ACU FOUNDATION'S RATINGS of IDAHO 2019acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/CLA_Idaho_2019_web-1.pdfDear Fellow Conservative, The American Conservative Union

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the Chairman .......................................................2

Selecting the Votes .......................................................................3

2019 Winners & Losers ................................................................4

Idaho Senate Statistics ..............................................................5

Idaho Senate Scores ................................................................... 6

Idaho Senate Vote Descriptions ........................................ 9

Idaho House Statistics ..............................................................13

Idaho House Scores ....................................................................14

Idaho House Vote Descriptions ........................................19

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ACU FOUNDATION'S RATINGS ofIDAHO2019

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ACU FOUNDATION'S Ratings of Idaho 2019 | CENTER FOR LEGISLATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY

Dear Fellow Conservative,

The American Conservative Union Foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability is proud to present our Ratings of the Idaho Legislature for 2019. Like our Ratings of Congress, which date back 48 years, ACU Foundation’s Ratings of the States are meant to reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual’s life. We begin with our philosophy (conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person) and then apply the correct purpose of government (its essential role is to defend Life, Liberty and Property).

As a 501(c)(3) educational endeavor, these Ratings serve as a retrospective analysis to explain to voters, the media, scholars and activists how consistently lawmakers apply conservative principles when casting votes. ACU Foundation evaluates over 100,000 bills and ultimately selects around 2,000 bills to produce scorecards for Congress and all 50 states.

Our American Experiment in self-governance depends on our ability as citizens to evaluate whether our elected officials implement policies that help people live happier, healthier, more productive lives. ACU Foundation’s Ratings of the States equips citizens with clear and effective analysis to hold the nation’s 8,000 lawmakers accountable for their votes.

The Left has renewed its commitment to advance socialism in their zeal to fundamentally transform America. With such an important fight ahead, it’s never been more important for our elected officials to understand the proper role of government and for Americans to defend our conservative values and take action to preserve liberty.

Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union Foundation

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

TO SEE MORE ACU RATINGS, PLEASE VISIT: conservative.org/ratings

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CENTER FOR LEGISLATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY | ACU FOUNDATION'S Ratings of Idaho 2019

SELECTING THE VOTES

ACU Foundation researched and selected a range of bills before the Idaho Legislature that determine a member’s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of the “three-legged stool”: 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of Idaho’s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property.

Center for Legislative Accountability Staff

Fred McGrath DirectorLuke Schneider Public Affairs & Policy Analyst

Francis Finnegan Data Analyst and ManagerLarry Hart Senior Policy Fellow

Abigail Draiss Policy FellowJoseph Johns Policy Fellow

Jonathan Moy Policy Fellow

Matt Schlapp Chairman Charlie Gerow Vice ChairmanCarolyn D. Meadows 2nd Vice ChairBob Beauprez Treasurer

Ron Christie SecretaryEd Yevoli At-LargeDan Schneider Executive Director

ACUExecutive Committee

Jackie ArendsLarry BeasleyKimberly BellissimoMorton C. BlackwellJamie BurkeJosé CárdenasMuriel ColemanSean FielerAlan M. GottliebVan D. Hipp, Jr.Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser

KT McFarlandPriscilla O’ShaughnessyRon RobinsonMike RosePeter SamuelsonTerry SchillingMatt SmithChris TurnerBill WaltonThomas Winter

Board Members

ACUFExecutive CommitteeMatt Schlapp ChairmanMillie Hallow Vice ChairVan D. Hipp, Jr. TreasurerKimberly Bellissimo Secretary Dan Schneider Executive Director

Board Members

José CárdenasGordon ChangJonathan GarthwaiteCharlie GerowNiger InnisAdam LaxaltWilles K. LeeCarolyn D. MeadowsRandy NeugebauerThomas Winter

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2019 WINNERS & LOSERS

SENATE

n/a

90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE

HOUSE

BARBIERI, VITO

CHRISTENSEN, CHAD

EHARDT, BARBARA

GIDDINGS, PRISCILLA

GREEN, JOHN

HARRIS, STEVEN

HOUSE

MENDIVE, RON

SCOTT, HEATHER

SHEPHERD, PAUL

WISNIEWSKI, TONY

ZITO, CHRISTY

ZOLLINGER, BRYAN

80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

Republicans in ALL CAPS, Democratics in initial capitals, asterisk indicates independent/libertarian/other

SENATE

VICK, STEVE

HOUSE

ANDRUS, KEVIN

BOYLE, JUDY

GESTRIN, TERRY

KINGSLEY, MIKE

HOUSE

MONKS, JASON

MOON, DOROTHY

MOYLE, MIKE

NICHOLS, TAMMY

HOUSE

PALMER, JOE

STEVENSON, THYRA

VANDER WOUDE, JOHN

YOUNG, JULIANNE

10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT≤

SENATE

n/a

HOUSE

n/a

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IDAHO SENATE STATISTICS

51%OVERALL AVERAGE

HILL, BRENT38%

LOWEST REPUBLICAN

55%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

32%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

NYE, MARK39%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

IDAHO SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

2019 ACUF PERCENTAGE

# OF STATE

SENATORS

90-100%0-9% 10-19% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%20-29%0

2

4

6

8

10

12

6


IDAHO SENATE SCORES

IDAHO SENATE VOTE DETAILACU Foundation Position N Y Y N N N Y Y Y N N Y N N N Y N Y N Y Y Y Y

Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

S 1039

H 10

S 1049

S 1064

S 1065

S 1108

H 64

H 68

S 1078

S 1037

S 1034

SJR 10

2

S 1155

S 1171

H 187

H 182

H 158

S 1179

S 1189

H 20

6

H 217

H 275

S 1204

AGENBROAD, JEFF R 13 48% 59% 56% - + + - - - + + + - - + - - - + - + - + + + -

ANTHON, KELLY R 27 60% 79% 71% - + + + - x + + + + + + - - x x - - - + - + +

BAIR, STEVE R 31 61% 81% 77% - + + + + - + + + + - + - - - + - - - + + + +

BAYER, REGINA R 21 70% n/a 70% - + + + + + + + + - - - - - + + - + + + + + +

BRACKETT, BERT R 23 43% 64% 58% - + + - - - + + + + - - - - - + - + - + - + -

Buckner-Webb, Cherie D 19 25% 32% 28% + x - - - - - x x - - + - - - + - + - x x x x

Burgoyne, Grant D 16 21% 32% 30% + x - - - - - x x - - + - - - + - + - - - x -

BURTENSHAW, VAN R 35 53% 58% 57% - + + x - - x + + - - + - x x x - x - + + + +

CHEATHAM, DON R 3 74% 100% 83% - + + + + + + + + - - - + + - + - + + + + + +

CRABTREE, CARL R 7 57% 77% 74% - + + + - - + + + + - - - - + + - + - + - + +

DEN HARTOG, LORI R 22 78% 82% 84% - + + + + - + + + + - - + + + + - + + + + + +

ERICKSON, DOUG R 34 n/a† n/a n/a x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x +

