>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILL THE EXPHOAR BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> WHAT'S LEFT ON THE LEGISLATURE'S PLATE AS LAWMAKERS RETURN FROM THEIR COVID RECESS NEXT WEEK?

FOR ONE, A CONTENTIOUS HIGHER ED BUDGET, AS WELL AS LINGERING QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

>> I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK, SENATOR CARL CRABTREE GIVES US HIS TAKE ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND SENATOR ALI RABE DISCUSSES THE HOUSING CRISIS IN IDAHO'S MOST POPULATED AREAS.

>> FIRST A VACCINE UPDATED.

LAST WEEK GOVERNOR BRAD LITTLE IS SPEEDING UP THE TIMELINE OF VACCINE ELIGIBILITY, WITH EVERYONE 16 AND OLDER ABLE TO GET VACCINATED STARTING APRIL 5th.

AS OF THIS WEEK, THANKS TO AN INCREASE IN VACCINE SUPPLY, EACH OF IDAHO'S SEVEN PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS HAVE OPENED UP THAT ELIGIBILITY TO EVERYONE.

BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MORE THAN 466,000 IDAHOANS HAD RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

IN ADDITION TO MASS VACCINATION SITES, PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO GET VACCINATIONS TO PEOPLE AT CONVENIENT LOCATIONS OUTSIDES OF THE TRADITIONAL PHARMACY AND HOSPITALS.

>> THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

BUT THERE ARE STILL CHALLENGES.

INCLUDING A SURGE OF NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN EASTERN IDAHO, AND A LACK OF COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON RACE AND ETHNICITY OF VACCINE RECIPIENTS.

NICOLE FOY OF THE IDAHO STATESMAN AND KYLE PFANNENSTIEL OF THE IDAHO FALLS POST REGISTER AND REPORT FOR AMERICA HAVE BEEN COVERING COVID-RELATED ISSUES SINCE THE BEGINNING, AND JOINED ME FRIDAY TO TALK ABOUT RECENT CASES AND IMMUNIZATION DATA.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

KYLE, I WANTED TO START WITH YOU.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SPIKE IN CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN EASTERN IDAHO?

>> YEAH.

UM, I GUESS I SHOULD PREFACE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS.

ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WE OPENED ACCESS FOR EVERYONE AGED 16 AND UP TO BE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

HAPPENED STATEWIDE NOW.

BUT IT WAS A PRETTY BLEAK MEETING THURSDAY MORNING WITH THE EASTERN IDAHO PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD.

AN ADMINISTRATOR AT THE LARGEST HOSPITAL, EASTERN IDAHO REGIONAL CENTER, SAID HOSPITALS ARE PRETTY MUCH AT CAPACITY IN THE REGION.

WALK-IN RATES WERE AROUND 70-80%, MOST WEEKS RECENTLY CASES HAVE SURGED TO THE POINT THAT HAS PUT IDAHO FALLS AT NATIONAL HOT SPOT STATUS.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY DRAMATIC REVERSAL WHILE IDAHO GOES THROUGH A LULL IN CASES.

AND IT KIND OF HARKENS BACK TO PRETTY ROUGH TIMES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, WHEN HOSPITAL LEADERS WARNED ABOUT A SPIKE.

I FOR ONE WAS PRETTY SURPRISED THIS HAPPENED TO DRAMATICALLY AND SO WERE A LOT OF DOCTORS.

THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE SPIKE CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR EXPLANATIONS IN RECENT WEEKS, AND A FEW THEORIES HAVE EMERGED.

I GUESS THE PREVAILING ONE THAT THE HEALTH DISTRICT HAS BEEN SAYING IS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T BEING CAREFUL.

YESTERDAY THE HEALTH DISTRICT EPIDEMIOLOGIST SAID CONTACT TRACERS ARE FINDING IN THEIR INVESTIGATIONS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T STAYING HOME WHEN THEY'RE SICK.

AND THIS HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT.

ONE PERSON GOING TO WORK SICK CAN INFECT THREE MORE PEOPLE, THOSE THREE CAN INFECT THREE MORE EACH, THAT'S NINE, AND 27, AND SO IT HAS A REAL SNOWBALL EFFECT.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE CONCERN ABOUT THE HEALTH BOARDS HERE ENDED ITS POLICY OF ISSUES ANY RESTRICTIONS.

