State of Idaho Archives: on Jobs


Butch Otter: Hire One Act: income tax credit for creating new jobs

There's an investment that Idaho taxpayers are making in job creation. It's called the Hire One Act. We'll soon see how many employers took advantage of the income tax credit it provides for creating new jobs as those businesses start filing their 2012 tax returns. But a number of companies already have told us that the terms and conditions of qualifying for that incentive are too complex and onerous to be the useful tool we'd hoped in economic development. So I'm bringing you legislation this year to address those concerns and reflect our changing conditions and needs. It simplifies, clarifies and streamlines the law so that our local and state economic development experts can maximize its potential for growing our workforce and our tax base. In addition, my new Hire One More Employee or HOME Act recognizes the special needs and our special responsibility to veterans--our State agencies are working together to focus public attention and address the problem through the Hire One Hero program.
Source: Idaho 2013 State of the State Address Jan 7, 2013

Dirk Kempthorne: Family Farm Security Task Force to improve ag conditions

Our agriculture and our farm communities must be full partners in our rural recovery. I’ve appointed a Family Farm Security Task Force to review our laws and regulations and determine how best we can improve conditions here at home. In my budget, I will recommend some one-time tax relief to help our farmers and ranchers. [And] he time has come to move forward and enact a minimum wage for farm workers.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Idaho legislature Jan 8, 2001

Jerry Sturgill: People need a living wage

Sturgill said he will also focus on issues of poverty and income inequality. "People need a living wage," he said. "We cannot expect people to be hard-working and expect them to live in poverty."
Source: Post-Register coverage of 2016 Idaho Senate race Jul 1, 2016

Jerry Sturgill: Wage inequality is unforgivable

We must eliminate wage inequality. Women who do the same job as a man should receive the same pay. In my church leadership positions, I have helped single moms who can't support their families on a single, minimum wage income. Wage inequality between men and women is especially pronounced in Idaho. We can argue about how many pennies are involved, but wage inequality is unforgivable. Period.
Source: 2016 Idaho Senate campaign website Sturgill4Senate.com Aug 31, 2016

Michael Crapo: Provide system for legal foreign workers in agriculture

An efficient and workable guest worker program must be developed that will provide employers with a reliable, verifiable and legal system to identify guest workers who are legally in the country. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act aims to provide needed improvements to the agriculture-labor component of our nation's immigration system to provide a more reliable supply of labor to our nation's agriculture producers and an improved process for immigrants seeking to work in American agriculture.
Source: Magic Valley Times-News on 2022 Idaho Senate race Apr 9, 2021

Paulette Jordan: Partner with local unions building apprenticeships

Q: How can the governor help the state develop the skilled workforce businesses need?

Jordan: One thing would be to partner with local unions. Unions are doing a great job with building apprenticeship programs with local high schools to help them get right into their careers. The other strategy is to build local business into research institutions and high schools, develop partnerships with them. There are a lot of opportunities when you train and mentor your workforce.

Source: Idaho Business Review on 2018 Idaho Gubernatorial race Apr 27, 2018

Paulette Jordan: Raise minimum wage in increments

Idahoans who work full time shouldn't be living in poverty. Idaho has the lowest minimum wage in the West, but the highest number of minimum-wage workers. I will look at every opportunity to raise the minimum wage. I will work with the Idaho State Legislature and in collaboration with the business community on a graduated plan to begin raising the minimum wage in manageable increments - an initiative other cities and states have successfully accomplished across the country.
Source: 2018 Idaho Governor campaign website JordanForGovernor.com May 15, 2018

Troy Minton: Raise minimum wage; relates to his fellow homeless

Minton has been living at the River of Life Men's Shelter for the past month, and before that he bounced around between different shelters--and at one point lived on the street. He says his life experiences are the driving force behind his desire to run. His main priority: raising minimum wage in the state, helping families struggling financially. He wants to provide those families with resources to help keep them off the streets.
Source: KTVB News on Idaho 2018 Gubernatorial race May 8, 2017

Brad Little: We banned diversity statements in university hiring

Idaho was the first state to ban critical race theory in our schools. We're taking a stand that we should NOT divide our children. We also banned diversity statements in university hiring. Our academic freedom policies protect free speech on campus while barring hateful, dangerous threats against the Jewish people.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature Jan 8, 2024

David Roth: Supports a living wage and policies that actually raise pay

A safe, stable home shouldn't be out of reach. David will fight to lower housing costs and create more paths to homeownership so families can put down roots and build a middle-class life. If you work hard, you should be able to afford a place to live, food on the table, and a little left over to get ahead. David supports a living wage and policies that actually raise pay, not just corporate profits.
Source: 2026 Idaho Senate campaign website RothForIdaho.com Apr 19, 2026

David Roth: Strengthen the right to organize and bargain collectively

Source: 2026 Idaho Senate campaign website RothForIdaho.com Apr 19, 2026

Todd Achilles: Employers should pay their workers a livable wage

Increase wages to address family's struggling with affordability and to shrink the size of government. When employers pay their workers a livable wage, then we reduce the need for big government safety net programs (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.). These programs have become corporate welfare.
Source: 2026 Idaho Senate campaign website AchillesForIdaho.com Mar 13, 2026

  • The above quotations are from State of Idaho Politicians: Archives.
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