Are you feeling overwhelmed and hopeless? Like I am? Would a victory this week that you helped win make the sun shine a little brighter? Then help us defeat this bill tomorrow. This bill would essentially remove our ability to get citizen initiatives on the ballet. At a time when our rights are at jeopardy nationally, we must protect our rights at the state level. Especially our right to participate in politics as citizens. It is one lever we have again fascism and plutocracy.
The vote in committee is scheduled for Wednesday morning, March 20.
Please call today! See the full background text below. Each and every one of these committee members needs to hear from each and every one of us.
Rachel
Sandpoint Indivisible
Patti Anne Lodge
palodge@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1320
Brent Hill
bhill@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1300
Mark Harris
mharris@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1429 (this is correctphone number)
Chuck Winder
cwinder@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1354
Mary Souza
msouza@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1322
Kelly Anthon
kanthon@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1327
Dear supporters of Reclaim Idaho,
We’ve all seen some dirty politics in Idaho, but the latest news is downright reprehensible.
We are shocked and appalled to learn that Senator Grow drafted his dangerous anti-initiative bill while working hand-in-hand with the payday loan industry.
Senator Grow recently proposed a bill that would dramatically restrict the right of Idahoans to organize ballot initiatives. Importantly, the senator did not consult with any of the thousands of ordinary citizens who have been deeply involved at the grassroots level in Idaho’s initiative process.
Instead, Senator Grow chose to write his bill in private, with the consultation of a lobbyist working on behalf of Moneytree, INC. Moneytree and other payday lenders have come under intense scrutiny in other states for charging more than 200% interest rates on short-term loans to customers who, most often, are living paycheck to paycheck.
In 2018, a Colorado initiative to regulate payday-loan interest rates was enacted with 77% of the vote. It is likely that Moneytree wants to prevent the same type of initiative from being enacted in Idaho. After all, Idaho has among the highest payday loan rates in the nation.
In recent public hearings on Senator Grow’s anti-initiative bill–first on Monday and then again today–scores of Idaho citizens signed up to testify. Opponents of the bill outnumbered supporters by a margin of 30 to 1.
Our legislators have a choice to make: Which do they value more—the interests of the payday loan industry or the constitutional rights of Idaho citizens?
Today’s shocking revelation should be a clear signal to all members of the Senate State Affairs Committee. This bill needs to go back to the drawing board. Before voting to overhaul our initiative process, members of the committee should work to draft a bill that respects the input of all Idaho stakeholders, and not just those with the deepest pockets.
Here is contact information for members of the Senate Affairs Committee who may still support this corrupt proposal. Each one of them needs to hear from you:
Patti Anne Lodge
palodge@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1320
Brent Hill
bhill@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1300
Mark Harris
mharris@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1429 (this is correctphone number)
Chuck Winder
cwinder@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1354
Mary Souza
msouza@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1322
Kelly Anthon
kanthon@senate.idaho.gov
(208) 332-1327
As always, please keep hope alive. These final weeks of the legislative session will come with exhaustion and setbacks. But with so much on the line, we cannot afford to give up or give in. The facts are on our side; the Constitution is on our side; the public is on our side. Let’s keep on pushing.
Thank you,
The Reclaim Idaho Team
Sandpoint Indivisible 