Idaho State House District 17 B Choose 1
Idaho House of Representatives members serve a 2-year term and are responsible for translating the public will into public policy for the state, levying taxes, appropriating public funds, and overseeing the administration of state agencies. These responsibilities are carried out through the legislative process — laws passed by elected representatives of the people, legislators.
Biographical Information
1. What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
Candidate has not yet responded.
2. What experience has prepared you for this office?
Candidate has not yet responded.
3. What do you see as the most significant challenges Idaho faces that you might be able to address in this position?
Candidate has not yet responded.
4. Would you support legislation to remove criminal liability for physicians and pregnant women experiencing life threatening pregnancy complications and allow for medical and family decisions regarding continuation of that pregnancy. Please explain your response.
Candidate has not yet responded.
5. What else would you like to tell the voters?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Website
http://meganegbert.com
Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/MeganforIdaho
X known as Twitter
@meganforidaho
Campaign Website
http://www.meganegbert.com
1. What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
When elected, I am committed to building bridges and finding coalitions with others who want to work on creating stronger support systems for schools, libraries, mental health services, and childcare facilities in Idaho.
2. What experience has prepared you for this office?
I’m a 2L Law Student at the University of Idaho. Prior to starting law school, I worked in public libraries for almost 15 years. My campaign experience began in 2006 trying to defeat Idaho’s restrictive marriage amendment that constitutionalized marriage as only being between a man and a woman. I’ve worked on other campaigns, with my most recent involvement being as a member of the 2017 Yes! For Boise Schools campaign. I have been fortunate to attend many training sessions that have helped to prepare me to run for office and serve as an elected official, including training from Wellstone Action Training (now re:power), The Harwood Institute, Human Rights Campaign and more.
3. What do you see as the most significant challenges Idaho faces that you might be able to address in this position?
One of Idaho's most pressing issues is access to quality, affordable childcare options. Facilities are struggling to retain childcare employees, forcing them to raise their rates. In 2022, the median hourly wage for childcare providers was $10.56 per hour, putting us 5th from last in the nation. According to Idaho’s Birth through Five Needs Assessment, half of Idahoans do not have access to affordable, quality child care. I believe the Idaho legislature must support early childhood education in Idaho; if not, we will face an ongoing education crisis from kids who are not entering Kindergarten ready to learn and an ongoing workforce crisis from families who can’t afford to work outside the home.
4. Would you support legislation to remove criminal liability for physicians and pregnant women experiencing life threatening pregnancy complications and allow for medical and family decisions regarding continuation of that pregnancy. Please explain your response.
Absolutely. There is nothing as personal, nuanced, or complicated as the decisions that families and physicians have to navigate around pregnancy. I trust Idahoans, in consultation with their highly trained medical professionals, to make choices that are best for their families. The threat of criminal liability is only pushing providers and pregnant women out of our state, creating deserts where pregnant women can’t get access to the basic care they need to keep themselves and their babies healthy, and further vilifying our physicians. We must come together to find a solution that does not include criminal liability for physicians or pregnant women.
5. What else would you like to tell the voters?
During this session, I had the opportunity to serve District 17 as a substitute for Senator Semelroth and Representative Chew. I appreciated the fantastic and meaningful opportunities to see the work up close and meet legislators on both sides of the rotunda. I admire and am energized by the work that Representative Chew has done for District 17 over the last 18 years. I’m honored to be running to ensure our district continues to have strong leadership and a voice at the Statehouse.