GROW, C. SCOTT R 14 43% n/a 43% - + + - - - + + - - - + - - - + - - - + + + +

GUTHRIE, JIM R 28 50% 68% 72% - + + + + - + + + - - + - - - + - x - + - + -

HARRIS, MARK R 32 61% 82% 69% - + + + + - + + + + + + + - - + - - - + - + -

HEIDER, LEE R 24 48% 60% 61% - + + + - - + + + - - + - - - + - - - + + + -

+ = Member voted with ACU’s position- = Member voted against ACU’s positionx = Member was absent for vote

† = Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result did not receive a rating for the 2019 session. Two-thirds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score.R = RepublicanD = Democrat

• S 1039 Extending Unnecessary Spending for the Wolf Depredation Control Board.

• H 10 Improving Access to Health Care through a Multistate Pharmaceutical Practice Compact.

• S 1049 Protecting the Lives of Unborn Children by Strengthening the Ban on Partial-Birth Abortions.

• SB 1064 Banning all Hand-Held Devices While Driving.

• S 1065 Increasing Mandatory Spending and Authorizing Additional Debt.

• S 1108 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for a Drivers Education Program Best Performed by the Private Sector.

• H 64 Protecting the Lives of Mothers and their Children by Improving Abortion Data Collection.

• H 68 Reducing Taxpayer Costs by Preventing “Pension Spiking” by Lawmakers.

• S 1078 Expanding Entrepreneurship by Permitting Craft Brewers to Share Facilities.

• S 1037 Weakening Property Rights by Providing Surveyors Unilateral Authority to Access Private Land.

• S 1034 Increasing Insurance Costs by Mandating Coverage of Select Cancer Drugs.

• SJR 102 Increasing Public Safety by Ensuring Proper Notification is Provided to Victims of Crime.

• S 1155 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for Idaho Public Television.

• S 1171 Proliferating Government Dependency by Increasing Medicaid Spending.

• H 187 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for the Idaho Hispanic Affairs Commission.

• H 182 Expanding Access to Health Care by Increasing Pharmacists’ Prescribing Authority.

• H 158 Infringing Private Contracting Rights of Homeowners Associations.

• S 1179 Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Alcoholic Beverage Sales in Movie Theaters.

• S 1189 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for the Commission on the Arts.

• H 206 Expanding Second Amendment Rights for Individuals Ages 18 to 20.

• H 217 Providing Voters a Voice in the Public Funding of Sports Stadiums.

• H 275 Expanding the Sale of Short-Term Health Care Plans.

• S 1204 Implementing Crucial Conservative Guidelines to Medicaid Expansion.

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Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

S 1039

H 10

S 1049

S 1064

S 1065

S 1108

H 64

H 68

S 1078

S 1037

S 1034

SJR 10

2

S 1155

S 1171

H 187

H 182

H 158

S 1179

S 1189

H 20

6

H 217

H 275

S 1204

HILL, BRENT R 34 38% 55% 57% - + + - - - + + - - - + - - x + - - - + - + x

JOHNSON, DAN R 6 47% 55% 58% - + + + + - - + + - + - - - - + - + - x x x x

Jordan, Maryanne D 17 35% 32% 31% + + - - - - - + + - - + - - - + - + - - - + -

LAKEY, TODD R 12 57% 59% 70% - + + + - - + + + - - + - - - + - + - + + + +

LEE, ABBY R 9 39% 64% 58% - + + + - - + + + - - - - - - + - - - + - + -

LENT, DAVID R 33 52% n/a 52% - + + - + - + + + - - + - - - + - - - + + + +

LODGE, PATTI R 11 43% 59% 64% - + + - - - + x x - - - - - - + - + - + + + +

MARTIN, FRED R 15 43% 55% 53% - + + - - - + + - - + + - - - + - - - + + + -

McCoy, Yvonne D 19 n/a† n/a n/a x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x - - + -

MORTIMER, DEAN R 30 52% 59% 61% - + + + + - + + - - - + - - - + - - - + + + +

MOSMAN, RAY R 6 n/a† n/a n/a x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x + + + -

Nelson, David D 5 35% n/a 35% - + + - - - - + + - - + - - - + - + - - - + -

Nye, Mark D 29 39% 36% 38% + + - - + - - + + - - + - - - + - + - - - + -

PATRICK, JIM R 25 65% 59% 71% - + + + + - + + + - + + - - - + - + - + + + +

RICE, JIM R 10 52% 75% 75% - + + - - - + + + - + - - - + + - - - + + + +

SOUZA, MARY R 4 59% 73% 77% - + + x + - + + + - - + - - - + - + - + + + +

Stennett, Michelle D 26 35% 32% 32% + + - - - - - + + - - + - - - + - + - - - + -


























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Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

S 1039

H 10

S 1049

S 1064

S 1065

S 1108

H 64

H 68

S 1078

S 1037

S 1034

SJR 10

2

S 1155

S 1171

H 187

H 182

H 158

S 1179

S 1189

H 20

6

H 217

H 275

S 1204

THAYN, STEVEN R 8 55% 59% 67% - + + + + - + + + - + - - - - + - - - + x + +

VICK, STEVE R 2 87% 100% 96% - + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + - + + + + + +

Ward-Engelking, Janie D 18 35% 36% 34% - + - + - - - + + - - + - - - + - + - - - + -

WINDER, CHUCK R 20 57% 64% 67% - + + - - - + + + - - + - - - + - + + + + + +

WOODWARD, JIM R 1 52% n/a 52% - + + + + - + + + - - - - - - + - + - + + + -


























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1. S 1039 Extending Unnecessary Spending for the Wolf Depredation Control Board. This bill indefinitely extends the Wolf Depredation Control Board, a costly initiative that is best performed by the private sector. The bill eliminates the sunset date (June 30, 2020) and allows the program (intended to protect livestock from wolves) to remain in permanent operation without future performance reviews. Over the past four years, the board has spent nearly $2 million to kill 262 wolves, costing taxpayers roughly $7,000 per wolf. ACU opposes indefinitely extending a program with a miserable track record, believes the private sector (whose confirmed kills far exceed that of the control board) is the best institution to control predatory populations and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 7, 2019 by a vote of 30-5 and the bill was signed into law.