THAT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

ALL RESTRICTIONS GOT LIFTED IN THE REGION ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

SO ALL THIS HAPPENED AROUND THE SAME TIME, AND THROW INTO THE MIX THE TWO VARIANTS THAT ARE MORE INFECTIOUS, SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

SO WHERE WE ARE ISN'T VERY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOOD OUTLOOKS FOR WHERE WE COULD GO.

YESTERDAY THE EPIDEMIOLOGIST SAID THAT CASES ARE STILL SET TO BE REPORTED AT HIGH RATES RIGHT NOW, BUT HE'S HOPEFUL PEOPLE LISTEN TO THEIR WARNINGS AND THAT INFECTIONS CAN FINALLY DIE DOWN.

BUT THEY'RE EXPECTING UPTICK FROM SPRING BREAK ACTIVITY.

>> NICOLE, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT VACCINE AVAILABILITY.

ALL SEVEN PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS HAVE OPENED JICT TO EVERY 16 AND OLDER.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS THE VACCINE FOR WHATEVER REASON.

THERE'S STILL DISPARITES IN THAT DISTRIBUTION.

>> SOMETHING I'VE BEEN REPORTING ON AND WATCHING ALL YEAR IS OF COURSE WHAT -- HOW THE PANDEMIC AND NOW HOW THE VACCINE IS BEING AVAILABLE TO THE LATINO POPULATION, TO HISPANIC AND LATINOS IN IDAHO.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO THAT WHEN AT THIS POINT WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF VACCINE AVAILABILITY IN EVERY DISTRICT, AND YET WE'RE STILL MISSING RACE, ETHNICITY DATA FOR A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CASES.

FOR A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND STILL FOR A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CASES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO THAT MAKES IT HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY LATINOS WHO WERE HIT PRETTY HARD BY THE PANDEMIC HERE IN IDAHO, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

AND IF THE BARRIERS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THAT ALREADY EXIST FOR GROUPS LIKE LATINOS IN IDAHO, IF THEY'RE STOPPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE VACCINE OR IF WE JUST DON'T KNOW BECAUSE ALMOST 50% OF DATA IS MISSING.

AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, AS REPORTER WHO'S BEEN WRITING ABOUT RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA AND HOW IT COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND THE PANDEMIC IN IDAHO AND WHICH COMMUNITIES NEED HELP, WHICH COMMUNITIES NEED MORE VACCINE AVAILABILITY, IT'S FRUSTRATING TO SEE THE SAME THING OCCURRING SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WITH VACCINE DATA THAT WE HAD FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS WITH RACE AND ETHNICITY FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE.

SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT REALLY MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT -- WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO GET THE VACCINE IF THEY WANT ONE.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO REASONS FOR THOSE DISPARITIES, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

IN FACT, THERE ARE SO MANY OF IDAHO'S LATINO POPULATION WHO DO SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROVIDING INFOMATION IN SPANISH, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF POINTED OUT AS -- COULD BE A CONCERN, IF WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THIS HARD-HIT POPULATION IN IDAHO GETS THE VACCINE THAT THEY NEED.

AND ONE -- ONE THING IS SOMETIMES DISTANCE FROM AVAILABLE HEALTHCARE, DISTANCE FROM HEALTHCARE THAT IS TRUSTED.

THERE WERE -- THIS PANDEMIC REALLY JUST EXACERBATED LONG-EXISTING RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS.

AND SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE WOULD SEE SOME OF THOSE DISPARITIES ALONG THE SAME LINES.

ANOTHER THING AS WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO LATINO WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED OR WHO HAVE SHAKY LEGAL STATUS, YOU KIND OF HIT THESE THINGS PEOPLE CALLED I THINK FALSE BARRIERS, IS THE WAY TO PUT IT.

WHERE IDAHO HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR AS WELL THAT YOUR STATUS WILL NOT PROHIBIT YOU FROM GETTING THE VACCINE.

ANYONE, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR LEGAL STATUS, IS ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT YOUR INSURANCE, EITHER.

