New laws are flinging across the rotunda in both directions, resolutions are being filed, and billions of dollars worth of spending bills just hit the House and Senate floors. ICL is in the mix, just like we have been for 52 years.
In the Senate Resources Committee, land, water, endangered species, and quagga mussels were all on the agenda, and that was just at today’s meeting! The session is in full swing, and we’re doing our best to keep our heads above water. Check out the informative ICL Bill Tracker, updated daily!
It might be a struggle, but teamwork makes the dream work at ICL, and Cynthia and I (your devoted ICL gov’t relations team) rely on the critical expertise and support of ICL’s other staff and volunteers, as well as key partners. And despite being past the Feb. 10 bill introduction deadline, bills are still being proposed at a feverish pace. With a sweeping portfolio, this year we’ve worked on air, land, water, wildlife, citizen initiatives, building codes, transportation, energy, mining, public records, legal rights, and more. We are literally swimming in it.
Last Tuesday, we got a heads up from ICL’s Wildlife Associate Jeff Abrams and our friends at Trout Unlimited that a (failed-for-a-good-reason) 2018 proposal had been resurrected from the grave (zombies abound). It was again seeking to remove the authority from four state agencies’ independent boards to hire and manage their directors, three of whom ICL works closely with: the Departments of Fish & Game, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. All manage important public resources that We All Use! These citizen-led commissions provide a key connection to the users and public interest and help insulate the agencies from blustery political winds.
The bill from Sen. Doug Okuniewicz (R-Hayden) came fast through Senate State Affairs, and it might’ve slipped under the radar…but not on our watch! ICL and other voices quickly mustered opposition, dusted off an old Attorney General’s Opinion related to the 2018 measure, prepared our testimony, and suited up for a snowy Friday morning committee hearing. Happy Valentine’s Day indeed!
Compelling testimony from the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Friends of Idaho State Parks, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and ICL (together representing over 50,000 Idaho supporters!) pointed out many of the reasons why the bill was still a bad idea: it threatened the independence of regional citizen-led agency oversight, and along with the loss of Harriman State Park, it would fly in the face of the 1938 citizen initiative that was supported by 76% of Idahoans and sought to insulate fish and wildlife matters from political influence (see more on that below). Oh, it also violated the Idaho Constitution.
Following the unanimously negative testimony, the sponsor of the bill recognized some of the bill’s flaws and attempted to salvage it by sending it to the Senate Floor for amendment. The Committee thought better of it, and instead held the bill in committee on a 5-4 vote (Watch the replay, it starts at 13:23 – caution 520 MB file).
In the end, the hurdles for this one were too high to clear. That’s a good thing, but trust me…it doesn’t always work out that way.
For other news of what went down, what’s coming up, a report on our Legislative Reception, along with the FULL story on the Tie of the Week…follow your destiny and continue reading below!
More public lands in store for Idaho?
A few weeks ago I reported that the clock is ticking on the Idaho Land Bank. Some positive changes may be on the horizon.
But first, what is the Land Bank? It’s a state account that holds proceeds from the sale of the state’s public lands until the Idaho Land Board—made up of the Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Controller, and Schools Superintendent—finds new lands to buy. If they don’t buy land within 5 years, the funds are transferred to the Permanent Endowment Fund.
Now, a bill, from Rep. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise), John Vander Woude (R-Nampa), Mark Sauter (R-Sandpoint), and Sen. Ben Adams (R-Nampa), is moving to extend the existing 5-year window to use the funds to 10 years. It passed unanimously out of committee last week, and we hope that the Idaho House will agree that since we’re selling off beautiful public Endowment Lands around Priest and Payette Lakes, that we should at least acquire some other lands for Idaho to manage, instead of sending it all off to Wall Street (recognizing that it’s still earning money for Public Schools and other beneficiaries).
Over the last 20 years or so, Idaho has spent $99 million to acquire new lands, and sent $133 million back to the Permanent Endowment Fund. If changes aren’t made, and new lands aren’t purchased we’ll send over $35 million back to the stock market in the next two years. We’re hopeful the bill will be well received in the Senate as well. Idahoans know that State Lands are a good investment for the future, AND it’s a lot easier to fill your elk tag in a State Forest than it is on Wall Street. From what I hear, it’s mostly bulls and bears back there anyway…
Did someone say Free of Political Influence?
