From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Wed Jun 1 17:44:06 2022 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2022 23:44:06 +0000 Subject: Successful audits prove Idaho elections are safe, secure Message-ID: [Graphical user interface, text Description automatically generated] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2022 Successful audits prove Idaho elections are safe, secure Boise, Idaho - Idaho leaders are celebrating the state's safe and secure elections after new investments this year prove our county clerks carried out a near-perfect primary election in May. "We added new election integrity investments as part of my 'Leading Idaho' plan this year to enhance transparency and assure Idahoans their vote counts, and I appreciate my legislative partners for making it a priority. The outcome of the first post-election integrity audits prove what Idaho has consistently demonstrated - that we administer our elections with the utmost care and preparedness. Our 'Leading Idaho' plan continues these post-election integrity audits moving forward and adds resources to protect our elections against cyber threats," Governor Brad Little said. "My confidence in Idaho's 44 elected county clerks was once again affirmed by the results of our first official post-election audit this past week. While we were very pleased with the outcomes in the eight randomly selected counties we reviewed, we are already looking at how we can improve the process - and the scope of our review - to continue to provide meaningful insight to the elections community and bolster confidence amongst Idaho voters that Idaho's election procedures, security measures, and ultimately, election outcomes can be relied upon," Secretary of State Lawerence Denney said. "It was gratifying to know that Ada, Bannock, Bonneville, Idaho, Jerome, Kootenai, Madison and Payette counties were successful in their first post-election audit. We were so grateful for the opportunity to go through this endeavor and gain an outside evaluation of our process and results. As an association we were looking forward to the process that would provide positive feedback when we excel, learn from the experiences, and help us ascertain and make improvements to our procedures. The best thing about a new process is the opportunity to collaborate amongst our peers and with the Secretary of State's Office to develop more unified processes that provide the needed transparency for public understanding and confidence. We thank Secretary Denney and his team for their efforts and support. The Secretary of State's Office clearly defined areas for examination prior to the audit and did a great job in clarifying the purpose as results verification and not a recount as they are separate functions," Idaho Association of County Recorders and Clerks President (and Power County Clerk) Sharee Sprague said. "Our county clerks are the stewards of Idaho's election system, and I appreciate their diligence in carrying out this critical function of our democratic republic. I applaud Secretary of State Lawerence Denney and his team for an outstanding job working with counties to complete these important audits," Governor Little added. # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 41261 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jun 9 16:01:00 2022 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2022 22:01:00 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little seeks applicants for Fish and Game Commission Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D87C1A.1B223450] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2022 Gov. Little seeks applicants for Fish and Game Commission Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little is accepting applications for the Southeast Region representative on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission following the retirement of Commissioner Lane Clezie. "I want to thank Lane for passionately serving the interests of Idaho sportsmen and protecting our wildlife and hunting and fishing opportunities these past eight years," Governor Little said. "I'm sure Lane will remain committed to conservation and enjoy our state's outdoor opportunities long into retirement. I wish him well." Clezie was appointed to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission in 2014. He is a registered Republican. Idaho law requires no more than four commissioners on the seven-member commission to be affiliated with any one political party. Qualified individuals interested in applying for the vacancy are encouraged to submit applications to the Governor's Office by Friday, June 24, 2022. Applications and other appointment information are available at https://gov.idaho.gov/appointments/. # # # Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor's press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail Madison.Hardy at gov.idaho.gov. To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to news at gov.idaho.gov. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 98275 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jun 10 14:01:47 2022 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2022 20:01:47 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Idaho_Supreme_Court_to_hear_state=92s_appeal_Monday_in_d?= =?Windows-1252?Q?eath_row_case?= Message-ID: [Graphical user interface, text Description automatically generated] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2022 Idaho Supreme Court to hear state?s appeal Monday in death row case Boise, Idaho ? Governor Brad Little issued a statement today ahead of the Idaho Supreme Court's Monday hearing related to the death penalty sentences of convicted serial killer and rapist Gerald Pizzuto. Pizzuto is on death row and was convicted of robbery and four grisly murders, all committed within a year after his release from prison in Michigan for rape. He killed Rita Drury, a grandmother, after binding her hands and feet, brutally assaulting her, and violating her in a disgusting and humiliating manner. He fatally shot John Ray Jones in the face at near point-blank range. At Ruby Meadows in Idaho, Pizzuto bound Berta and Del Herndon, gruesomely bludgeoned their heads repeatedly, and concealed their bodies in a shallow grave. Governor Little said: "I am committed to the rule of law and have followed the Idaho Constitution and Idaho Code in denying a reduced sentence for Gerald Pizzuto?s cruel and calculated murders of