Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 11/04/2008
Next Election: 2012
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Female
Family: Spouse: Carol Growhoski
Birth date: 02/08/1964
Birthplace: Colorado
Home City: Boise ID
Religion:

Profession

Writing Teacher, Writers at Harriman, Writers in the Schools, The Cabin's Idaho Writing Camp , 1999-present State Senator, Idaho Legislature, 2009-2012 State Representative, Idaho Legislature, 2005-2008 Lobbyist, Idaho Community Action Network, 2004 Small Business Owner, LeFavour Graphic Design, 2000-2007 News Reporter, Boise Weekly, 1997-1998 8th Grade Teacher, Fort Boise Mid High, 1996 Community Oragnizer on Energy, Radioactive Waste Clean up, Water Quality & Nuclear Weapons Issues, Snake River Alliance, 1992-1994 5-6 Grade Teacher, Boise River School, 1991 Instructor: Freshman Composition, University of Montana, 1989-1990 Fire Fighter, Hydrology Technician, Firelookout, Wilderness Ranger, Challis National Forest, 1985-1992

Education

MA, Writing, University of Montana, 1990, Grade Point Average of 3.92 Teaching Credential, Education, Inner City Emphasis, San Francisco State University, 1988, Grade Point Average of 3.7 BA, Individual Cognitive Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1987, Grade Point Average of 3.167

Committees

Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee
Education
Finance
Finance Appropriations
Judiciary and Rules

H 563 Amends Corporate Income Tax Rate
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

H 695 Establishes a Legislative Legal Defense Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 542 Prohibits the State from Restricting the Use of Motorized Vehicles on Public Land
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

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H 563 Amends Corporate Income Tax Rate
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

H 695 Establishes a Legislative Legal Defense Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 542 Prohibits the State from Restricting the Use of Motorized Vehicles on Public Land
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1387 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1348 Requires doctors to provide end-of-life care
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 426 Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

S 1387 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1348 Requires doctors to provide end-of-life care
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1387 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1358 Authorizes Penalities for Bullying
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 481 Repeals Limit on Charter Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1358 Authorizes Penalities for Bullying
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 464 Prohibits local ordinances from limiting oil and gas extraction
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 391 Repeals the Presidential Primary Election
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 404 Prohibits Camping on Capital Mall Property
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

H 298 Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1202 Appropriations to Secretary of State
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1198 Primary Elections
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 187 Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 260 Medicaid Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1181 Post-Secondary Education Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1182 2012-2013 State Liquor Division Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1184 Technology in the Classroom
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1181 Post-Secondary Education Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1184 Technology in the Classroom
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1165 Bans Abortion After 20 Weeks
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1115 Insurance Coverage of Abortion
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1007 Labor Organizations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1006 Right to Work Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 729 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 496 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1418 2010-2011 Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1352 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 391 Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1353 Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 376 Transportation Funding Package
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 374 Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 376 Transportation Funding Package
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 262 Teacher Compensation Adjustments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

S 1166 Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1186 Highway Project Financing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 173 Restricting Eligibility for State Retiree Health Benefits
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1148 Alcohol Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1089 Eliminating Child Safety Seat Exemptions
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 1119 Allowing Public Utility Assistance Programs
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SJR 107 City, County, and Public Hospital Debt Financing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 655 Tax Rebate for Road Projects
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 680 Community Infrastructure Districts
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HJR 4 Local Tax Authority
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 599 Eliminating the Personal Property Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HJR 4 Local Tax Authority
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 599 Eliminating the Personal Property Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1441 Prohibiting Local Gun Ordinances
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 657 Highway Project Financing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 1393 Non-Compete Agreements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 657 Highway Project Financing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 594 Amending Property Tax Formula
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 581 Highway Spending Regulations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 577 Voter Approval of Local Improvement District Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 579 Voter-Mandated Property Tax Limitations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 586 State Administered Vehicle Emissions Testing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 577 Voter Approval of Local Improvement District Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 579 Voter-Mandated Property Tax Limitations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 586 State Administered Vehicle Emissions Testing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 588 Food Tax Credit Expansion
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 348 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 366 Driver's License Residency Requirement
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 81 Income Tax Credit for Food
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

S 1172 English as the Official Language
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HCR 18 Early Childhood Learning Standards
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 121 Smoking Ban in Bowling Alleys
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 876 Property Tax Act of 2006
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 777 Serving Alcohol in Movie Theaters
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 814 Judge Salaries
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 777 Serving Alcohol in Movie Theaters
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 823 State Affairs Building Code Board
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 768 Public Charter Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 663 Medicaid Personal Health Accounts
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 703 College Loan Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 751 Math & Science Teacher Loan Program Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 630 School Grounds - Violence
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 610 Highway Distribution Account
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 485 Public Infrastructure Improvement Districts (PIDS)
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 609 Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 551 Public Works Contractors Licensing Fees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 624 School Property Disposal
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 551 Public Works Contractors Licensing Fees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 609 Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 582 Breathalyzer Refusal Penalty
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HJR 2 Marriage Amendment Ballot Question
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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