Democrats on the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday raised objections to the majority votes on two Department of Environmental Quality rules on groundwater quality and sub-surface sewage disposal.

"Like all Idahoans, we want clean and safe water," Senator Les Bock said. "The majority votes on these issues go against the Department of Environmental Quality's...read more

Idaho House Minority Leader John Rusche had an op-ed in the Idaho Statesman yesterday about Rep. Steven Thayn's proposal to pay parents to keep their children home from kindergarten. Here's a snip:

"Make no mistake - this is an assault on public schools, something Rep. Thayn and his ultra-conservative kind have been promoting for years. But his plan is worse than foolish. It is a dangerous...read more

Here are excerpts from e-mail newsletters that Idaho Democratic lawmakers sent home to their constituents following the end of Week 2 in the 2009 Idaho Legislature. If you would like to receive regular updates from your legislators - Democrat or Republican - be sure to let them know.

Rep. Liz Chavez (District 7) - Education is the backbone of our country ... and educators have seen lean times...read more

Readers of the Press-Tribune and the Republican legislators' blog know that GOP Rep. Darrell Bolz introduced legislation this week to reject lawmakers' pay raise. But what readers may not know is that two Democratic lawmakers were the first to propose this idea more than amonth ago. From an Idaho Democratic Legislative Caucus press release issued December 17:

"Idaho Democratic legislators...read more

Idaho Democratic legislators will have a new slot on KBOI starting Friday, January 16, when Senate Minority Caucus Chair Elliot Werk and Assistant House Minority Leader James Ruchti visit with Paul J. Schneider and Chris Walton from 8:30 to 9 a.m. The show can be heard in the Treasure Valley at 670 AM or on the Internet at http://www.670kboi.com/.

Be sure to tune in as James and Elliot talk about...read more

In a response to the governor's State of the State message, Idaho Democratic leaders today questioned Gov. Butch Otter's priorities in seeking tax hikes for transportation while making deep cuts to public education.

House Minority Leader John Rusche said that Democrats recognize that the economy is in crisis and that state government must tighten its belt just as Idaho families and businesses...read more

Idaho18 blog

So what do we mean when we (Democrats in the Idaho Legislature) say "people versus potholes"? Simply stated, we mean that in a time of economic downturn, it doesn't make sense to us to raise taxes on already-hurting Idahoans to build roads while cutting critical services like education and professional technical programs.

Oh, but Senate Transportation Committee Chairman...read more

This is a blog for the Democrats in the Idaho Legislature.