House Passes Strict Anti-IEA Bill, Now Heads to Governor

The news: House Bill 516, an anti-union bill that specifically targets the Idaho Education Association and will severely restrict union activities on district property — making it incredibly difficult for members to advocate for better working conditions in their own workplaces — passed the House on 43-24 vote. Four representatives did not vote or were absent. 

• The bill passed the Senate yesterday after lengthy and emotional debate, as well as bipartisan support for the union. 

What happens next: The bill heads to the governor’s desk. Gov. Little has five business days to act. He can veto, sign the bill, or simply let the bill go without his signature; the latter option would allow the bill to become law without his endorsement. 

What lawmakers said: Just like during the Senate debate, lawmakers made it clear this bill is about politics — but in the House, Rep. David Leavitt (R-Twin Falls) was explicit about his need to earn retribution against the union’s May Matters campaign. Unions “had their place in society” at one point, he said, but now they’re about “activism.” 

• He specifically called out an event involving the Twin Falls Education Association in which members were urged to vote in the Republican primary on May 19. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican. Doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat. If the roles were reversed, and I were a teacher, and somebody said that I need to go and change my party affiliation to vote — because your vote doesn’t matter, because everything that does matter happens in the primary election.” Any eligible Idaho voter who registers as a Republican may vote in the Republican primary, regardless of whether they are an educator. 

• Rep. Soñia Galaviz (D-Boise), a member of the Boise Education Association, questioned why educators shouldn’t be allowed to advocate for legislation even though police officers and fire fighters can do so. She pointed out a flyer from the Professional Fire Fighters Association union sitting on her desk. “They lobby, they advocate for their members,” she said. “They come before us in committee and give us their thoughts. And none of us stand there or turn on our mics and say, ‘Hey, wait. Why aren’t you out on patrol? Don’t we pay you to fight fires? Why are you here?” 

• Galaviz continued, referencing previous comments from Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale): “This will kill the teachers’ association,” she said. “I understand that the good lady said that nothing prohibits us from being a member of the association, but it will not let us utter a word about it.”

How They Voted

Yes on House Bill 516: 

• Rep. Joe Alfieri (R-Coeur d’Alene) 

• Rep. Vito Barbieri (R-Dalton Gardens)  

• Rep. Rob Beiswenger (R-Horseshoe Bend) 

• Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale) 

• Rep. Chris Bruce (R-Kuna) 

• Rep. Tanya Burgoyne (R-Pocatello) 

• Rep. David Cannon (R-Blackfoot) 

• Rep. Lucas Cayler (R-Caldwell) 

• Rep. Rick Cheatum (R-Pocatello)

• Rep. Jeff Cornilles (R-Nampa) 

• Rep. Jaron Crane (R-Nampa) 

• Rep. Brent Crane (R-Nampa) 

• Rep. Shawn Dygert (R-Melba) 

• Rep. Barb Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls) 

• Rep. Jeff Ehlers (R-Meridian) 

• Rep. Rod Furniss (R-Rigby) 

• Rep. Don Hall (R-Twin Falls) 

• Sen. Mark Harris (R-Soda Springs) 

• Rep. Dale Hawkins (R-Fernwood) 

• Rep. Dori Healey (R-Boise) 

• Rep. Ted Hill (R-Eagle) 

• Rep. James Holtzclaw (R-Meridian) 

• Rep. Clint Hostetler (R-Twin Falls) 

• Rep. David Leavitt (R-Twin Falls) 

• Rep. Ron Mendive (R-Coeur d’Alene) 

• Rep. Steve Miller (R-Fairfield) 

• Rep. Brandon Mitchell (R-Moscow) 

• Rep. Jason Monks (R-Meridian) 

• Rep. Mike Moyle (R-Star) 

• Rep. Joe Palmer (R-Meridian) 

• Rep. Doug Pickett (R-Oakley) 

• Rep. Elaine Price (R-Coeur d’Alene) 

• Rep. Cornel Rasor (R-Sagle) 

• Rep. Jordan Redman (R-Coeur d’Alene) 

• Rep. Heather Scott (R-Blanchard) 

• Rep. Charlie Shepherd (R-Pollock) 

• Rep. John Shirts (R-Weiser) 

• Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) 

• Rep. Steve Tanner (R-Nampa) 

• Rep. Josh Tanner (R-Eagle) 

• Rep. Faye Thompson (R-McCall) 

• Rep. John Vander Woude (R-Nampa) 

• Rep. Tony Wisniewski (R-Post Falls) 

No on House Bill 516: 

• Rep. Steve Berch (D-Boise) 

• Rep. Erin Bingham (R-Idaho Falls) 

• Rep. Monica Church (D-Boise) 

• Rep. Megan Egbert (D-Boise) 

• Rep. Marco Erickson (R-Idaho Falls)

• Rep. Ben Fuhriman (R-Shelley) 

• Rep. Soñia Galaviz (D-Boise) 

• Rep. John Gannon (D-Boise) 

• Rep. Dan Garner (R-Clifton) 

• Rep. Brooke Green (D-Boise) 

• Rep. Clay Handy (R-Burley) 

• Rep. Annie Henderson-Haws (D-Boise)

• Rep. Dustin Manwaring (R-Pocatello) 

• Rep. Chris Mathias (D-Boise) 

• Rep. Lori McCann (R-Lewiston) 

• Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen (R-Idaho Falls) 

• Rep. Jack Nelsen (R-Jerome) 

• Rep. James Petzke (R-Meridian) 

• Rep. Britt Raybould (R-Rexburg) 

• Rep. Jerald Raymond (R-Menan) 

• Rep. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) 

• Rep. Mark Sauter (R-Sandpoint) 

• Rep. Mike Veile (R-Soda Springs)