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LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER IX--FEBRUARY 25-29/2008
Constituents:
Well, the Ides of March are almost upon us, and the Idaho
Legislature has a long way to go before finishing up major business. It sounds like lots of excitement in Moscow with a stray moose wandering around the middle school grounds, and all of the students were kept inside.
When I told this story of other legislators they remarked that we should change the name of Moscow to Moosecow, and I guess that would make us Moosecovites.
Monday I attended a press conference with Governor
Otter.
He signed the Dog Fighting/ Felony Penalty bill. He gave me the pen that he used to sign the bill. I heard that a fund raiser for our local animal shelter was being sponsored on Saturday with a dance and other activities. I sent the pen on to Moscow indicating that it might be a great auction item to raise funds. It will now go on E bay for auction. All funds will go toward our local Humane Society and Animal Shelter. It will be fun to see how high the bidding goes. I just received word that the Wyoming Senate just past their Dog Fighting Felony bill by a 29-1 margin. This next year I plan on sponsoring a Game Cock Fighting/Felony Penalty bill -- we are the only state without the felony penalty.
Here are some other issues:
1 The Big Issues -- The Press has criticized both the Legislature and the Governor's Office for delaying action on three key issues:
a. Grocery Tax -- The Governor has yet to bring his plan to the House Rev and Tax Committee. However,
I understand that Rev and Tax did approve the introduction of a new bill this morning.
The bill would provide increased tax credits for Idaho citizens. I understand this bill has provisions that would allow the very low income citizens who don't file income tax a chance to claim their credit.
b. Personal Property Tax
-- I understand that a bill is almost ready to be introduced. The business community wants to get rid of this administrative headache that covers everything from business furnishings, computers, and pencils. Alex LaBeau, IACI President, plans on introducing the bill after the grocery tax legislation moves ahead. I expressed my concerns to Mr. LaBeau that I'd support the bill if it has a neutral impact municipalities and counties. He said it would, but the devil's in the details. If it has a neutral impact, I can support it since it would help our small businesses and not add more taxes on our local citizens.
c. Transportation
-- I was at a Grange meeting when the announcement came out that the Governor was proposing a flat $150 registration charge on all cars. No one at the Grange meeting supported the idea. I suspect that legislators are crafting various bills that would increase registration charges, but in a tiered or layer approach with more expensive cars being charged more. I suspect the increased fees might be phased in over time. The disadvantage of increase registration fees is that it doesn't tap the tourists and truckers driving through state, but implies raising taxes on fuel. I don't think that idea will fly right now.
2. HB 501 -- Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence
-- this bill that I cosponsored with Representative Ringo passed the House by a 67-0 margin. The bill would protect the addresses of harassed victims of domestic violence by allowing the Sec. of State to serve as their post office. This has been a very successful program in 22 states.
3.
Scholarships -- JFAC approved $12 million for the needs based Idaho Opportunity Scholarship Program. This is the scholarship program that I've worked on for the past four years with the State Board of Education. Ten million will go to the endowment fun thus building it up to $20 million. The goal is reach $40 million which will sustain the program with no new funds being added. The Governor wanted to go for $50 million but I suspect with the financial problems the ten million will be it for this year. It is interesting to note that there are 196 students at the University of Idaho already enrolled in the program with scholarships totaling near $600,000. There is another scholarship program that would create a scholarship fund for nurses who teach nurses.
4 HB557
-- Field Burning -- this passed today by a 64-0 margin. This will restore the traditional practice of field burning of blue grass but with strict new standards that afford schools, hospitals and asthma sufferers special protection. It will also allow farmers to grow up to 20,000 acres of blue grass a year and the monitoring function will go over to DEQ.
5. Tax Breaks for Uranium Enrichment Plant
-- The House Tax Committee passed a bill providing big tax breaks for a French nuclear services company to build a plant in Eastern Idaho. We've gone down this tax break path before for Micron and Albertson with very little benefit to show for it.
6. Early Childhood Education
-- Most Idahoans believe that the government should provide high quality pre-K programs according to a BSU survey. Generally, in Idaho early education is neither available nor affordable. Idaho law prohibits the expenditure of public school money on children under the age of 5 so most of the programs are either federally or privately funded. Research with programs like Head Start clearly shows that there is at least a $4-$5 payoff for every dollar invested. I'm a co-sponsor of a bill sponsored by Senator. Schroeder which would give districts the option of leyving taxes to support early childhood education.
7. ISTARS -- The ISTARS Teacher Merit Pay Proposal was voted down by a 19-16 margin in the Senate this morning.
Well, those are some of the highlights of the week.
We keep hearing that we will wind up business by March 31st. I'd appreciate your comments and recommendations.
Representative Tom Trail
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