Good jobs change lives. They bring dignity, security, and family-sustaining wages. Idaho LAUNCH is providing more graduates with opportunities to obtain workforce skills to fill the in-demand jobs businesses struggle to hire for. Sadly, LAUNCH scholarships are under threat. A majority of GOP lawmakers oppose them, and Republican party bosses are calling for their termination.
Last month, the state announced that 9,180 Idaho seniors will receive the first round of LAUNCH grants. The dollars will cover a portion of the costs for in-demand career training. Jobs like welders, electricians, and healthcare workers are essential for our economy, and LAUNCH makes it possible for young Idahoans to pursue these roles.
LAUNCH only passed in 2023 because Idaho House and Senate Democrats unanimously supported it. This was true again in 2024 when it was time to fund it because most Republicans were opposed. Representative Nate Roberts championed the investment during the floor debate. A union electrician who gained skills through an apprenticeship, Roberts understands the value of job training and fair wages. More importantly, his career allowed him to marry his high school sweetheart, buy a house, and raise two kids in Pocatello. Nate is fighting to ensure the next generation has the same opportunities, unlike his Freedom Foundation-backed challenger.
While LAUNCH is a success story, it has never been more at risk. A critical mass of Republican legislators who supported LAUNCH lost their primary seats to far-right extremists. That’s why the outcome of swing races in November will determine the future of LAUNCH. Democrats, including Nate Roberts in Pocatello and Rick Just in West Boise, face Republican challengers who oppose LAUNCH. Conversely, Moscow Democrats Julia Parker and Kathy Dawes and West Boise Democrat Shari Baber are challenging incumbents who tried to defund LAUNCH even after thousands of students received notice of their awards. If Democrats don’t hold and flip seats in competitive districts, Idaho may lose a critical economic development tool that gives the next generation a path to prosperity.
LAUNCH isn’t the only thing extreme Republican leadership is putting at risk. At the Idaho GOP convention, party bosses amended their platform to defund all education after high school, from LAUNCH to our colleges and universities. Dozens of Republicans on the November ballot signed a loyalty oath to this manifesto.
Additionally, career-technical programs are often the first to be cut when school districts face funding shortfalls. This has become more common since Republican lawmakers made it harder to pass school levies, while Idaho remains last in the nation for per-student funding.
LAUNCH and other workforce investments are good for Idaho workers and businesses. This November, we must elect leaders who value education and reject Republican politicians who shortchange our future.
Onward,
Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair