LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER XI--March 13-16, 2007
 

 Everyone is hoping to get out of Boise by mid-week or around the 21st.  All of our Legislative Committees are shutting down and so we will definitely be finishing legislative business by the end of next week.  The 70 degree weather in Boise this past weekend certainly serves as a stimulus to move us to more rapidly complete our task.

JFAC it appears will finish up with considerable extra one time money, but the majority of it will probably be held back in reserve.    The economic forecast indicates that the economy is headed downward, and the tax revenues coming into the state are falling behind projections.   Nationwide the stock market in going down and over 1,500,000 mortgages are being foreclosed.  Here are some of the highlights from the week:

 1.  $246 Million Bond Sale for Highways -- It appears that the Legislature will approve selling $246 million  in bonds for the Connecting Idaho High Way Plan.  Most of the construction will favor S.W. Idaho. The commitment for the Highway stretch north of Worley and the Garwood-Sagle will continued to be funded. It appears that lawmakers who approved the plan might be readying Idaho citizens for a gasoline tax hike for the coming year.   The increasing cost of road building materials is simply escalating too rapidly to fund planned construction under current plans.   An increase of 7 cents/gallon has been recommended by the Idaho Department of Transportation.

 2.  HB217 -- Opportunity Scholarship  -- This bill had been held up by leadership because of funding issues. The House Education Committee passed the bill out today on a 17-2 vote.   I'm a Co-sponsor on this legislation.  If passed and funded the bill would provide scholarships for middle and low income students who have a difficult time financing their higher education programs.  Currently the typical college graduate has more than $20,000 in loans upon graduation. Studies clearly show that the escalating cost of higher education prevents many middle and low income students from accessing college. With luck at least the enabling legislation could be set up this year.   This would set up an endowment fund under the Secretary of the Treasury Office.  This would be a step forward.  There is some possibility of funding but this all depends on negotiations going on with Leadership and the Governor's Office.

3. HCR08  --  Human Rights Resolution. This passed the Senate with no opposition.  I was the bill sponsor.  The legislation had the support of the Idaho Human Rights Commission, the Human Rights Education Center, and the Idaho Interfaith Alliance.

4. Sex Abuse Victims Have More Time To File Civil Suits -- The Legislature voted unanimously to give sex  abuse victims more time to file civil lawsuits in their cases. Under the bill, a claim could be filed without regard to the victim's age as long as it is filed within five years of the time that he or she discovers or reasonably should have discovered the abuse and its relationship to an injury suffered by the child.

5. Legislative Committee To Study Tax Exemptions --  It appears that a Tax Committee will be formed to study Idaho Tax Exemptions.  I had submitted a bill to the House Rev and Tax Committee to form a Citizens Committee to work with the Tax Commission, Legislature and the Governor's Office to set up a system to review all of the 75 tax exemptions and come up with an accountability system to review whether exemptions do or do not benefit the State.   I was told to send my bill to the Senate Local Government and Tax Committee because there was a great deal of interest in studying exemptions.  The resolution to set up the study committee reads, "The tax structure in place has become out of balance.  Many tax exemptions, deductions or credits have been enacted by the Legislature over the past three decades and these need to be examined to determine their relevance in today's global economy and society.: I'm very pleased that the Committee will study this very important issue. Tax exemptions total over $1.6 billion each year.

6. HB203 -- This bill would have provided loan forgiveness for teachers who teach in critical teacher shortage areas such as math, science, and special education.   The bill was returned to the Education Committee because of concerns over the fiscal impact.   I'm certain that the bill will be back again next year.

7. English As Idaho Official Language -- This bill will come up before the House in the next several days.  The bill will pass by a wide margin.  Some of the claims of supporters are not borne out by research.  One example is that proponents claim states that have adopted English as an official language have increased English learning by immigrants.  Research shows there is no difference.

8.   Craig-Wyden Legislation -- If this legislation is not passed by Congress it will impact rural Idaho counties by about $24 million.  Idaho county is hardest hit.   The big impact would be on counties and schools. JFAC has reserved enough money for the schools if the reauthorization is not passed by Congress.

 I will be sending out a final letter when we Sine Die hopefully toward the end of next week.

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