2. H 10 Improving Access to Health Care through a Multistate Pharmaceutical Practice Compact. This bill implements a number of regulatory reforms to improve access to health care and expand competition in the practice of pharmacy in the state. Firstly, the bill establishes a multistate pharmaceutical practice compact which provides licensing reciprocity to pharmacists who have licenses in member states. Secondly, the bill reduces burdensome regulations on electronic prescription communications, the prescription of prepackaged pharmaceuticals and reporting requirements for epilepsy drugs. ACU supports improving access to health care by reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers and expanding competition through licensing reciprocity for health care providers and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 11, 2019 by a vote of 33-0 and the bill was signed into law.

3. S 1049 Protecting the Lives of Unborn Children by Strengthening the Ban on Partial-Birth Abortions. This bill strengthens the state’s law banning partial-birth abortions and conforms provisions the law to the federal ban on the practice. One key provision within the bill clarifies that a partial-birth abortion may only be performed to save the life of a mother and protect her physical health (as opposed to a mental condition). ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 14, 2019 by a vote of 29-6 and the bill was signed into law.

4. SB 1064 Banning all Hand-Held Devices While Driving. This bill expands on previous law which bans texting while driving to now include a ban on the usage of any cellphone, tablet or mobile electronic device while a vehicle is in motion. The ban also prohibits an individual from operating an electronic device while driving to provide ridesharing services through platforms such as Uber and Lyft. Under the bill, an individual can be fined up to $200 and have their license suspended for subsequent offenses. ACU opposes penalizing motorists for the responsible use of cellphones absent any other driving safety infractions and opposed this bill. The Senate defeated the bill on February 19, 2019 by a vote of 15-18.

5. S 1065 Increasing Mandatory Spending and Authorizing Additional Debt. This bill increases mandatory spending by requiring an expenditure of $15 million per year or more to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation program. Additionally, the bill authorizes the state to become further indebted by allowing the issuance of bonds (debt) to fund the projects, which will hold taxpayers responsible for the new debt, interest and fees associated with the bonds. ACU opposes this spending mandate which unnecessarily imposes risk on state taxpayers in periods of economic downturn and believes the state should instead reduce its out-of-control spending and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 26, 2019 by a vote of 20-15 and the bill was signed into law.

6. S 1108 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for a Drivers Education Program Best Performed by the Private Sector. This bill unnecessarily increases spending on state-run drivers ed programs, a service more efficiently and commonly performed by the private sector in other states. Under the bill, the maximum reimbursement provided to school districts for drivers ed programs is increased from $125 to $150 per student. Furthermore, the bill authorizes scholarships to reimburse any expenses certain trainees may encounter. ACU believes the private sector is better equipped to educate drivers and believes any surplus revenues collected for this initiative should be returned to motorists through reduced driver’s license fees and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 26, 2019 by a vote of 31-3. (The bill failed to advance in the House.)

IDAHO SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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7. H 64 Protecting the Lives of Mothers and their Children by Improving Abortion Data Collection. This bill improves the 2017 abortion data collection law to better inform mothers of health complications and outcomes of abortion, particularly after the procedure is performed. Under the bill, facilities such as Planned Parenthood that perform abortions are required, in addition to other information, to report whether the mother had received any post-abortion follow-up, was referred to any hospital or clinic for treatment of complications, and if she had any follow-up care or surgery due to an incomplete or mis-performed abortion. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and improvements to the information provided to mothers and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 28, 2019 by a vote of 26-8 and the bill was signed into law.

8. H 68 Reducing Taxpayer Costs by Preventing “Pension Spiking” by Lawmakers. This bill protects taxpayers by ending a practice known as “pension spiking” which allows state legislators to increase their pension payouts. This practice is a result of a calculation gimmick used to artificially inflate time served in the legislature to benefit select lawmakers who take jobs with any public employer in the state after they leave office. The bill ends this gimmick effective July 1, 2019 for future lawmakers, at which point the bill requires legislator service to be calculated in the same manner as all other part-time public servants. ACU opposes burdening taxpayers with unreasonable costs to enrich select lawmakers who abuse the pension system and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 1, 2019 by a vote 32-0 and the bill was signed into law.

9. S 1078 Expanding Entrepreneurship by Permitting Craft Brewers to Share Facilities. This bill expands entrepreneurship by clarifying that craft brewers may contract with another company to share a facility and produce another company’s beer. The bill applies to brewers who annually produce less than 30,000 barrels of beer. ACU supports expanding entrepreneurship and consumer beverage options and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on March 1, 2019 by a vote of 28-4 and the bill was signed into law.

10. S 1037 Weakening Property Rights by Providing Surveyors Unilateral Authority to Access Private Land. This bill weakens property rights by granting licensed surveyors the authority to enter private property to conduct surveys without the express consent of the property owner which was previously required. Under the bill, surveyors who enter business or agricultural land are required to cooperate with the land owner to avoid disruption of their operations; however, surveyors are not obligated to provide that consideration to a residential landowner. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights is a leading voice on this issue and works to strengthen and protect the property rights of all property owners. ACU opposes this blatant attack on property rights, believes the right to “use and exclusion” is a fundamental principle of a free society and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2019 by a vote of 28-7 and the bill was signed into law.

11. S 1034 Increasing Insurance Costs by Mandating Coverage of Select Cancer Drugs. This bill drives up insurance costs by forcing all insurance plans covering anticancer medications to cover all methods of administration of the medication. Additionally, the bill prohibits insurers from charging any higher deductible or coinsurance amount for a patient-administered medication (such as a pill) than they would for intravenously-administered medication. While ACU sympathizes with those who are impacted by cancer and supports fostering innovation of life-saving drugs, we oppose government mandates that drive up the cost of health insurance for everyone and prevent consumers from selecting the plans that best meet their needs and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 5, 2019 by a vote of 27-8. (The bill failed to advance in the House.)

12. SJR 102 Increasing Public Safety by Ensuring Proper Notification is Provided to Victims of Crime. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment (approved via ballot referendum) which increases public safety by ensuring victims of crime are provided reasonable and timely notification of open criminal proceedings. Specifically, victims of crime are provided the right to be notified (upon request) when they can testify at criminal proceedings. If a conviction is obtained and sentence carried out, victims must be notified (upon request) when the defendant is placed on parole or released. The ACUF Nolan Center for Justice is a national leader in criminal justice reform and works to cut crime, reduce taxpayer costs, protect victims, define the proper scope of government, and responsibly reduce incarceration rates. ACU believes that it is the proper role of government to help protect victims from crime. ACU also supports increasing public safety and ensuring both defendants and victims are provided due process under the law and supported this resolution. The Senate defeated the resolution on March 7, 2019 by a vote of 23-12. (A two-thirds majority vote was required.)

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13. S 1155 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for Idaho Public Television. This bill abuses taxpayer funds by providing over $9.6 million to Idaho Public Television (IdahoPTV), including funding for over 69 full-time employees. IdahoPTV broadcasts numerous programs, including sitcoms, soap operas, and travel, cooking and gardening entertainment. ACU believes it is not the role of government to amuse constituents, opposes the use of taxpayer funds to enrich certain production companies for wasteful government functions that compete with the private sector and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 8, 2019 by a vote of 31-4 and the bill was signed into law.

