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LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER VIII--MARCH 2-7/2010 Constituents: More bad financial news this week as tax receipts for February came in about $11 million under estimate. The Legislature will now be facing key votes on budgets. 1. Education -- JFAC approved a $1.58 billion total budget for public schools for FY11. These are the key budget adjustments: a. Reduce state money for salaries of teachers and classified staff by 4 percent and reduce money for administrators by 6.5%. b. Reduce the minimum salary for a teacher to $29,655 down from $30,915. c. Combine funding for state test remediation, the math initiative and the reading initiative and reduce it by 20 percent overall to $9 million from $11.8 million. d. Reduce funding for Early Retirement Incentive Program by $1 million. e. Allow districts to carry over unspent money in 2010 to 2011 from school supplies, gifted and talented teacher training textbooks, technology and Safe and Drug Free Schools. f. Assign $22 million in extra cash coming from state lands to discretionary spending accounts. g. Reduce transportation funding by 10 percent and reduce funding for Limited English Proficiency from $6 million to $4 million. Overall public education will be cut by $128 million in Idaho's Race to the Bottom. 2. Taxes -- There continues to be increased discussion over tax increases to help protect education and essential public services. We could still realize considerable tax recovery by hiring more auditors with the prospects of gaining $65 million in unpaid taxes. Internet sales are another possibility. Rep. Winder has a proposal in the Senate Rev and Tax Committee to tax internet sales, and he estimates we could capture about $80 million. Sen. Schroeder and I have a similar proposal in the House Rev. and Tax Committee. Frankly, I don't see any enthusiasm for the majority party pushing ahead on calling for tax increases with an election year in front of us.
3. Soil Conservation Legislation -- Changes to the existing soil conservation district law have been approved on the House side and budget changes made in the budget committee. The Commission will be a free standing independent, non regulatory agency housed in the Dept. of Agriculture. Major changes address the appointment of commission members, the hiring of the administrator and the reporting requirements for the commission and local soil and water conservation districts. The bill is currently hung up on the Senate side. 4. Immunization Legislation -- Idaho ranks below countries like Indonesia and Pakistan in terms of vaccination rates for measles. The Senate passed a bill a reminder system for parents. They would have to "opt out" of getting a reminder from their doctor that a shot is due rather than the current reminder to opt in. 5. Child Injuries -- Sen Joyce Broadsword sponsored a bill that boosts the maximum sentence to 20 years from 10 years for anyone convicted of a felony injury to a child that results in great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement. 6. SB1353 -- Freedom of Conscience -- The Senate passed the bill which speaks innocuously but misleadingly about the freedom of conscience of health care professionals. What this bill also does is limit patients' freedoms to explore their legally and constitutional protected options. 7. An uplifting announcement -- Deposed Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will be the featured speaker at Northwestern University on the subject, "Ethics in Government." We are rapidly entering the "Ides of March" and I like to hear your comments and recommendations. Please contact me via e mail at ttrail@house.idaho.gov or phone at 208-332-1148.
Rep. Tom Trail |
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