Citizen-led boards and commissions are a great thing, especially when we’re talking about public resources, but are they truly free from political influence and meddling? The Fish & Game Department is funded by tag sales and user fees and draws $0 from the state’s General Fund coffers, yet the Legislature still attempts, and often succeeds in flexing their muscles.
The people of Idaho sought to provide some distance between elected officials and the management of our public fish and wildlife almost 100 years ago. They saw firsthand what political cronyism and special favors meant when it came to managing our communally-owned wildlife. What it meant back then was that the Governor and his hand-picked Game Warden would hand out hunting tags like candy to his buddies. As a result, populations of elk, deer, and other critters were wiped out, and hunters and anglers were left holding (the empty) bag.
In response, the Idaho Wildlife Federation and the ironically named Poachers Club stepped up their game. They drafted and passed a 1938 initiative with 76% of the vote, establishing an independent citizen-led Commission (appointed by the Governor) and professional management by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG). Ever since, the IDFG has been led by this 7-member commission, with representation from each region of the state.
There’s still politics involved, no doubt. But it helps to provide at least a little breathing room for the public’s interest in this public resource.
While not created by citizen initiative, the Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation and the Idaho Transportation Department have also operated for years under the leadership of their respective boards. Seizing control from these independent boards would inject unnecessary politics into decisions over parks and roads as well.
Chaos in Idaho offices and homes
Late last week, the Trump Administration announced staffing cuts at every federal agency totaling upwards of 220,000+ employees. We’ve heard reports of sweeping cuts at the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bonneville Power Administration, US Geological Survey, and many others that are impacting Idahoans and their families. These employees work in Challis and Caldwell, Moscow and Melba. They’re not Beltway Bureaucrats, they’re our neighbors, and they work to ensure that we have food, water, a healthy environment, and access to our public lands. More cuts are expected this week.
As just one example, we’ve heard that the Forest Service has terminated 3,400 positions nationwide. Word is that fire, law enforcement, and public safety positions were spared the axe. BUT, many front office, wildlife, and other specialists fill critical wildfire roles. Without these positions in place, will Idaho be ready for fire season?
To boot, the federal government is only funded until March 14, 2025 when the current agreement expires. Given the tumult, it appears that a government shutdown may be a virtual lock.
Time will tell.
ICL is working to understand and share some of the impacts these cuts will have on our communities’ public health and safety, as well as on the resources we all care about. We’ll also be providing ways that you can contact Idaho’s leaders to encourage them to speak up.
“Happy” Presidents’ Day?
Cynthia’s Corner 
We’ve arrived at the halfway point of the session, and the bill introduction deadline of last Monday, February 10 didn’t slow down a flurry of bills that were introduced this last week. Rest assured, we still haven’t seen the last of them.
Each day both Jonathan and I attend committee meetings, meet with legislators, testify, submit comments, grab legislators in the hall to chat about various bills, strategize with various partners, and communicate with ICL members so they know which bills need their voice. In between, we review each bill to be sure there isn’t some word or sentence that could slip through.
Because we play defense against bad legislation, we don’t get early notification if a bill is going to be heard or a committee time has moved. These sorts of actions come up quickly and if we don’t check constantly, we could miss something important. We both enjoy the bustling pace and keeping you updated on ways to take action. And with another six weeks to go, we need to keep our energy high and continue to raise our voices!
This last week just steps away from the Capitol, ICL hosted its annual Legislative Reception with our partner Conservation Voters for Idaho in Boise. In attendance were numerous legislators, ICL members, staff, and partners. Thank you to everyone who braved the snow to join us—it reminds us that come sleet or snow or rain, ICL (and our supporters) will be there to speak up for the things we all hold dear!
Tie of the week! 
You never know what you might find tucked into the quiet corners of the statehouse. Thankfully this mountain lion was more interested in the ducks on my tie than he was in making a meal out of me. Nonetheless, ICL is on plenty of menus in the Capitol. As I noted above, we had some success this week, but numerous threats remain. We’re currently fending off attacks on renewable energy, electric vehicles, grizzly bears, and much, much more (Check out the Bill Tracker, seriously!).
That’s why this week’s tie is dedicated to being street smart, anticipating threats, and keeping one’s head on a swivel. Whether you’re a duck…or a public interest conservation advocate, you never know what dangers may lurk around the corner…
Until next week…Esto Perpetua,
Jonathan