Pancakes and politics at Bonneville County Democrats breakfast
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IDAHO FALLS — Around 30 members of the Bonneville County Democrats met at Shari’s Restaurant in Idaho Falls Saturday to eat pancakes and talk politics.
The main speaker at the event was Rep. Mat Erpelding (D-Boise), Assistant Minority Leader in the Idaho House of Representatives. He spoke with local Democrats on key issues he considers important to Idaho.
Erpelding told attendees that he was working on raising minimum wages by one dollar for those who work for tips. Members of the group expressed their concerns with this and Erpelding reminded them that he would be speaking on what was being done and what bills could be accomplished, not the overall vision for Idaho.
“I understand,” Erpelding said. “Part of the political process is presenting things that will create incremental improvement in Idahoan’s lives.”
Erpelding stressed the importance of getting things accomplished that would be accepted by both sides of the aisle and better the lives of Idahoans. Erpelding’s plans for raising minimum wages in Idaho did not receive a hearing in the legislature.
Erpelding focused on areas were the party was making headway in the legislature. The Universal Service Fund only provides landlines to rural areas of Idaho. The Democratic Party would like to have the fund include broadband services to these rural areas. This plan will help modernize rural Idaho and make it the progressive state that it once was, Erpelding said. .
The representative closed his remarks by speaking on Idaho education. He expressed a desire to work with House Republicans on keeping Idaho teachers from leaving the state. He floated an idea about allowing rural teachers to become eligable for student loan forgiveness if they teach in rural areas.
Many rural communities need teachers with the ability to teach AP classes, but cannot afford them and will not raise taxes to do so. The loan forgiveness program would help teachers make “ends meet” in rural communities.
“It’s our opportunity for Idaho to have a real vision and real potential to excel in the 21st century,” Erpelding said.
After Erpelding’s remarks the meeting concluded with a question and answer session. To learn more about the Bonneville County Democrats visit their website.