Berta and Del Herndon in Idaho County. The severity of Pizzuto?s brutal, senseless, and indiscriminate killing spree strongly warrants against a reduced sentence. The state must have the ability to fully carry out the just sentences as ordered by the court in this case." The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole voted 4-3 in December of 2021 to commute Pizzuto?s death sentences to life in prison without the chance of parole. Pursuant to the Idaho Constitution and Idaho Code, the commission?s written decision constitutes a recommendation to the Governor. After a thorough review of the voluminous records submitted during the commission's public hearing, Governor Little rejected the commission's recommendation to reduce Pizzuto?s death sentences. Pizzuto's lawyers sued, and one judge concluded the section of Idaho Code the Governor followed violates the Idaho Constitution. The State of Idaho appealed the decision to the Idaho Supreme Court, and in May the Governor's Office filed an amicus brief to support the state's position that the law allowed the Governor to reject the commission's recommendation for a reduced sentence. The Idaho Supreme Court will hear arguments in the state's appeal Monday. # # # Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor?s press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail Madison.Hardy at gov.idaho.gov. To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to news at gov.idaho.gov. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 41261 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jun 17 16:06:18 2022 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2022 22:06:18 +0000 Subject: Idaho leads in unemployment, rolls out historic tax rebates Message-ID: [Graphical user interface, text Description automatically generated] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2022 Idaho leads in unemployment, rolls out historic tax rebates Boise, Idaho - While Idahoans are paying more for everything - gas, food, cars, energy, and everything in between - the State of Idaho is seeing headway on several of Governor Brad Little's initiatives. Idaho is in the middle of deploying historic tax relief, getting people to work, and making landmark infrastructure investments to lower tax burdens on property taxpayers. "Right now, Idaho families are forced to pay more for food, gas, and everyday goods as inflation swells to a 40-year high under President Biden's watch," Governor Brad Little said. "Thankfully, here in Idaho we're deploying both immediate and ongoing tax relief to working families and keeping our economy strong so people can continue to work and keep more of what they earn. We're also making historic investments in roads, schools, water, and other infrastructure to lower the burden on property taxpayers to cover these needs." The Bureau of Labor Statistics released state unemployment data for the month of May today, revealing that Republican-led states continue to hold their rank as the states with the lowest unemployment rates. Idaho's May unemployment rate fell to a new historic low of 2.5-percent. In addition, Idaho has deployed 571,000 income tax rebates to households so far this year, totaling $190 million. The average rebate totals $333 per household. The Legislature approved $350 million in immediate tax rebates this year as part of Governor Little's "Leading Idaho" plan, so hundreds of thousands more households will receive their checks before the end of 2022. The plan also included ongoing tax relief so Idahoans will be able to keep more of what they earn in the years ahead. Of the 600,000 tax rebate checks issued, two have been donated back to the state for government services. Local governments also will receive new record funding for roads, schools, water as part of the Governor's Leading Idaho plan, minimizing the potential for cities and counties to ask local property taxpayers to cover the infrastructure needs of Idaho's growing communities as they craft their budgets over the summer and fall. 12 of the top 15 states with the lowest unemployment rates in May were all led by Republican governors including, including Idaho. 10 of the 15 states with the highest unemployment rates in May were led by Democrat governors. More than three times as many GOP-led states (22) are below the national average for unemployment than Democrat-led states (7). # # # Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor's press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail Madison.Hardy at gov.idaho.gov. To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to news at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 41261 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Tue Jun 21 13:01:16 2022 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2022 19:01:16 +0000 Subject: Governor Little appoints Clay Tucker as Boise County Commissioner Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D88560.CB97FDC0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2022 Governor Little appoints Clay Tucker as Boise County Commissioner BOISE, Idaho ? Governor Brad Little announced today his appointment of Clay Tucker as Boise County Commissioner. Tucker is the 2022 elected Republican nominee for the Boise County Commissioner District II seat. As the commissioner-elect, Tucker was scheduled take office in January 2023. Due to the resignation of the current District II Commissioner Robert Ted Holmes, Tucker will assume the duties of commissioner on July 1, 2022. Idaho Code 59-906A addresses how vacancies to boards of county commissioners are filled. Boise County Republicans submitted a list of three candidates to Governor Little for appointment, consistent with Idaho law. # # # Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor?s press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail Madison.Hardy at gov.idaho.gov. To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to news at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 87255 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jun 24 08:58:23 2022 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:58:23 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little comments on SCOTUS overrule of Roe v. Wade Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D887A8.8DFE7A30] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 24, 2022 Gov. Little comments on SCOTUS overrule of Roe v. Wade Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little