School Choice = Real Opportunities + Real Choices
This week at the Madison Liberty Institute, our BrushFires team members are on fire. Also, our Spark Freedom student groups had a very successful week. There are only 17 more days until the first of two screenings for Operation Underground Railroad's special documentary. And lastly, we are concluding week three of the 2020 Legislative Session, where things are quickly starting to pick up.
In case you haven't heard, next week is National School Choice Week. At the Madison Liberty Institute, we believe that school choice provides parents with real opportunities and real choices for their children's success.
A family’s freedom to choose education is the freedom for their children to succeed. Especially in today’s world where even the most basic facts become the subject of political debate and controversy. Children and families should have the freedom to choose the education best fitting their aspirations and personal values. No child should be forced into an education system that is inadequate, corrupt, or hostile to their family’s traditions, beliefs, and values.
This is Educational Freedom! Get involved and help us truly secure school choice here in Idaho.
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“The idea of school choice is spreading like wildfire around the country, because it’s the one education reform that puts real choices and real opportunities in the hands of families who desperately need them.”
– Clint Bolick
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The Idaho State Legislature just finished week three of the 2020 Legislative Session. The activity has started to pick up at the capitol as more bills have been introduced and the legislature continues to go through the administrative rules in the various committees.
This week, the House Education Committee heard another round of testimonies on Common Core as they discussed the science standards Wednesday morning. The results? The committee has yet to decide, so be sure to contact your legislators with your position.
Some other bills of interest have been introduced this week, including Representative Pricilla Giddings' bill (H0360) to repeal Idaho's grocery tax. |
However, her attempt was thwarted by Representatives Gary Collins and Thyra Stevenson in the House Revenue and Tax Committee.
In the House State Affairs Committee, Representative Ellis introduced a house resolution to recognize January 16th as Religious Freedom Day in Idaho. Representative Zito introduced a bill (H0358) to make Idaho exempt from daylight savings time.
In the Senate, the Resources and Environment Committee voted to introduce legislation (S1247) that would designate “wolf-free” and “chronic depredation” zones, creating more opportunities to hunt wolves year-round. In the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, a hearing was scheduled for a bill (S1241) that would make Hemp legal in Idaho.
Lastly, Idaho received national attention this week for Representative Ehardt's "Fairness In Sports" legislative proposal to ban transgender women from participating in women sports.
Check out the bill alert section below for more information!
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The ABCs of School Choice
Why is education important? Education is the fuel that propels us to reach great heights in life. Our dreams and hopes to change the world are made possible through education in the field that we want to impact. Education also enables us to be self-reliant financially and protected against poverty. The more knowledge we have the better we can care for ourselves and others.
Read more HERE.
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Celebrate School Choice in Idaho!
Are you wanting to join the National School Choice festivities? If you are in the Nampa area tomorrow, we encourage you to attend the Idaho School Fair on January 25th. The event is family-friendly and will include free books, swag, games, and entertainment for kids.
If you want to see what other school choice activities are happening throughout Idaho, click HERE!
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Several members of the Madison Liberty Institute team were recently invited to speak to about 20 community members in Shelley, Idaho. The team introduced Madison Liberty's three areas of engagement, with a special emphasis on our civic engagement project - BrushFires. We also discussed our legislative hopes for 2020 and focus on “system fixes” to correct the systematic sources of unconstitutional and abusive laws. The team also demonstrated ways to promote long-term policy solutions and how to restore “good governance”. |
Last, but definitely not least, some of our BrushFires committees have been hard at work to help repeal the Idaho Content Standards (aka Common Core). The hearing regarding the science standards took place earlier this week on Wednesday, January 22. We appreciate the House Education Committee for giving Idahoans the opportunity to testify on the standards; however, many felt the hearing(s) didn't accurately reflect the concerns of parents due to the fact that most concerned citizens were unable to attend due to distance, weather, and/or employment. If this applies to you or someone you know, you still have time to impact the results of these hearings. As such, we are encouraging individuals who are concerned to contact their legislators. Ask them to vote for better education options for each individual student here in Idaho.
To get involved with a BrushFire Committee near you, please contact us HERE.
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What's happening at Spark Freedom?
This week, our Spark Freedom project had a great turn out for their weekly student club meetings. Our Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) chapter held elections to select new club leaders. The Students Against Slavery chapter changed their meeting days to Thursday at 6 PM. And this weekend, several of our TPUSA students are headed to the March for Life in Salt Lake City.
We also have some events and activities coming up next month that you won't want to miss, so be sure to stay tuned.
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Operation Toussaint Showing in Idaho Falls and Rexburg!
Madison Liberty is partnering with Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) and volunteers to host a screening of the documentary Operation Toussaint at Edwards Theater in Idaho Falls on February 10th and Paramount 5 in Rexburg on February 20th.
These events will help raise money for Operation Underground Railroad’s future missions to rescue people around the world from human trafficking.
Since we now have a student chapter of O.U.R. here at Madison Liberty, we encourage you to visit their website to learn more. As for the documentary, Operation Toussaint takes us along on the mission that saved many trafficked humans in Haiti in 2018. The trailer for the documentary can be viewed HERE.
We hope you all will take the opportunity to attend either of the screenings as well as check out our O.U.R. student chapter.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Madison DaBell here.
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Liberty Resource:
National School Choice Week
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Meet Madison DaBell
This week, we are excited to highlight Ms. Madison DaBell, a communications intern. A junior at BYU-Idaho, Madison is majoring in communications with an emphasis in public relations. Her primary responsibilities at Madison Liberty are to assist with events and our BrushFires project.
Click HERE to learn more about Madison.
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House Bills
HB.308: Handheld devices, restriction ban
HB.309: Budget stabilization fund
HB.310: Background checks, sources
HB.311: Evaluation committees, counselors
HB.312: Daycare facilities, licensing
HB.313: Acupuncture, licensing
HB.314: Deaf, hard of hearing, terminology
HB.315: Controlled substances, schedule
HB.316: Pharmacy act, updates
HB.317: Optometric physician licensing act
HB.318: Occupational licensing, division
HB.319: State appellate public defender
HB.320: Criminal justice data system
HB.321: Liquor, plazas, theaters
HB.322: Presidential primary, party change
HB.323: Approp, H&W other programs, add’l
HB.324: Approp, parks & rec, reduced
HB.325: Transp, funding, sales tax
HB.326: Veteran, definition
HB.327: Service members, veterans
HB.328: Outfitters, computation, rules
HB.329: Water resources, records, paper
HB.330: Nonresident fees
HB.331: Approp, STEM action center, add’l
HB.332: Driver’s licenses, issuance, fees
HB.333: Motor vehicle dealers, licensing
HB.334: Bridge inspection account, funds
H0335: Eminent domain, rec trails
H0336: Motor voter act
H0337: Minimum wage, political subdivision
H0338: Plastic bag bans, repeal
H0339: Physical therapy, dry needling
H0340: Child care, treatment facility
H0341: Medical billing, prohibitions
H0342: Telehealth services
H0343: Bonded wine warehouses
H0344: Interim successors, publishing
H0345: Vehicles, booting, registration
H0346: Distracted driving
H0347: Bond elections, eleven months
H0348: Electronic recording commission
H0349: Marriage license, application
H0350: Capitol mall parking facilities
H0351: Medicaid reimbursements
H0352: Grocery tax credit
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H0353: Taxing districts, budgets
H0354: Tax district, recover foregone
H0355: Taxing districts, budgets
H0356: Cattle, nutrient plans
H0357: Perm bldg fund advisory council
H0358: Daylight saving time, exemption
H0359: Property tax repeal
H0360: Sales, use tax, food exemption
H0361: Abortion, illegal
Senate Bills
SB.1216: Cyanidation facilities
SB.1217: Water diversion, cleanup
SB.1218: Water resources, documents, paper
SB.1219: Guardians, conservators, appt
SB.1220: Guardians, conservators, appt
SB.1221: Criminal cases, fines, payment
SB.1222: Controlled substances, possession
SB.1223: Imported food, bread, flour
SB.1224: Weighmasters, licensing
SB.1225: Agriculture, reporting requirements
SB.1226: Sexual orientation, gender identity
SB.1227: Adoption, notice
SB.1228: Approp, pest deficiency transfer
SB.1229: Approp, hazmat deficiency transfer
SB.1230: Commercial driver’s licenses
SB.1231: Vehicles, electronic registration
SB.1232: Corrections, inmate accounts
SB.1233: Campaign finance reports
SB 1234: Public records, univ presidents
SB 1235: Professional studies prgm, repeal
SB 1236: Ed interpreters, qualifications
SB 1237: Swan tags, upland game bird permits
SB 1238: Civics requirements, course
SB 1239: Flex school schedules, elementary
SB 1240: Advanced practice registered nurse
SB 1241: Hemp, controlled substances
SB 1242: Nursing home admin, training
SB 1243: State budget, overhead expenses
SB 1244: Expenditure object codes
SB 1245: Public officers, deposits of funds
SB 1246: Inactive programs, commissions
SB 1247: Depredation, wolf-free zones
SB 1248: Seed, plant certification, standrds
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Legislative Progress Report:
Week 3 (as of 01.24.2020)
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Legislation
- New legislation prepared: 248
- Changes, amendments, and engrossment: 44
- Total legislation: 272
Introductions
- Bills: 87
- Resolutions, Memorials, Proclamations (both houses): 9
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Action
- Bills passed (both houses): 0
- Bills awaiting signatures: 0
- Bills signed by Governor: 0
- Resolutions, Memorials adopted: 1
Bills Passed by Chamber
(and pending in the other)
- Senate: 6
- House of Representatives: 2
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