14. S 1171 Proliferating Government Dependency by Increasing Medicaid Spending. This bill proliferates government dependency by increasing Medicaid spending by over 15% to $2.8 billion dollars in FY 2020, a staggering figure considering this amount makes up over 30% of the state’s total spending. ACU supports efforts to help individuals live healthier, happier, more productive lives, opposes encouraging greater government dependency, expresses deep concern about the dire financial consequences this measure will impose on taxpayers during economic downturn and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 11, 2019 by a vote of 31-3 and the bill was signed into law.

15. H 187 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for the Idaho Hispanic Affairs Commission. This bill misuses taxpayer funds by providing over $370,000 in funding to the Idaho Hispanic Affairs Commission. The appropriation includes an additional $30,000 for “statewide outreach efforts” and provides the three full-time employees with pay increases. ACU believes in equal rights under the law for all, that it is the duty of government to ensure all laws are applied equally, and that those who discriminate will face repercussions in the marketplace. ACU opposes this commission which unequally provides benefits to a select class of people and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 12, 2019 by a vote of 27-5 and the bill was signed into law.

16. H 182 Expanding Access to Health Care by Increasing Pharmacists’ Prescribing Authority. This bill expands access to health care and reduces consumer costs by expanding the prescribing authority of pharmacists. Under the bill, pharmacists are now able to prescribe additional drugs and medical devices that are minor and generally self-limiting. Additionally, the Board of Pharmacy is no longer required to affirmatively approve each individual medication that a pharmacist may prescribe. ACU supports expanding access to health care and reducing regulatory burdens and consumer costs and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 12, 2019 by a vote of 33-0 and the bill was signed into law.

17. H 158 Infringing Private Contracting Rights of Homeowners Associations. This bill infringes private contracting rights by preventing homeowners associations (HOAs) from establishing any type of covenant that prevents the installation of solar panels on rooftops. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights works to ensure individuals may freely choose an HOA and level of governance that create neighborhood standards they prefer. ACU opposes this infringement of the right to freely contract and opposes weakening HOAs which serve as free-market alternatives to zoning and other government central planning mechanisms and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 13, 2019 by a vote of 35-0 and the bill was signed into law.

18. S 1179 Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Alcoholic Beverage Sales in Movie Theaters. This bill reduces regulatory burdens by allowing additional movie theaters in the state to provide retail sale and consumption of beer and wine without segregating their patrons by age. Specifically, the bill applies to movie theaters located in the state’s 14 resort districts. ACU supports eliminating this burdensome regulatory barrier in all movie theaters across the state and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on March 13, 2019 by a vote of 21-12. (The bill failed to advance in the House.)

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19. S 1189 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for the Commission on the Arts. This bill abuses taxpayer funds by providing over $2 million to the Commission on the Arts, including funding for 10 full-time employees. The commission provides numerous unnecessary services such as grants to private artists and organizations. ACU opposes government interference in the arts, strongly cautions against this slippery slope toward exploitation and control of the arts (a defining characteristic of authoritarian governments), and instead supports private sector efforts to encourage vibrant and free expression as protected under the First Amendment and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 18, 2019 by a vote of 30-5 and the bill was signed into law.

20. H 206 Expanding Second Amendment Rights for Individuals Ages 18 to 20. This bill strengthens Second Amendment rights by ensuring individuals ages 18 to 20 who are lawfully able to possess firearms may also conceal carry within Idaho cities without a permit. Under previous law, individuals age 18 to 20 were allowed to conceal carry without a permit outside city limits and only individuals age 21 and older were allowed to conceal carry without a permit in cities. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and believes those old enough to fight for their country should not be deprived of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 27, 2019 by a vote of 28-7 and the bill was signed into law.

21. H 217 Providing Voters a Voice in the Public Funding of Sports Stadiums. This bill increases government accountability by requiring voter approval in order for public funds to be spent on sports stadium complexes. This bill relates to stadiums with a cost of $1 million dollars or greater and rely on urban renewal dollars to fund at least 51% of costs. ACU closely scrutinizes expenditures of taxpayer funds that enrich wealthy owners of sports teams, believes the private marketplace is the best mechanism to fund sports stadiums, believes voters should have a say in how their tax dollars are spent and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 27, 2019 by a vote of 20-14 and the bill was signed into law.

22. H 275 Expanding the Sale of Short-Term Health Care Plans. This bill expands affordable health care options in the state by permitting the sale of “enhanced short-term” health care plans. These plans are significantly lower-cost alternatives to the health care plans mandated under Obamacare as they are exempt from many of the Affordable Care Act’s calamitous regulations such as requiring coverage of the intentionally vague “essential health benefits.” Due to the bill, short-term health care plans (lasting 12 months or fewer) may now be renewed based on a framework established by the Department of Insurance. ACU has long opposed Obamacare, supports efforts to bypass its mandates and provide individuals the ability to choose the health care plans that best suit their needs and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on March 29, 2019 by a vote of 34-0 and the bill was signed into law.

23. S 1204 Implementing Crucial Conservative Guidelines to Medicaid Expansion. This bill is designed to increase self-sufficiency and reduce costs and fraud resulting from the state expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare (approved by voters in the November 2018 election). Firstly, the bill requires work-ready adult recipients of Medicaid to engage in work, job training or volunteer activities for at least 20 hours per week to be eligible for benefits. Secondly, the bill directs the state to seek a waiver from federal government to permit individuals newly eligible for government-provided health care (due to the expansion) to instead receive subsidies to purchase insurance on the state exchange. Finally, the bill nullifies the expansion of Medicaid if there is any substantive change in the federally funded portion of the program. ACU has long opposed the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare and the substantial costs the program imposes on both state and federal taxpayers, supports efforts to help people live healthier, happier, more productive lives and efforts to reduce intergenerational poverty by encouraging individuals to become self-sufficient and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 5, 2019 by a vote of 19-16 and the bill was signed into law.

