We made some progress in the last legislative session on important issues facing our district, including public education, the economy, and water resources. As the Senate Minority Leader, I played a strong role in making this progress happen and will continue to work hard to improve the economy of our communities.
While more investment in education is required, we increased funding to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), and created a professional/technical and industry partnership fund. We created career technical advisors in middle schools. And we funded a reading initiative.
The legislature added operational money to all schools across the state. As state revenue increases, the legislature has been putting half into education, but there is much more to do for our students and teachers. Idaho’s funding for education is only at the 2009 level and is 49th in the nation, plus 95 out of 115 school districts passed supplemental levies. This is 2016, we have 18,000 more students in the system, and we need a skilled workforce that provides good wages and attracts businesses.
Around 78,000 Idahoans lack healthcare because the Idaho Legislature has not adopted Medicaid Expansion. Nearly 10,000 of those people who fall into this gap are our veterans.
Idahoans are taxed twice for services we don’t receive. We pay taxes to the federal government for Medicaid Expansion. Plus, our taxpayers and counties pay for indigent care. We are losing millions of dollars of services and are not providing adequate care for our people. This is not fiscally responsible.
I am the legislative liaison to a water collaborative in District 26 to mitigate water management. The legislature has committed funding to water adjudications and aquifer recharge. Our economic future rests on this precious resource.
I am honored to serve the people of this district. Many thanks.
Senator Michelle Stennett
Ketchum resident