HOWEVER, ASKING FOR INSURANCE, ASKING FOR I.D., ASKING FOR PROOF OF WORK, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND THE STATE AND HEALTH DISTRICTS ARE DOING TO VERIFY THAT THE VACCINE IS GOING TO PEOPLE IN IDAHO AND NOT PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT -- FOR PEOPLE ALREADY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE, THAT'S ANOTHER -- THAT MAY MAKE THEM THINK TWICE, AND MAY MAKE THEM MAYBE NOT SHOW UP FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT IF THEY'RE WINDSOR RITD COULD IT CATCH THE ATTENTION OF THE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS.

ALSO TOO, YES, LANGUAGE IS NOT SO MUCH OF AN ISSUE, BUT IT DOES BECOME AN ISSUE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE.

PEOPLE, LATINOS LIKE ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE.

IS IT SAFE?

WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET?

CAN I GET THIS VACCINE IF I HAVE THIS -- IF I HAVE KIDNEY PROBLEMS, IF I HAVE THIS, IF I HAVE THAT.

THAT'S SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE, AND WHEN YOU HAVE MONTHS AND MONTHS OF LIMITED INFORMATION IN SPANISH, IF THAT'S THE LANGUAGE YOU NEED YOUR INFORMATION IN, THAT'S GOING TO -- YOU HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

AND THAT'S -- COULD BE A PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, KYLE PFANNENSTIEL, NICOLE FOY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MY FULL CONVERSATION WITH KYLE AND NICOLE, VISIT THE "IDAHO REPORTS" YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

YOU'LL FIND THE LINK AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, HIT SUBSCRIBE.

>> COVID ISN'T THE ONLY CRISIS IDAHOANS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.

HOUSING AND RENTAL PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED IN MANY PARTS OF THE STATE, THANKS TO A COMBINATION OF PROPERTY TAXES, GROWTH, AND OUT OF STATE INVESTORS.

FRESHMAN SENATOR ALI RABE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JESSE TREE OF IDAHO, A NONPROFIT FORMED TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS BY PREVENTING EVICTIONS AND PROVIDING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

ON FRIDAY, I ASKED SENATOR RABE WHAT SHE'S SEEING ON THE GROUND, AND WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE HAS A ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY, SENATOR.

FIRST OF ALL, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN SPENDING THE RECESS, BECAUSE OF COVID?

>> I'VE BEEN SPENDING THE RECESS HERE IN THE JESSE TREE OFFICE, JUST CATCHING UP WITH STAFF AND OUR CLIENTS.

IT'S BEEN NICE TO CATCH UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> I IMAGINE YOU ARE.

SPEAKING OF JESSE TREE, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING-RELATED ISSUES IN THE TREASURE VALLEY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE?

I KNOW WHAT I'M SEEING WHEN I LOG ON TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEE PEOPLE BEGGING FOR HELP LOOKING FOR HOUSING.

BUT FROM THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE, WHAT'S THE LANDSCAPE?

>> THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

SO OUR MISSION IS ALWAYS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

AND WE PAY THE RENT THEY OWE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH SUPPORT TO GET THEM SUSTAINABLE.

BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF UNPRECEDENTED THINGS GOING ON, LANDLORDS NOT RENEWING LEASES, OR GIVIN PEOPLE 30-DAY NONRENEWAL NOTICES, OR SELLING THEIR PROPERTY AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING JUST FOLKS THAT ARE BEING KICKED OUT FOR OTHER REASONS AND THE LANDLORD IS NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH US FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NOWHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.

THAT'S AFFORDABLE.

SO IT'S REALLY AN UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEM, BUT THE SUPPLY ISSUE IS ACROSS THE BOARD, AFFECTING RENTERS AND I KNOW HOMEOWNERS AS WELL LOOKING TO BUY.

>> SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING MIGHT NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH THE LEGAL BACKGROUND OF THE -- OF RENTAL AGREEMENTS AND LEASES.

SO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LANDLORDS SELLING PROPERTIES OR NOT RENEWING LEASES, ALL OF THAT IS LEGAL, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

IT IS, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, EVEN HERE, A LOT OF LANDLORDS, I WON'T SAY A LOT, BUT MANY LANDLORDS DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAW IN TERMS OF THE EVICTION PROCESS.

