LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER XIII--APRIL 4-9

Constituents:    As Mark Twain once said,  "Every man's life, liberty, and property is at risk until the Legislature Sine Die's."   We are still in Boise and it looks like another week.

Here are some of the highlights of the week.

  1.  SB1148--Governor Otter's Alcohol Bill is up for the second day of debate in House Jud and Rules Committee.   Over 50 citizens turned out to testify.   The bill is presented as an economic stimulus bill for the state based on the doubling and trebling of liquor licenses--even McDonald's could qualify. The Governor's Attorney who presented the bill said that all important groups were represented in the negotiations.   However, MADD, the PTA, Drug Rehab organizations, and the IEA (which represents over 14,000 teachers and 270,000 students and families) were not invited.

 2. HB135--The Governor's bill to increase the tax on gas by 2 cents/gallon failed on a 32-37 vote.   I supported the bill.

 3. Common Sense--We passed legislation restoring 41 auditor positions of the Idaho State Tax Commission. The cost of the positions with salaries and benefits is about $1,000,000 and they are expected to recover about $6-$7 million in unpaid taxes--a good investment.

 4. Legalizing the Growing of Industrial Hemp for Farmers As An Alternative Crop -Barney Frank and Ron Paul introduced HR1866 yesterday in Congress.   Representative Paul said a few days ago in Congress, "It is unfortunate that the federal government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, from competing in the global industrial hemp market."  He added, "Indeed the founders of our nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained federal government." I have been advocating similar legislation in Idaho for 12 years and I'm having new legislation drawn up consistent with the federal legislation.

 5.  Four Day School Week--17 school districts in Idaho have now gone to a four day week.  The new Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan said in an interview on Tuesday that his plans for school reform include making sure students spend more time in school. "I fundamentally think that our school day is too short, our school week is too short and our school year is too short. You're competing for jobs with kids from India and China.  I think schools should be open six, seven days a week, 11, 12 months a year," said Duncan in a recent interview.  A study of the impact of the four day school week is now being conducted in Idaho.

  6. SB1015--Day Care Licensing--the goal of this bill is the matter of keeping children safe.   There appears to be a good chance that with the House amendments the bill may be passed. Licensing requirements for child care centers with 13 or more children would include fire and safety inspections.   This would also cover centers taking care of 7 or more children.  Criminal backgound checks would be required of anyone caring for more than four children.

 7.  Quagga Mussel Legislation--The Idaho Senate has approved a bill that raises registration fees for boaters to help keep invasive quagga and zebra mussels from invading Idaho waters.  HB 213 goes to the Governor. The measure would create a $10 sticker for registered boats and watercraft longer than 10 feet. Out-of- state boaters would buy a $20 sticker. The funds would pay for special inspection and boat washing to rid the boats of the mussels and their tiny eggs. SCR109 which authorizes the use of deficiency warrants by the Director of the Idaho State Agricultural Department to help pay the costs of combating the mussels. I co-sponsored both bills.

 8. Subprime Mortgage Loans--Idaho Attorney General, Lawrence Wasden, recently reported that State Attorney General's warned the Federal Government at least five years ago about the subprime mortgage problem.  The warning was directed at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency which is the Federal Agency responsible for oversight of national banks. Not only did the OCC reject this warning but decided to preempt protective state laws as they applied to national banks.  State consumer protection laws designed to protect consumers from deceptive and predatory lenders, to ensure responsible mortgage lending, and help to preserve a stable financial market at the state level were all negated at the Federal level. Again, another part of a sad story.

 9. Words for the Day--In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.  Baba Dioum, Senegalese Conservationist.

Hopefully next week will wrap things up, but as always I appreciate your comments, suggestions, and ideas.

My e mail is ttrail@house.idaho.gov and phone (208) 332-1184.

Representative Tom Trail

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