. This bill brings an additional $6 million to support the educational success of Idaho’s children with no cost to our State. I know that early childhood education helps prepare children to be successful in public, private or home schooling, AND 85% of Idaho parents agree with me!! Again, please vote YES on Senate Bill 1193. Thank you!

Conclude by stating your name and city

THANK YOU!

Enter street address followed by zip code (i.e., 700 W. Jefferson, 83420), and click Find. You may also click on the map to determine who the State Senator and House Representatives are for that location, or contact your county clerk for official legislative district information.

03/13/2021

Opinion: As the far-right wing of the Idaho GOP has grown, two main things have happened: The Legislature’s thirst for power has become unquenchable, and its competence in crafting policy