In This IssueTAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY - Regarding the Initiatives & Referendums Bill - THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE
Contact your State Representative(s)
To provide comments regarding SB 1159 (see below for a detailed summary) please click this link to contact your representative TODAY. The full House will vote on the bill tomorrow morning, March 28.
Citizen Initiatives on Idaho Ballots As you might have heard in the news, the full bill (SB 1159) passed in the Senate with a vote of 18-17, despite widespread and vocal opposition from the general public. Tuesday, March 26 at 8:00 am the house version of this bill was introduced and subsequently pass through the House State Affairs Committee on a 10-5 vote. Amy Little, CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center was in attendance. In summary of the proceedings, there were over three hours of testimony given, largely in opposition to the bill. 30 testimonials were given in opposition and four were in support. Passionate members of the community AND nonprofits gave their testimony. Summary of SB 1159
History and Background The bill’s sponsor and the State Affairs committee made it crystal clear that this legislation is in response to Prop 1 and Prop 2 which were both on the ballot last November (historical horse racing and Medicaid expansion): both of them were citizen-led initiatives that made it onto the ballot. One passed and one did not. To put a little context to why citizens of Idaho are opposing this bill, we’ll share the history of how many initiatives have ever made it to the ballot since 1933, how many have passed, and how many were actually laws. CLICK HERE to see the list of actual initiatives and referendums (I & R) since the I & R provision was formally adopted in 1933. Only 17 initiatives were ever approved by voters, and only two of those were actual laws. The number of I & Rs that never even make it onto the ballot is staggering. Yet with this new law, it will become even more difficult for citizens to bring anything forward. In the words of one testimonial to the bill sponsor: “You are trying to fix something that really isn’t broken.” There are several scholarly articles that link the I & R process to a critical and needed part of the checks and balances of a well-functioning republican government. Sometimes the I & R process is used when citizens deem their elected officials as not acting upon requests for change. As in the case of Medicaid expansion, proponents say the citizens of Idaho grew frustrated with a lack of action on expanding health care benefits to more Idahoans, taking matters into their own hands. Same thing for the initiative to raise the minimum wage, supporters of that initiative say they have been asking the legislature for an increase for ten years with no change. How does this Connect to the Nonprofit Sector? You are likely asking yourself this now. There is both a direct and an indirect connection. Part of the Idaho Nonprofit Center’s mission is to educate and advocate and we often vacillate info sessions about advocacy. One of the ways nonprofits can engage in advancing their mission through advocacy is the support (or opposition) of initiatives that could help them more fully realize their missions. Example: Last fall a decent number of health and human service organizations actively and publicly supported the passage of Medicaid expansion. Perhaps the most visible is The Speedy Foundation who actively work to reduce the number of deaths in Idaho by suicide. With more Idahoans having access to mental health care benefits there is a greater chance of people getting the support they need thereby reducing suicide deaths. In summary, the most concerning factor (aside from shortened time frame and expansion of percent required and expansion of legislative districts) is the emergency clause that effectively eliminates the citizens of Idaho to have their voice heard on SB 1159 in November. The Idaho Nonprofit Center would like to ensure that you are both aware of this legislation and informed about your options moving forward. This falls under our Policy Agenda, adopted by the board in 2018 within the category of Policy Awareness & Advocacy Education, click here to review the full agenda. If you would like to express your opinion on this bill we urge you to contact your representatives and the governor’s office immediately. Thank you! Update: Electioneering Communications Bill
This bill was introduced but has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing at this time. As we are nearing the end of the Legislative session we don’t anticipate that it will be. Should the status of that bill change we will let you know.
Previous information about the bill here, here, and here. Nonprofit Resources in Danger - Service Programs
On March 11, President Trump released his initial outline of the FY 2020 Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) with the full version scheduled for release soon. Unfortunately, for the third time in a row, the President has recommended the complete elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and its programs, including AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF). If enacted, President Trump's budget would also eliminate all federal funding for State Service Commissions. We shouldn’t let this happen. The time is now to begin the fight for 2020. Luckily, Congress constitutionally holds the "power of the purse." Only Congress can decide how to set the federal budget. So we need you to let your Members of Congress and key Appropriators know that, now more than ever, we need their support to reject these proposed cuts in order to protect and expand national service. Join the Idaho Nonprofit Center and the States for Service Coalition to fight for the future national service. Please call, email, and tweet at your Members of Congress and the Labor HHS Subcommittee that oversees CNCS appropriations. It only takes about 10 minutes! Please share and ask your friends, family, colleagues, and networks to tell Congress to say YES to strong, stable, continued, and expanded funding for service work! Email, Call, and Tweet Nonprofit Tax Alert - Time Sensitive
In about three weeks, charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, foundations, and other nonprofits will have to send in estimated payments to the IRS to pay taxes on their expenses for providing transportation benefits, including free parking and transit passes. More tax payments will be due a month later.
Tens of thousands of nonprofit organizations will be forced to make payments to the IRS on this tax unless nonprofits strongly ask that Congress set aside partisan business and repeal the nonprofit transportation tax. You can help by taking at least two actions today: sign your organization onto a letter calling for repeal (see text of the letter), and contact our Senators and your Representative to ask for repeal now! The countdown clock is ticking rapidly - thus the urgency of this message: Congress will continue to disregard the immediate needs of charitable, faith-based, philanthropic, and other nonprofits unless we voice our concerns. Learn More on how to Help Follow the Idaho Legislature With ‘Idaho in Session’
Stay informed about the discussions, issues and legislation that affect your nonprofit with Idaho Public Television’s ‘Idaho in Session.’ This free online service provides live feeds of the Idaho House and Senate; the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC); and the Lincoln Auditorium, East Wing 42, and eight additional committee legislative hearing rooms while the Idaho Legislature is in session.
More Information Here Contacting Idaho’s Senators and Congressmen
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