GIVING TENANTS A THREE-DAY NOTICE, PROPERLY SUMMONING THEM TO COURT, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE SEE A LOT OF LANDLORDS WORKING OUTSIDE LAW, BUT IT IS LEGAL TO GIVE A NONRUNAWAY NEWELL NOTICE AND KICK PEOPLE OUT THAT WAY AS WELL.

>> SO JESSE TREE WORKS WITH FAMILIES TO HELP PAY RENT AND KEEP PEOPLE IN HOUSING.

AND THAT'S A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGISLATURE, ARE THERE ANY LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT LAWMAKERS COULD POTENTIALLY TACKLE?

>> YEAH.

WELL, ONE THING THAT WE DO HERE ALSO IS PARTNER REALLY CLOSELY WITH EVICTION COURT.

AND WORKING WITH MEDIATORS TO -- THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ADA COUNTY COURT, SITTING DOWN WITH MEDIATORS BEFORE A TENANT GOES BEFORE A JUDGE ALLOW US TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT PLAN AND KEEP THE 10 NANT THEIR HOME AND KEEP THAT EVICTION OFF THE RECORD.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MEDIATION GO STATEWIDE.

WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING IT OUT, BUT I THINK ANY COURT ACROSS THE STATE THE COULD EASILY IMPLEMENT MEDIATION IN EVICTION COURT.

ANOTHER BIG THING THAT THE STATE COULD DO IS ADDRESS OUR PROPERTY TAX ISSUE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT THOSE PROPERTY TAXES DO GET PASSED ON TO RENTERS.

THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD DO TO MITIGATION RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS FOLKS WHO RENT TO LONG-TERM TENANTS.

ANOTHER BIG THING THE STATE COULD DO IS INVEST IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, WHICH WOULD ENABLE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP AND BUILD MORE HOUSING AND GET CREATIVE WITH SOLUTIONS THAT THEIR LOCAL AREAS ARE EXPERIENCING.

>> THE PROPERTY TAX OF COURSE HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, AND A PROPOSAL DIED IN THE SENATE JUST BEFORE RECESS.

WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO TAX RELIEF?

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SHIFT ADDRESSED, THAT'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT WE'RE SEEING, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ADA COUNTY WHERE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES CONTINUE TO RISE AT A PACE THAT OUTPACES COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

SO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES CONTINUE TO BEAR MORE OF THE BURDEN, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT SPREAD OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE, SEE A LITTLE MORE FAIRNESS THERE.

THAT'S WHAT WOULD I HOPE FOR.

I THINK TOO THE STATE COULD GET CREATIVE IN PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX CREDITS WITH SOME OF THE SURPLUS MONEY THAT WE'VE GOT TO HOMEOWNERS, AS WELL AS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING TO LONG-TERM RENTERS.

>> WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE IN SESSION AFTER YOU COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

DO YOU THINK REALISTICALLY THE LEGISLATURE COULD DO ANYTHING MEANINGFUL TO TACKLE EITHER RENTAL ISSUES OR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BEFORE ADJOURNING SINE DIE THIS YEAR?

>> SURE.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO PASS A BILL.

THERE ARE ALWAYS WAYS TO SNEAK ONE IN AT THE LAST MINUTE.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS FOR HOW PROPERTY TAX RELIEF COULD HAPPEN.

AND SO FAR THOSE BILLS HAVEN'T GOT A HEARING.

THEY COULD GET A HEARING, POTENTIALLY, I THINK ANOTHER THING THE LEGISLATURE COULD EASILY DO IS INVEST SOME OF THAT SURPLUS MONEY THAT WE'RE SEEING THROUGH THE CARES ACT, AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN INTO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

THAT TRUST FUND IS ALREADY SET UP, JUST NEED TO PUT A LITTLE MONEY BEHIND IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS REALLY WANT TO TRY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE STATE TO SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS.

THAT'S AN EASY BUDGET FIX THAT WE COULD MAKE PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SENATOR ALI RABE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHEN THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK FROM ITS COVID-INDUCED RECESS ON APRIL 6th, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BIG ISSUES LEFT TO ADDRESS.

ONE THAT HAS PROMPTED A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COMMUNITY THIS YEAR IS THE BUDGET FOR IDAHO'S HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTES AFTER SEVERAL CONSERVATIVE HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN AND ANGER OVER SO-CALLED SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM AT IDAHO'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.