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IDAHO HOUSE STATISTICS

64%OVERALL AVERAGE

WOOD, FRED27%

LOWEST REPUBLICAN

73%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

28%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

ABERNATHY, CHRIS

35%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

IDAHO HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

# OF STATE REPS

2019 ACUF PERCENTAGE

90-100%0-9% 10-19% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%20-29%0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


IDAHO HOUSE SCORES

IDAHO HOUSE VOTE DETAILACU Foundation Position Y Y N Y Y N Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N N Y N Y N Y Y Y N

Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

H 10

H 64

H 61

H 68

H 10

0

S 1039

H 133

H 170

H 187

S 1049

H 99

H 182

H 158

H 127

S 1078

H 20

6

S 1037

S 1155

S 1108

H 229

S 1189

H 275

S 1065

H 217

S 1204

H 30

2

S 1171

Abernathy, Chris D 29 35% n/a 35% + - + + - + + - - x + + - - + - - - - - - - + - - - -

ADDIS, JIM R 4 74% n/a 74% + + - + + - + + + + + + + - + + + - + + - + - + + + -

AMADOR, PAUL R 4 57% 63% 56% + + + + + - + - - + + x x - x + x - - + - + - + + - -

ANDERSON, NEIL R 31 48% 71% 59% + + + x + - x - - + - + + - + + - - - - - + - + + - -

ANDERST, ROBERT R 12 52% 68% 61% + + - + + - + + - + - + - - + + - - - + - + - + + - -

ANDRUS, KEVIN R 28 89% n/a 73% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + +

ARMSTRONG, RANDY R 28 78% 83% 76% + + + + + - + - + + + + - + - + - + + + + + + + + + -

BARBIERI, VITO R 2 93% 90% 86% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

BEDKE, SCOTT R 27 54% 54% 58% + + - + + - + + - + - + - - + x - - + + - + - + + - -

Berch, Steve D 15 26% n/a 26% + - - + - + - - - - + + - - + - - - - - - - + - - - -

BLANKSMA, MEGAN R 23 63% 75% 67% + + + + + - + + - + + + - - + + - - + + - + - + + - -

BOYLE, JUDY R 9 81% 87% 86% + + + + + - + + + + - + - + + + x + - + + + - + + + +

CHANEY, GREG R 10 70% 88% 82% + + - + + - + + - + - + - + + + - - + + - + + + + + +

Chew, Sue D 17 29% 26% 29% + - + + - + - - - - + + - - x - - - - - x x + - - - -



• H 10 Improving Access to Health Care through a Multistate Pharmaceutical Practice Compact. H 64 Protecting the Lives of Mothers and their Children by Improving Abortion Data Collection. H 61 Expanding Cronyism by Awarding up to $3.1 Million in Tax Credits to Select Railroad Companies.


• H 100 Strengthening Legislative Oversight of Bureaucrats.


• H 133 Ensuring Parents are Notified of their Right to Opt Out of Immunizations.

• H 170 Ensuring Department of Health and Welfare Investigators Disclose Rights to Parents and Guardians.



• H 99 Reducing Unnecessary Incarceration by Reforming Mandatory Minimums for Controlled Substances.



• H 127 Strengthening Property Rights by Granting Localities the Liberty to Opt Out of Zoning Ordinances.






• H 229 Expanding Employment in the Electrical Industry and Capping Regulations.






• H 302 Encouraging Irresponsible Spending by Raiding the Rainy-Day Fund.


15



Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

H 10

H 64

H 61

H 68

H 10

0

S 1039

H 133

H 170

H 187

S 1049

H 99

H 182

H 158

H 127

S 1078

H 20

6

S 1037

S 1155

S 1108

H 229

S 1189

H 275

S 1065

H 217

S 1204

H 30

2

S 1171

CHRISTENSEN, CHAD R 32 100% n/a 100% + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + x + + +

CLOW, LANCE R 24 52% 74% 59% + + - + - - + + - + + + - - + + - - - x - + - + + x -

COLLINS, GARY R 13 65% 79% 73% + + - + + - + + - + + + - - + + + - + + - + - + + x -

CRANE, BRENT R 13 79% 83% 80% + + - + + - + + + + x x - x + + + - + + + + - + + + +

Davis, Muffy D 26 30% n/a 30% + - + + - + - - - - + + - - + - - - - - - - + - - - -

DAYLEY, TOM R 21 77% 79% 73% x + - + + - + + - + + + - + + + - + + + + + - + + + +

DEMORDAUNT, GAYANN R 14 78% 91% 77% + + + + x - + + + + + + - - x x - x + + + + - + + + +

DIXON, SAGE R 1 78% 83% 87% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + - - + + - + - + + + +

EHARDT, BARBARA R 33 93% 88% 90% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Ellis, Jake D 15 32% n/a 32% + - - + - + + - x x + + - - + - - - - - - - - + - - -

Erpelding, Mathew D 19 19% 29% 24% + - - + - + - - - - + + - - x - - - - - - - - - - - -

FURNISS, ROD R 35 50% n/a 50% + + - + + - + + - + - + - x - + - + - - - + - + + - -

Gannon, John D 17 30% 28% 30% + - + + - + - - - - + + - - + - - - - - - - + - - - -

GESTRIN, TERRY R 8 84% 90% 87% + + + + + - + x + + + + - + + + - + + + + + - + + x +

GIBBS, MARC R 32 58% 59% 55% + + - + + - + x - + - + - - + + + - - + - + + + + - -

GIDDINGS, PRISCILLA R 7 100% 100% 98% + + + + + + + + + x + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +




























16



Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

H 10

H 64

H 61

H 68

H 10

0

S 1039

H 133

H 170

H 187

S 1049

H 99

H 182

H 158

H 127

S 1078

H 20

6

S 1037

S 1155

S 1108

H 229

S 1189

H 275

S 1065

H 217

S 1204

H 30

2

S 1171

GOESLING, BILL R 5 56% n/a 56% + - - + + - + + - + - + - - + + - - + + - + + + - + -

Green, Brooke D 18 27% n/a 27% + - + + - + - - - - + + - - + - - - - - x - - - - - -

GREEN, JOHN R 2 100% n/a 100% + + + + + + + + + x + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + x +

HARRIS, STEVEN R 21 96% 96% 90% + + + + + + + + + + + + - + x + + + + + + + + + + + +

HARTGEN, LINDA WRIGHT

R 24 46% 57% 58% + + - + + - + - - + - + - - + + - - - - x + - + + - -

HOLTZCLAW, JAMES R 20 74% 83% 74% + + + + + - + + - + - + - + + + - - + + + + - + + + +

HORMAN, WENDY R 30 63% 62% 60% + + + + + - + + - + + + + + x x x - - - - + - + + - -

KAUFFMAN, CLARK R 25 41% 63% 54% + + - + + - - - - + - + - - + + - - - - - + - + + - -

KERBY, RYAN R 9 54% 71% 66% + + - + + - - + - + + + - - + + - - x + - + - + + - -

KINGSLEY, MIKE R 6 84% 70% 83% + + - + + - + + x x + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - + -

LICKLEY, LAURIE R 25 41% n/a 41% + + - + + - + - - + - + - - + + - - - - - + - + - - -

MARSHALL, GARY R 30 67% n/a 67% + + + + + - + + - + + + + + + + - - + - - + - + + - -

Mason, Rob D 16 22% n/a 22% + - - + - + - - - - + + - - + - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mccrostie, John D 16 33% 29% 33% + - - + - + - - - - + + - - + - - - + - - + + - - - -

MENDIVE, RON R 3 93% 96% 92% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + +




























17



Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

H 10

H 64

H 61

H 68

H 10

0

S 1039

H 133

H 170

H 187

S 1049

H 99

H 182

H 158

H 127

S 1078

H 20

6

S 1037

S 1155

S 1108

H 229

S 1189

H 275

S 1065

H 217

S 1204

H 30

2

S 1171

MONKS, JASON R 22 85% 96% 87% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + x + - + + + -

MOON, DOROTHY R 8 88% 100% 96% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + + x +

MOYLE, MIKE R 14 81% 83% 76% + + + + + - + + + + + + - - + + + - + + + + - + + + +

NICHOLS, TAMMY R 11 89% n/a 89% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + +

PALMER, JOE R 20 85% 92% 85% + + + + + - + + + + - + - + + + x + + + + + - + + + +

RAYBOULD, BRITT R 34 46% 61% 57% + + + + + - - x x x - + - - + + - - - - - + - + + - -

RAYMOND, JERALD R 35 56% n/a 56% + + - + + - + + - + - + - - + + - - - + - + - + + + -

RICKS, DOUG R 34 65% n/a 65% + + - + + - + + + + - + - - + + x - - + - + - + + + +

Rubel, Ilana D 18 26% 33% 25% + - - + - + - - - - + + - - + - - - - - - - + - - - -

SCOTT, HEATHER R 1 100% 100% 98% + + + + + + + + + x + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

SHEPHERD, PAUL R 7 91% 90% 86% + + + x + - + + + + + + + + x + x + + + + + - x x + +

Smith, Elaine D 29 27% 25% 28% + - + + - - - - - - + + - - x - - - - - - + + - - - -

STEVENSON, THYRA R 6 88% 83% 87% + + - + + - + + x x + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

SYME, SCOTT R 11 67% 71% 69% + + + + + - + + - + - + + - + + - - + + - + + + + - -

Toone, Sally D 26 22% 26% 27% + - - + - - - - - - + + - - + - - - - - - - + - - - -




























18



Party Dist.2019

%2018

%LIFETIME

AVG

H 10

H 64

H 61

H 68

H 10

0

S 1039

H 133

H 170

H 187

S 1049

H 99

H 182

H 158

H 127

S 1078

H 20

6

S 1037

S 1155

S 1108

H 229

S 1189

H 275

S 1065

H 217

S 1204

H 30

2

S 1171

TROY, CAROLINE R 5 54% 58% 64% + + - + + - + - - + + + - - x + - - + + - + - + - + -

VANDER WOUDE, JOHN R 22 81% 83% 77% + + + + + - + + + + - + + + + + + + - + + + - + + + -

WAGONER, JAROM R 10 48% 63% 55% + + + + + - - - - + - + - - + + - - - + - + x + - x -

Wintrow, Melissa D 19 30% 26% 22% + - + + - + - - - x + x x - + - - - x - - - + - - - -

WISNIEWSKI, TONY R 3 93% n/a 93% + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + - + + + + + + +

WOOD, FRED R 27 27% 52% 40% + - - + - - - - - + - x - - + + - - - - - + - + - - -

YOUNG, JULIANNE R 31 89% n/a 89% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + +

YOUNGBLOOD, RICK R 12 56% 63% 63% + + + + + - + + - + - + - - + + - - - + - + - + + - -

ZITO, CHRISTY R 23 96% 96% 96% + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

ZOLLINGER, BRYAN R 33 93% 96% 96% + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + +




























19


1. H 10 Improving Access to Health Care through a Multistate Pharmaceutical Practice Compact. This bill implements a number of regulatory reforms to improve access to health care and expand competition in the practice of pharmacy in the state. Firstly, the bill establishes a multistate pharmaceutical practice compact which provides licensing reciprocity to pharmacists who have licenses in member states. Secondly, the bill reduces burdensome regulations on electronic prescription communications, the prescription of prepackaged pharmaceuticals and reporting requirements for epilepsy drugs. ACU supports improving access to health care by reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers and expanding competition through licensing reciprocity for health care providers and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on January 30, 2019 by a vote of 69-0 and the bill was signed into law.

2. H 64 Protecting the Lives of Mothers and their Children by Improving Abortion Data Collection. This bill improves the 2017 abortion data collection law to better inform mothers of health complications and outcomes of abortion, particularly after the procedure is performed. Under the bill, facilities such as Planned Parenthood that perform abortions are required, in addition to other information, to report whether the mother had received any post-abortion follow-up, was referred to any hospital or clinic for treatment of complications, and if she had any follow-up care or surgery due to an incomplete or mis-performed abortion. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and improvements to the information provided to mothers and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 5, 2019 by a vote of 54-16 and the bill was signed into law.

3. H 61 Expanding Cronyism by Awarding up to $3.1 Million in Tax Credits to Select Railroad Companies. This bill expands cronyism by establishing a new program which provides income tax credits to government-favored railroad companies for maintenance costs or investments in new railroad infrastructure. Under the bill, the state may annually issue up to $3.1 million in transferrable credits exclusively to certain small railroad operations. The credit is worth up to 40% of the investment expense; however, since the investment is still deductible as a general operating expense, a company can now lower its total tax liability twice for the same expense. ACU believes lowering tax rates for all individuals and companies is the best way to spur economic growth, opposes this cronyism and providing tax breaks to select industries and companies and opposed this bill. The House defeated the bill on February 12, 2019 by a vote of 28-42.

4. H 68 Reducing Taxpayer Costs by Preventing “Pension Spiking” by Lawmakers. This bill protects taxpayers by ending a practice known as “pension spiking” which allows state legislators to increase their pension payouts. This practice is a result of a calculation gimmick used to artificially inflate time served in the legislature to benefit select lawmakers who take jobs with any public employer in the state after they leave office. The bill ends this gimmick effective July 1, 2019 for future lawmakers, at which point the bill requires legislator service to be calculated in the same manner as all other part-time public servants. ACU opposes burdening taxpayers with unreasonable costs to enrich select lawmakers who abuse the pension system and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 13, 2019 by a vote of 68-0 and the bill was signed into law.

5. H 100 Strengthening Legislative Oversight of Bureaucrats. This bill helps strengthen oversight of unelected bureaucrats by requiring approval of both the Senate and House through a concurrent resolution in order to propose new rules and regulations. Under previous law, a new regulation required approval of merely one chamber. ACU supports improving government accountability and strengthening checks and balanced on executive branch power and unaccountable bureaucrats and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 15, 2019 by a vote of 53-16. (The bill failed to advance in the Senate.)

IDAHO HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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6. S 1039 Extending Unnecessary Spending for the Wolf Depredation Control Board. This bill indefinitely extends the Wolf Depredation Control Board, a costly initiative that is already performed by the private sector. The bill eliminates the sunset date (June 30, 2020) and allows the program (intended to protect livestock from wolves) to remain in permanent operation without future performance reviews. Over the past four years, the board has spent nearly $2 million to kill 262 wolves, costing taxpayers roughly $7,000 per wolf. ACU opposes indefinitely extending a program with a miserable track record, believes the private sector (whose confirmed kills far exceed that of the control board) is the best institution to control predatory populations and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on February 18, 2019 by a vote of 51-19 and the bill was signed into law.

7. H 133 Ensuring Parents are Notified of their Right to Opt Out of Immunizations. This bill strengthens parental rights by ensuring parents are notified of their right to opt out of mandatory vaccinations for children due to sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. Specifically, the bill states that if a school or daycare notifies parents of the state’s immunization requirements, that they also notify parents of their right to opt out. While ACU supports the right of schools and daycares to establish their own immunization policies, we support strengthening parental rights through full disclosure of the law, including their right to opt out on religious and moral grounds, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 25, 2019 by a vote of 52-17. (The bill failed to advance in the Senate.)

8. H 170 Ensuring Department of Health and Welfare Investigators Disclose Rights to Parents and Guardians. This bill ensures that individuals under investigation by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare are notified of their rights, just as they would receive under any other criminal investigation. Specifically, parents or guardians under investigation for child-related issues must be notified of their rights to refuse entry into their home and refuse questioning of the child under their care. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, supports due process of law and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 28, 2019 by a vote of 44-23. (The bill failed to advance in the Senate.)

9. H 187 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for the Idaho Hispanic Affairs Commission. This bill misuses taxpayer funds by providing over $370,000 in funding to the Idaho Hispanic Affairs Commission. The appropriation includes an additional $30,000 for “statewide outreach efforts” and provides the three full-time employees with pay increases. ACU believes in equal rights under the law for all, that it is the duty of government to ensure all laws are applied equally, and that those who discriminate will face repercussions in the marketplace. ACU opposes this commission which unequally provides benefits to a select class of people and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 1, 2019 by a vote of 38-28 and the bill was signed into law.

10. S 1049 Protecting the Lives of Unborn Children by Strengthening the Ban on Partial-Birth Abortions. This bill strengthens the state’s law banning partial-birth abortions and conforms provisions the law to the federal ban on the practice. One key provision within the bill clarifies that a partial-birth abortion may only be performed to save the life of a mother and protect her physical health (as opposed to a mental condition). ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 1, 2019 by a vote of 50-11 and the bill was signed into law.

11. H 99 Reducing Unnecessary Incarceration by Reforming Mandatory Minimums for Controlled Substances. This bill helps ensure the proper application of justice by providing judges greater discretion in sentencing individuals convicted of trafficking certain controlled substances. Under previous law, judges were unable to take extenuating circumstances into consideration and were forced to impose mandatory minimum sentences as high as 15 years’ imprisonment for “trafficking” (defined merely by the weight of drugs rather than a defendant’s role in drug conspiracy). This bill provides judicial discretion in sentencing when the prescription of the minimum sentence would result in manifest injustice, and also when the minimum sentence is not deemed necessary for the protection of the public. ACUF’s Nolan Center for Justice is a national leader in criminal justice reform and works to cut crime, reduce taxpayer costs and the scope of government and responsibly reduce incarceration rates. ACU’s scoring of the bill is based solely on the merits of mandatory minimums and judicial discretion and not the issue of drugs or the trafficking of controlled substances. ACU supports these much-needed reforms and providing judges greater ability to tailor justice as opposed to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 4, 2019 by a vote of 48-21. (The bill failed to advance in the Senate.)

21


12. H 182 Expanding Access to Health Care by Increasing Pharmacists’ Prescribing Authority. This bill expands access to health care and reduces consumer costs by expanding the prescribing authority of pharmacists. Under the bill, pharmacists are now able to prescribe additional drugs and medical devices that are minor and generally self-limiting. Additionally, the Board of Pharmacy is no longer required to affirmatively approve each individual medication that a pharmacist may prescribe. ACU supports expanding access to health care and reducing regulatory burdens and consumer costs and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 4, 2019 by a vote of 66-0 and the bill was signed into law.

13. H 158 Infringing Private Contracting Rights of Homeowners Associations. This bill infringes private contracting rights by preventing homeowners associations (HOAs) from establishing any type of covenant that prevents the installation of solar panels on rooftops. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights works to ensure individuals may freely choose an HOA and level of governance that create neighborhood standards they prefer. ACU opposes this infringement of the right to freely contract and opposes weakening HOAs which serve as free-market alternatives to zoning and other government central planning mechanisms and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 4, 2019 by a vote of 55-13 and the bill was signed into law.

14. H 127 Strengthening Property Rights by Granting Localities the Liberty to Opt Out of Zoning Ordinances. This bill strengthens property rights by permitting local governments to opt out of comprehensive plans for land use. Under previous law, all cities and counties were required to establish zoning ordinances and approve land subdivisions. This bill provides landowners greater freedom to develop their property and reduces costs taxpayers incur from government commissions attempting to centrally plan communities. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights works to strengthen property rights and the ability of landowners to utilize their property as they wish. ACU supports empowering the private sector and free market, as well as limiting the ability of government bureaucrats to impose costly and oftentimes competition-reducing zoning ordinances and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on March 12, 2019 by a vote of 30-38.

15. S 1078 Expanding Entrepreneurship by Permitting Craft Brewers to Share Facilities. This bill expands entrepreneurship by clarifying that craft brewers may contract with another company to share a facility and produce another company’s beer. The bill applies to brewers who annually produce less than 30,000 barrels of beer. ACU supports expanding entrepreneurship and consumer beverage options and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on March 14, 2019 by a vote of 59-2 and the bill was signed into law.

16. H 206 Expanding Second Amendment Rights for Individuals Ages 18 to 20. This bill strengthens Second Amendment rights by ensuring individuals ages 18 to 20 who are lawfully able to possess firearms may also conceal carry within Idaho cities without a permit. Under previous law, individuals age 18 to 20 were allowed to conceal carry without a permit outside city limits and only individuals age 21 and older were allowed to conceal carry without a permit in cities. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and believes those old enough to fight for their country should not be deprived of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 14, 2019 by a vote of 53-14 and the bill was signed into law.

