Idaho accelerates investments in literacy, education
My LEADING IDAHO plan made historic investments in education this year — boosting teacher pay, supercharging literacy funding, helping districts offer more competitive benefits, and empowering parents! K-12 funding will increase by $300 million, the single largest increase in state history, which amounts to a 12.5-percent increase over FY22. The Legislature approved my plan for an additional $47 million for literacy –my top priority in education. My priority has been and will continue to be getting all Idaho kids to read proficiently by the end of third grade. It just makes sense. Our investments in education later will have more impact if we can give students a strong start. It is not only our constitutional obligation but our moral obligation as well. I appreciate my legislative partners for sharing my passion for making sure we meet our obligations to our education system and ensure success for Idaho students and families!
Idaho joins lawsuit challenging Biden’s Title 42 border decision
Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and I are working together to add Idaho to the list of states joining a lawsuit filed by Arizona, Louisiana, and Missouri challenging the Biden Administration’s termination of the Title 42 Orders, Trump-era border policies that helped minimize the flow of illegal immigration across the United States-Mexico border. Last year, I joined half our nation’s governors in releasing 10 policy solutions – including the continuation of the Title 42 Orders – to protect America, restore security, and put our country on a path to end the crisis at the southern border. The Trump Administration invoked the Title 42 restrictions to protect the American people, and it worked. The policy kept tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from crossing the border. Idaho’s participation in this multistate lawsuit reinforces the fact that border security is interconnected to the health and safety of American citizens.
With illegal public encampment gone, Idaho continues fight for public health and safety
The State of Idaho filed a notice of dismissal Monday to end its lawsuit seeking to stop illegal public camping on the Capitol Annex in downtown Boise because all individuals have dispersed and the property has been cleared for weeks. Idaho does not tolerate illegal public encampments and destruction of public property. Idaho is not San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle, where public officials have engaged in failed experiments to permit and encourage unsafe and destructive public camping. I am proud of my administration’s deliberate strategy to address a highly complex situation involving state statutes, case law, and the First Amendment while ensuring the state meets its obligation to protect public health and safety. The approach was effective, and the encampments have been gone for weeks. Idaho will continue to fight against illegal public camping, and I appreciate Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, my administration, and law enforcement for their careful response and continued work to protect Idahoans.
In the Community
I am happy to proclaim April as Month of the Military Child!
The future of agriculture in Idaho is bright! Thank you to our leaders of tomorrow for having me speak at the State FFA Convention!
April is officially Child Abuse Prevention Month in Idaho!
The Caldwell High School political philosophy class had great questions for me this morning!
