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'Add the Words' and minimum wage rallies held at the Idaho Statehouse

BOISE -- People rallied at the Statehouse Wednesday to protest some of the legislative decisions made this session.

Members of the “Add the Words” movement held a vigil and prayed.

Supporters want to have the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" added to the Idaho Human Rights Act.

There is a bill that would do that, but supporters say it hasn't gone anywhere this session and they are frustrated.

“It's very discouraging for people because people are still being discriminated against in terms of housing, jobs, public accommodation. It's a struggle,” said Debbie Mallis.

Earlier in the day there was a rally for those supporting an increase in the state's minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9.25 an hour.

That bill is currently stuck in the House Ways and Means Committee.

“We had folks from all over the state, many of whom traveled from Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, because we wanted to be here and we wanted to watch what they would do when put to the test, will you do the right thing and stand up for the workers and families of Idaho? And they proved today that they don't want to,” said Adrienne Evans.

The minimum wage bill's sponsor, Rep. John Rusche, tried to pull the out of the committee and send it to the House floor but that motion failed this morning by a vote of 56 to 14.

Essentially that vote killed the minimum wage bill.

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