Reclaim Idaho visiting Sandpoint today
Reclaim Idaho announced Monday that it had turned in the last of nearly 97,000 signatures in their effort to get the Quality Education Act on the ballot. The initiative aims to increase K-12 funding by over $300 million annually.
(Courtesy photo)
Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville and other organizers are visiting Sandpoint today to meet with local volunteers to gather signatures for a new K-12 funding initiative.
Several dozen volunteers will meet Saturday at 10 a.m. in the outdoor-seating area of Matching Brewing Company before heading out to local neighborhoods to knock on doors and collect signatures.
“Now that our initiative rights are restored, it's time to exercise them," Mayville said in a press release. "If enough people step up and get involved in this signature drive, we will put the Quality Education Act on the ballot and give Idaho voters a chance to make historic investments in K-12 education.”
In an unanimous ruling earlier this week, the Idaho Supreme Court struck down Idaho's controversial new ballot initiatives law — a law that required signatures from 6% of registered voters in all 35 legislative districts to qualify for the ballot. The ruling returned Idaho to previous previous initiative rules which require signatures to be collected from 6% of voters in 18 districts.
Reclaim Idaho officials said the act would be paid for by a modest tax increase for corporations and the wealthiest Idahoans. The initiative does not raise taxes on anyone making under $250,000 per year. Individuals earning over $250,000 would pay new taxes only on the income they earn above $250,000. Married couples would pay new taxes only on the income they earn above $500,000.