SENATOR CARL CRABTREE SITS ON BOTH THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND CARRIED THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET ON THE SENATE FLOOR IN MARCH.

ON THURSDAY, I ASKED SENATOR CRABTREE ABOUT THAT BUDGET AND WHETHER HE THINKS IT WILL PASS THE HOUSE.

WE KNOW THE HIGHER EDUCATIN BUDGET IS GOING TO FACE A LOT OF SCRUTINY WHEN IT HITS THE HOUSE FLOOR.

HOW MUCH MORE WORK ARE YOU ANTICIPATING THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE HAVING?

>> WELL, I EXPECT WE'LL DO AS MUCH WORK AS WE HAVE TO.

WE DON'T WANT TO TRY TO RECOOK THE THINGS.

WE BELIEVE WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.

AND WITH REGARD TO THAT HIGHER ED BUDGET, THEY'RE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STORIES TOLD ABOUT IT, AND SOME PEOPLE FILED THEIR TEETH EARLY ON THIS BEFORE WE EVEN HAD A BUDGET THAT THIS -- WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE HIGHER ED.

WE PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM IN THREE WAYS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO ADVICE ABOUT IT THAT NOW, BUT WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH IS A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO THE SOCIAL JUSTICING.

I DON'T HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE COUNTRY AS I DO AT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT I HEAR SOME.

THERE IS A CONCERN THERE'S A SOCIAL AGENDA BEING TAUGHT AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THIS STATE, AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

LEGISLATURE.

SO BECAUSE I WORK THE HIGHER ED BUDGET AND I'M ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND ON THE EDUCATION, I TRY TO FIND A WAY TO WEAVE A SOLUTION, THREAD THE NEEDLE, IF YOU'D LIKE, THAT'S THE COMMON TERM NOW, BUT TRY TO FIND A WAY WHERE WE CAN SOLVE THIS HIGHER ED DEBACLE OVER THIS SOCIAL JUSTICEISSUE.

SO I DID THREE THINGS.

ONE, PENALIZE BOISE STATE, WHICH HAS BEEN KIND OF THE POINTED SPEAR ON THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CONVERSATIONS.

AND TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM WHAT THEY SAY ARE THEIR SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS.

THE NUMBER I USED WAS THEIR NUMBER.

AND IT'S ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THEN WE ALSO ASK ALL UNIVERSITIES BY NEXT JANUARY TO REPORT TO US THE LEGISLATURE, WHAT THEY'VE SPENT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMMING.

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS HAVE THEY BEEN DOING?

MY GUESS IS THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE QUITE SMALL, IF WE TOOK IT AWAY FROM BOISE STATE THIS YEAR, AND THEN OTHERS REPORT THEY HAVE IT IN JANUARY, WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT?

SO THAT'S THE SECOND PRONG OF THE SOLUTION THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

AND THEN THE THIRD PRONG IS TO ASK THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO TAKE THE STUDENT FEES THAT ARE PAID, AND MAKE SOME OF THOSE INTO A PICK LIST FORM SO ALL FOUR UNIVERSITIES HAVE THE SAME PICK LIST TO CHOOSE FROM.

SO IF A STUDENT DOES NOT WANT TO SIGN UP FOR A CERTAIN CLUB AND PAY THE DUES THROUGH THEIR STUDENT FEES, THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S $2,000.

MAYBE THE STUDENTS WILL CHOOSE HALF OF THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT GIVES AN OPTION AND THE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS.

IT'S A THREE-PRONGED EFFORT TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS, AND WE STILL WANT TO GET THE MESSAGE SENT, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE WHAT'S GOING ON IN TERMS OF OTHER EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS AT THESE UNIVERSITIES.

>> I HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE, CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT TO STUDENTS WHO AT THE END OF THE DAY, ARE ADULTS CHOOSING TO ATTEND THESE INSTITUTES THEMSELVES.

IS THERE A ROLE AT ALL FOR DISCUSSING THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORICAL PROBLEMS WITH RACISM AND WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN THIS IS A VERY APPROPRIATE AND IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ABOUT RACISM THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS A SOCIETY, AND THIS GOES TOO FAR?

AND WHO GETS TO DECIDE THAT?

>> WELL, THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS, MELISSA.

AND I V DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THEM, BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE CHECKBOOK.

SO YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE GUY THAT IS DOG OUT THE CASH, WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT AND WHETHER YOU LIKE THE MESSAGE THEY'RE TELLING, THERE HAS TO BE A COMING TOGETHER ON HOW THIS WORKS.

I FRANKLY GIVE A LITTLE -- GET A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN LEGISLATURES GET INTO CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT.

I'M NOT SURE WE'RE WELL PREPARED FOR THAT.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE CONCERNS THERE.

AND THE LEGISLATURE IS A BODY, IT'S EVEN MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE STATE IS.

BUT IT HAS THE MONEY IN ITS HAND.

SO THERE HAS TO BE A FINDING OF COMMON GROUND HERE ON THIS ISSUE BETWEEN THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK AND THE LEGISLATURE.

>> PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ALSO FACING CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY WITH IDAHO'S YOUNGEST STUDENTS.

THE STATE HAS LONG STRUGGLES TO GET ELEMENTARY READING SCORES UP AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING OFTEN RELIES ON LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES INSTEAD OF THE STATE.

I ALSO ASKED SENATOR CRABTREE ABOUT POLICY CHANGES THE LEGISLATURE COULD MAKE TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN IDAHO, AND WHAT HE BELIEVES NEEDED TO BE DONE THIS YEAR.

YOUR VICE CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE, AND THERE ARE BIG CHALLENGES FACING IDAHO STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS RIGHT NOW, BOTH WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING AND WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE READING PERFORMANCE AMONG OUR YOUNG STUDENTS.

WHAT IN YOUR MIND DOES THE LEGISLATURE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS SESSION IN EDUCATION BEFORE ADJOURNING SINE DIE?

>> WELL, FOR ME, IF WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THESE LIVES OF THESE STUDENTS, WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING AT READING AT THIRD GRADE.

WE'RE HALF -- HALF OF THE KIDS HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE READING LEVEL AT THIRD GRADE.

THAT IS A GREAT INDICATOR OF THEIR FUTURE LIVES, HOW WELL THEY CAN READ IN THE THIRD GRADE.

WE'RE NOT DOING WELL, AND WE'VE TRIED A FEW THINGS, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS TRY TO HELP THESE KIDS A LITTLE EARLIER.

WHAT WE'D LOVE TO HAVE IS TO HAVE THESE CHILDREN HELPED BY THEIR PARENTS.

AND THE PARENTS AND THE FAMILY UNIT IS THE IDEAL SCENARIO FOR THIS.

THE FACT IS, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

THE FACTS ARE WE'D LOVE TO HAVE IT, BUT THE TRUTH IS, IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN THESE HOMES AS MUCH AS WE'D LIKE IT TO.

ONE OF MY SCHOOLS THAT I'VE TALKED TO IN MY DISTRICT SAYS THAT 80% OF THE KIDS HEADED TO THE FIRST GRADE ARE NOT PREPARED.

NOW, THAT INDICATES THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT -- WHAT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO HAVE FROM THE FAMILY.

AND IT'S -- THE FAMILY IS TRYING.

WE HAVE HIGH LEVEL OF POVERTY, WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING, AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE A WAY, IF WE WANT THESE CHILDREN FROM RURAL IDAHO, AND THAT'S WHAT I REPRESENT MOST, TO SUCCEED AND COMPETE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO BETTER PREPARING THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR EDUCATION TOMORROW ME THAT STARTS WITH SOME SORT OF OPTIONAL KINDERGARTEN EFFORT FOR THESE KIDS, AND MANY OF THE SCHOOLS ALREADY HAVE DONE SOME PART-TIME THING.

FUNDED BY THE PROPERTY TAX OWNER.

THE PROPERTY TAX LEVIES ARE FUNDING THE KINDERGARTEN, BECAUSE THE STATE DOES NOTHING.

SO IF WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM EARLY, AND THE PROBLEM IS THE CHILDREN ARE COMING AND NOT PREPARED, THE PARENTS CAN'T DO IT FOR WHATEVER REASONS, THEN WE NEED TO PROVIDE A WAY TO HELP THEM.

AND WE DON'T WANT A REQUIREMENT, WE WANT IT OPTIONAL.

BUT THAT'S AN IDEA I THINK WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THIS LEGISLATURE TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN ANYTHING IN EDUCATION IN MY VIEW.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES THAT YOU BROUGHT UP WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE K-12 AND THE FUNDING ISSUES, AND THE BURDEN ON PROPERTY TAXPAYERS, ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT BEFORE ADJOURNING SINE DIE?

>> NO.

I DON'T.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME EFFORTS.

WITH REGARD TO -- WE'RE DOING THINGS WITH THIS KINDERGARTEN LEGISLATION THAT I'M PROPOSING, IS TO GO AHEAD AND NOT ALLOW THE LEVIES TO BE ASSESSED FOR KINDERGARTEN.

SO IT'S A SHIFT OF THAT -- THOSE CHARGES TO THE STATE, WHICH WERE CHANGED IN 2006 OR SO WHEN NOW SENATOR JIM REMEMBER WAS INVOLVED, AND WE SHIFTED THINGS LOCALLY.

THAT HASN'T TURNED OUT WELL FOR RURAL IDAHO.

IT'S NOT DONE WELL UNDER THE LEVY SYSTEM.

SO MAYBE WE NEED TO RELIEVE THOSE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS OF THIS PART OF THEIR BILL, AND SHIFT IT TO THE STATE WHERE IT WAS BEFORE.

SO THAT'S WHAT PART OF THIS KINDERGARTEN DEAL IS TRYING TO SHIFT TAXES AND TRY TO GIVE RELIEF TO THE PEOPLE THAT I HEAR FROM ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SOLVING THIS BIG ISSUE OF OUR KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO READ BY THIRD GRADE ENOUGH, AND NOT BEING PREPARED FOR FIRST GRADE WHEN THEY COME.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TWO THINGS DONE AT ONCE, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL APPROACH TO DO IT, IT'S THE BEST THING OF COURSE I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO IT THE THIRD TIME, THE PARENTS, WE WANT THEM TO DO IT.

AND THEY STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT.

BUT IF THEY CAN'T, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE KIDS' FUTURE BE BRIGHTER.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON BOTH THE EDUCATION AND BUDGET COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION QUITE FRANKLY, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT MONEY GO IN THE FUTURE?

>> WELL, I HAVE SEVERAL IDEAS FOR THAT, LIKE OTHER LEGISLATORS, BUT ONE IS, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IN RURAL IDAHO IS BROADBAND.

AND WE PUT A BILL THROUGH -- I HELPED WITH THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR TO ESTABLISH A BROADBAND GROUP TO MAKE SOME PLANS AND TO DISTRIBUTE MONIES, AND ALSO PROVIDE AN EMPTY BUCKET TO PUT MONEY IN FOR THESE THINGS.

SO I THINK RURAL IDAHO, IF IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL AT EDUCATING KIDS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE BETTER INTERNET ACCESS.

WE HAVE IT AT THE SCHOOLS, BUT WHEN THE KIDS DRIVE OUT OF TOWN, THEY DON'T.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.

SO I THINK BROADBAND IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL HELP ALL OF IDAHO, BUT PARTICULARLY RURAL IDAHO, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SMALL POPULATION DENSITY, BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME NEEDS PER CHILD.

THEY STILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE INTERNET.

AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT HELPS IN A LOT OF OTHER WAYS.

IT HELPS IN BUSINESS, IT HELPS IN SAFETY AND MEDICAL THINGS TOO.

BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING EDUCATION, I THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> SENATOR CARL CRABTREE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GLAD TO DO IT.

THANK YOU.

>> MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR CRABTREE IS AVAILABLE ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" PODCAST AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

YOU CAN FIND THOSE LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE, IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

>> THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK INTO SESSION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 6th, AND THE "IDAHO REPORTS" TEAM WILL CONTINUE OUR ONLINE COVERAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE "IDAHO REPORTS" BLOG.

THERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND STORIES ON RECENT IDAHO SUPREME COURT DECISIONS AND VACCINE LAWS RELATING TO MINORS BY "IDAHO REPORTS" PRODUCERS DEVON DOWNEY, RUTH BROWN, AND LOGAN FINNEY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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