Capitol Letters: Lawmakers ignore $1.2M job market study, OK raises for AG’s office
By Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter; and Hayat Norimine, Accountability Editor
The Idaho Legislature last year commissioned a job market study to find out how the state could make employee salaries more competitive amid significant turnover.
The study decided the state, Idaho’s largest employer, should offer 4% merit-based raises this year, along with additional hikes over the next two years for highly competitive job fields, such as public safety, nursing and information technology.
Budget-setting Republican lawmakers last month rejected the recommendations, opting instead for statewide hourly raises, and in recent weeks the committee directed enhanced raises to select agencies. That included an 11% total raise for employees at Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s office.
Read the full story here.
Former Gov. Phil Batt honored at Capitol
Former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt was a mentor and a model for each of his successors, Idaho’s four living governors said during a Thursday ceremony honoring Batt at the Capitol in Boise. Batt died Saturday on his 96th birthday.
“He was my first teacher on governing, he was my longest teacher on governing,” said former governor and U.S. Sen. Jim Risch. “Every move I make is somehow touched by Phil Batt’s hand.”
Batt served one term as governor, from 1995 to 1999. He also served as lieutenant governor and a member of the Legislature. He was Idaho Republican Party chairman in the early 1990s.
As governor, Batt negotiated a historic agreement curbing nuclear waste dumping near groundwater in Eastern Idaho. He also carried legislation granting farmworkers injury compensation, repealing an eight-decade exemption.
Idaho State Police troopers escorted a coffin, draped in an American flag, carrying Batt’s body into the Capitol on Thursday. Hundreds attended the ceremony, including Supreme Court justices and dozens of state lawmakers, who briefly paused their work amid the legislative session. The Idaho Air National Guard conducted a flyover with four planes.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who became emotional describing his relationship with Batt, said his mentor struck a balance between compromise and holding fast to principles.
“Governor Batt’s life and public service showed us we always have the opportunity to make lasting improvements for future generations,” Little said.
Read my full story here.
What else happened?
The House approved a bill that would ban restraint and seclusion as forms of discipline and corporal punishment at schools. It will still need approval from the Senate to become law.
The Senate passed a bill requiring schools to provide restrooms based on students’ sex at birth and separate restrooms for transgender students. The bill heads to a House committee.
What to expect today
8 a.m. Joint Finance-Appropriations. Lawmakers will continue setting budgets. On the agenda today is the governor’s office.
8 a.m. House Education. The committee will hold a public hearing for a bill, from Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, to exempt public charter schools that serve 100% at-risk students “from having to demonstrate strong academic results to qualify” for lower interest rates on bonds.
9 a.m. House Health and Welfare. Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, will introduce another bill on mRNA vaccines.
9 a.m. House State Affairs. Lawmakers will consider introducing a new library bill, deemed the “School Library Protection Act” and sponsored by Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa.
1 p.m. Senate Judiciary and Rules. The committee will hold a public hearing on a bill that would make changes to judicial council appointments, sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Abby Lee, R-Fruitland.
Find the full list of committee meetings and agendas for the House here, and for the Senate here.
Track other bills
Keep track of high-profile bills as they go through the legislative process. You can find yesterday’s updates here.
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