commented today on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. "I join many in Idaho and across the country today in welcoming the high court's long awaited decision upholding state sovereignty and protecting preborn lives. The decision provides clarity around landmark cases at the center of passionate debate in our country for nearly five decades. This is now clear - the 'right' to an abortion was a judicial creation. Abortion is not a right expressed in the U.S. Constitution, and abortion will be entrusted to the states and their people to regulate. "Idaho has been at the forefront of enacting new laws to protect preborn babies. The pro-life bill I signed into law in 2020 will go into effect later this summer. "Today's decision is the culmination of pro-life efforts to defend the defenseless - preborn babies who deserve protection. It also is affirmation of states' rights, a fundamental aspect of our American government. "However, we fully acknowledge this monumental moment in our country's history means we must confront what know will be growing needs for women and families in the months and years ahead. We absolutely must come together like never before to support women and teens facing unexpected or unwanted pregnancies. Families, churches, charities, and local and state government must stand ready to lift them up and help them and their families with access to adoption services, healthcare, financial and food assistance, counseling and treatment, and family planning. We are being called to support women and our fellow community members in extraordinary new ways, and I'm confident Idahoans are ready to meet this responsibility with love and compassion," Governor Little said. In July of 2021, Governor Little joined 10 other governors in submitting an amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The case centered around a 2018 Mississippi law prohibiting abortions after 15 weeks except in medical emergencies or severe fetal abnormality. Lower courts held that Mississippi's law violated the holdings in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), in which non-elected justices recognized a right to abortion, contrary to the text and original meaning of the Constitution. The SCOTUS decision today rejects the lower courts' rulings and holds that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden also joined more than 20 other attorneys general in a similar amicus brief. In 2020, Governor Little signed Senate Bill 1385 prohibiting abortion in Idaho except when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman or when the pregnancy is the result of incest or rape. The prohibition, however, did not become law when signed. Rather, the bill contained a provision - commonly referred to as a "trigger" - stating that the prohibition will not take effect until 30 days after SCOTUS issues judgment in a case that "restores to the states their authority to prohibit abortion." There were 1,680 induced abortions in Idaho in 2020. The Idaho Care Line, 2-1-1, is a resource available to all Idahoans directing them to a variety of resources that support individuals and families. # # # Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor's press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail Madison.Hardy at gov.idaho.gov. To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to news at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 87255 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jun 30 13:13:17 2022 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2022 19:13:17 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?63_communities_to_benefit_from_=93Leading_Idaho=94_drink?= =?Windows-1252?Q?ing_water,_wastewater_improvement_projects?= Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D88C83.28FA8220] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2022 63 communities to benefit from ?Leading Idaho? drinking water, wastewater improvement projects Boise, Idaho ? The State of Idaho approved plans to roll out $300 million in water and wastewater infrastructure project funding benefiting 63 communities across Idaho, a step that could help local governments keep property taxes low as they formulate their budgets this summer and fall. ?Water is our most valuable resource, and we absolutely must keep up the infrastructure ensure water is clean and plentiful for this generation and future ones. That is why we made historic investments in water quality and quality this year as part of my ?Leading Idaho? plan,? Governor Little said. ?These investments also could keep your property taxes low. Property taxes are determined locally but the investments we made in water and other infrastructure needs at the state level help relieve the burden on local government to cover costs of projects, improving the chances property owners won?t be burdened with the costs.? The Idaho Board of Environmental Quality on Thursday last week approved the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) criteria and fundable list to expend the $300 million recommended by Governor Little and appropriated by the Idaho Legislature for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The 63 communities identified will receive more than $285 million in funds for water infrastructure projects. The DEQ also provided almost $6 million for engineering planning studies for 136 water projects. ?I appreciate the Governor and Legislature for directing needed funds toward Idaho?s critical water infrastructure needs,? DEQ Director Jess Byrne said. ?These investments will provide much-needed support for many of Idaho?s small and rural communities while also helping to protect our water resources.? Governor Little?s Leading Idaho plan included more than $750 million to improve the quantity and quality of water throughout the state ? a historic amount that includes $175 million for water infrastructure administered by the Idaho Department of Water Resources to ensure a dependable supply, $494 million for safe water systems administered by DEQ, and $80 million to improve water quality as prioritized by DEQ. The funds are a mix of federal and state sources. # # # Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor?s press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail Madison.Hardy at gov.idaho.gov. To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to news at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 87255 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: