Legislative Newsletter XV  April 18-24

Constituents:

     Early this week it felt that we were in a gunfight at the OK Corral with Governor Otter killing 35 bills with his veto bullets.  He wanted to get the House's attention with his veto, and he did.  The House killed HB96 which would have added 6 cents a gallon to what we current pay at the pump on a 55-15 vote. Many of us who supported the Governor's efforts to get more transportation funding voted again him simply because we felt this was a separation of powers issue.  After the Governor vetoed ten bills on Monday he vetoed another 25 bills on Tuesday.   A typical response of the Governor's reaction came from a local constituent, "I have to say that Otter's current behavior--veto on bills he says he supports in content--feels coercive and removes from the system the checks and balances that were intended.  We have one man deciding the priorities; the voices of our other elected officials are being silenced.  I find it offensive.  Is this a democracy or a dictatorship disguised as democracy?"  At the end of a session tempers do flare up, and the Legislature is trying to force a cooling off period, and to try and come up with a solution that will allow the Governor to save face. Stay tuned.

  1.  Transportation Funding--I support the Governor's efforts for funding improved roads; however, it is a hard sell when we have over 51,000 Idahoans unemployed and we are in deep recession.  There is some good news.  The Idaho House has approved record funding this year for the Idaho Transportation Department.   Idahoans will see a record number of highway projects undertaken this year and into the next to address maintenance and preservation needs, birdge repair and replacement and interstate congestion.   For Fiscal Year 2010, ITD will receive or has available (beginning July 1st)

• $508 million agency appropriation (up from $497 in FY 2009) approved by the House
• $297 million in unspent money from the Connecting Idaho Fund
• $191 million in federal "stimulus" money
• $82 million additional bonding authority for Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) which was approved by the House
• $36 million in GARVEE cost savings
• $29 million in unsold bonding authority for GARVEE
• $18 million in fundnig with the elimination of ethanol gas exemption, which was approved by the House
• $17 million of discretionary stimulus funding which provides road funding for local communities.

     So as Paul Harvey would say, "This is the rest of the story."  The House has given approval for over one billion dollars to improve Idaho's transportation infrastructure, and here we are fighting over another $70 million request which I approve.   At any rate there is substantial funding that will be utilized this next year to upgrade Idaho roads and bridges.

  2. Education--The House passed SB1133 which changes how drivers' education is regulated.  The Bureau of Occupational licensing will now take over this function from the Department of Education.  The Senate amended HB262 which froze teacher pay.  The amendment no longer phases out early retirement programs for teachers but freezes movement on the pay grid for one year. Passage of this bill may invite a lawsuit according to Senator Schroeder.  The Senate also amended HB256. This ends the attempt to eliminate funding for field trips but makes some changes in state reimbursement for student busing costs, and the amendments to HB303 which adds a two year sunset to the bill which would affect funding for virtual charter schools.   These amendments will cost the state about $4.5 million.  Several legislators suggested making up the money by cutting school supplies and books. Frankly, we have enough money in reserves and from stimulus funds to adequately fund these bills.

  3  Election Reform--The election reform measure which would have limited most Idaho elections to two days a year, in May and November down from four dates now, has re-emerged as a bargaining chip. The new bill proposes giving $3 million to cities and counties to pay their share of new costs.  The new bill would come up with the needed funds.   Frankly, I think this bill can wait.  The total now proposed to help carry out election reform is about $4 million which is almost the same amount that could be used to fund school supplies, textbooks, and other essential education items.

  4.   The Price of the 2009 Legislative Session--Thursday marks the 102nd day of the session which is already the 2nd longest in state history. It has cost taxpayers $3.06 million so far, and costs roughly about $30,000/day.   I hope that my newsletter next week is my last, and that we will finally Sine Die.

 As always, I appreciate hearing from my constituents. My e mail is ttrail@house.idaho.gov

 Representative Tom Trail

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