17. S 1037 Weakening Property Rights by Providing Surveyors Unilateral Authority to Access Private Land. This bill weakens property rights by granting licensed surveyors the authority to enter private property to conduct surveys without the express consent of the property owner which was previously required. Under the bill, surveyors who enter business or agricultural land are required to cooperate with the land owner to avoid disruption of their operations; however, surveyors are not obligated to provide that consideration to a residential landowner. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights is a leading voice on this issue and works to strengthen and protect the property rights of all property owners. ACU opposes this blatant attack on property rights, believes the right to “use and exclusion” is a fundamental principle of a free society and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 14, 2019 by a vote of 45-19 and the bill was signed into law.

22


18. S 1155 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for Idaho Public Television. This bill abuses taxpayer funds by providing over $9.6 million to Idaho Public Television (IdahoPTV), including funding for over 69 full-time employees. IdahoPTV broadcasts numerous programs, including sitcoms, soap operas, and travel, cooking and gardening entertainment. ACU believes it is not the role of government to amuse constituents, opposes the use of taxpayer funds to enrich certain production companies for wasteful government functions that compete with the private sector and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 18, 2019 by a vote of 43-26 and the bill was signed into law.

19. S 1108 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for a Drivers Education Program Best Performed by the Private Sector. This bill unnecessarily increases spending on state-run drivers ed programs, a service more efficiently and commonly performed by the private sector in other states. Under the bill, the maximum reimbursement provided to school districts for drivers ed programs is increased from $125 to $150 per student. Furthermore, the bill authorizes scholarships to reimburse any expenses certain trainees may encounter. ACU believes the private sector is better equipped to educate drivers and believes any surplus revenues collected for this initiative should be returned to motorists through reduced driver’s license fees and opposed this bill. The House defeated the bill on March 19, 2019 by a vote of 30-38.

20. H 229 Expanding Employment in the Electrical Industry and Capping Regulations. This bill expands employment opportunities by permitting electricians to provide supervision and on-the-job training for up to four apprentices (previously only two) on residential installations. Furthermore, the bill prevents the National Fire Protection Association (a private trade association) from imposing future costly regulations on the industry by codifying the 2017 edition of their National Electrical Code into law. ACU supports these much-needed reforms which expand job opportunities, increase competition, reduce consumer costs and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 20, 2019 by a vote of 45-24. (The bill failed to advance in the Senate.)

21. S 1189 Increasing Unnecessary Spending for the Commission on the Arts. This bill abuses taxpayer funds by providing over $2 million to the Commission on the Arts, including funding for 10 full-time employees. The commission provides numerous unnecessary services such as grants to private artists and organizations. ACU opposes government interference in the arts, strongly cautions against this slippery slope toward exploitation and control of the arts (a defining characteristic of authoritarian governments), and instead supports private sector efforts to encourage vibrant and free expression as protected under the First Amendment and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 22, 2019 by a vote of 38-28 and the bill was signed into law.

22. H 275 Expanding the Sale of Short-Term Health Care Plans. This bill expands affordable health care options in the state by permitting the sale of “enhanced short-term” health care plans. These plans are significantly lower-cost alternatives to the health care plans mandated under Obamacare as they are exempt from many of the Affordable Care Act’s calamitous regulations such as requiring coverage of the intentionally vague “essential health benefits.” Due to the bill, short-term health care plans (lasting 12 months or fewer) may now be renewed based on a framework established by the Department of Insurance. ACU has long opposed Obamacare, supports efforts to bypass its mandates and provide individuals the ability to choose the health care plans that best suit their needs and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on March 22, 2019 by a vote of 58-11 and the bill was signed into law.

23. S 1065 Increasing Mandatory Spending and Authorizing Additional Debt. This bill increases mandatory spending by requiring an expenditure of $15 million per year or more to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation program. Additionally, the bill authorizes the state to become further indebted by allowing the issuance of bonds (debt) to fund the projects, which will hold taxpayers responsible for the new debt, interest and fees associated with the bonds. ACU opposes this spending mandate which unnecessarily imposes risk on state taxpayers in periods of economic downturn and believes the state should instead reduce its out-of-control spending and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 2, 2019 by a vote of 37-32 and the bill was signed into law.

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24. H 217 Providing Voters a Voice in the Public Funding of Sports Stadiums. This bill increases government accountability by requiring voter approval in order for public funds to be spent on sports stadium complexes. This bill relates to stadiums with a cost of $1 million dollars or greater and rely on urban renewal dollars to fund at least 51% of costs. ACU closely scrutinizes expenditures of taxpayer funds that enrich wealthy owners of sports teams, believes the private marketplace is the best mechanism to fund sports stadiums, believes voters should have a say in how their tax dollars are spent and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 3, 2019 by a vote of 55-13 and the bill was signed into law.

25. S 1204 Implementing Crucial Conservative Guidelines to Medicaid Expansion. This bill is designed to increase self-sufficiency and reduce costs and fraud resulting from the state expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare (approved by voters in the November 2018 election). Firstly, the bill requires work-ready adult recipients of Medicaid to engage in work, job training or volunteer activities for at least 20 hours per week to be eligible for benefits. Secondly, the bill directs the state to seek a waiver from federal government to permit individuals newly eligible for government-provided health care (due to the expansion) to instead receive subsidies to purchase insurance on the state exchange. Finally, the bill nullifies the expansion of Medicaid if there is any substantive change in the federally funded portion of the program. ACU has long opposed the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare and the substantial costs the program imposes on both state and federal taxpayers, supports efforts to help people live healthier, happier, more productive lives and efforts to reduce intergenerational poverty by encouraging individuals to become self-sufficient and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 4, 2019 by a vote of 49-20 and the bill was signed into law.

26. H 302 Encouraging Irresponsible Spending by Raiding the Rainy-Day Fund. This bill encourages irresponsible spending by directing the state board of examiners to transfer over $140 million from the state’s budget stabilization fund (rainy-day fund) to the general fund. The amount transferred represents nearly one-third of the entire rainy-day fund and is intended to help cover a budget shortfall in times of economic downturn. ACU believes it is absurd to raid the rainy-day fund during a time of peak economic growth and instead believes substantial cuts need to be made to the state’s out-of-control spending and opposed this bill. The House passed a motion to defeat the bill on April 8, 2019 by a vote of 33-31. (A “yes” vote supported the ACU position.)

27. S 1171 Proliferating Government Dependency by Increasing Medicaid Spending. This bill proliferates government dependency by increasing Medicaid spending by over 15% to $2.8 billion dollars in FY 2020, a staggering figure considering this amount makes up over 30% of the state’s total spending. ACU supports efforts to help individuals live healthier, happier, more productive lives, opposes encouraging greater government dependency, expresses deep concern about the dire financial consequences this measure will impose on taxpayers during economic downturn and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 9, 2019 by a vote of 42-28 and the bill was signed into law.

Documents

ACU FOUNDATION'S RATINGS of IDAHO 2019acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/CLA_Idaho_2019_web-1.pdfDear Fellow Conservative, The American Conservative Union