[Vision2020] LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER IV -- January 26-31, 2003

Sun, 2 Feb 2003 22:19:20 -0600

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Dear Visionaries:

Everyone is out trying to get input in regard to various tax proposals
and the state budget.  Governor Kempthorne is out in Northern Idaho this
weekend selling his sales tax increase.  JFAC members are out around the
state as well.  They will be in Moscow on February 8th 7-9 pm at the
Jansen Engineering Bldg on the U. of Idaho campus.  Here are some
highlights of the past week.

  1.  Creating Jobs Through Facilities Bonding  --  Governor Kempthorne
wants to move ahead with the $67 million in capital building projects
that were postponed last session.  The new source of funding would be
through bonding which would not require any dollars from the State
General fund.  The overall economic impact would be about $178 million
throughout the state and create an estimated 2,300 jobs.  The impact in
Moscow with the U. of I. Teaching and Learning Center would be about 12
million dollars with a total economic impact of $27 million and provide
over 303 jobs.

  2.  Legalization of Industrial Hemp  --  I introduced a resolution
which would have conveyed a message to the President and Congress the
desire of the Idaho Legislature to legalize industrial hemp and have it
regulated through the state's Department of Agriculture.  Industrial
Hemp is a potential alternative crop for farmers that is environmentally
friendly.  The bill was voted down on a 6-5 vote.

  3.  Tax Break for Teachers Killed by Rev and Tax Committee  --  Under
President Bush's Education Plan teachers were granted a $250 tax credit
for supplies they bought out of their own pocket for school supplies.
Since Idaho follows the federal tax system teachers were also eligible
for a small $15 tax credit; however, the Rev and Tax Committee voted
this incentive down by 10-8 vote.  This certainly sent out a message to
teachers.  Rep. Ringo and I talked to the Speaker about this vote and
the Speaker indicated that something may be done about it in the future.

  4.  County and municipality per diem and travel rates  --  the City of
Boise gained some fame with apparently excessive travel expenses by some
city officials.  I introduced a bill that would require all counties and
municipalities who do not have travel policies to be required to set
such policies that are no higher than the rates set for state employees.
This would establish a benchmark for all county, municipal, and state
employees.  Even the Governor follows these        guidelines.  It is a
matter of the public trust.

  5.  Recycled Oil  --  A bill that I will introduce in the House
Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday would encourage state agencies to
use recycled oil.  The U.S. utilizes over 500,000  barrels of recycled
oil a day.  This is resource conservation a point emphasized by
President Bush in his State of the Union address.

  6.  Education  --  this coming week I'll be introducing a major bill
in the House Education Committee.  Last year Senate Bill 1474 opened the
door to the state participating in school facilities funding for local
districts by guaranteeing a minimum of 10 percent of the interest on any
school bond passed by the district.  The formula utilized considered
market value and county wide per capita income and unemployment figures.
The last two pieces of data are unfair to resource poor rural districts.
The piece of legislation that I will introduce substitutes free and
reduced school lunch percentages which is better reflective of per
capita and unemployment figures for the        district.  To me this is
a matter of equity.

You can send in your comments and recommendations to me via
ttrail@house.state.id.us,
Tel:  208-332-1202, and the mailing address is Idaho State Legislature,
P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0038.

Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 6

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Dear =
Visionaries:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Everyone
is out trying to get input in regard to various tax proposals and the =
state
budget.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Governor =
Kempthorne is out
in </span></font><st1:place><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span
 style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Northern =
Idaho</span></font></st1:place><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>
this weekend selling his sales tax increase.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>JFAC members are out around the =
state as
well.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>They will be in =
</span></font><st1:City><st1:place><font
  size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'>Moscow</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>
on February 8th </span></font><st1:time Hour=3D"19" Minute=3D"0"><font =
size=3D2
 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>7-9
 pm</span></font></st1:time><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> at the Jansen =
Engineering
Bldg on the </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><font size=3D2
  face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'>U.</span></font></st1:PlaceType><font
 size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>
 of </span></font><st1:PlaceName><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
  style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'>Idaho</span></font></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>
campus.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Here are some =
highlights of
the past week.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&nbsp; 1.&nbsp; Creating Jobs Through =
Facilities Bonding&nbsp; =
--&nbsp; Governor Kempthorne =
wants to
move ahead with the $67 million in capital building projects that were
postponed last session.&nbsp; =
The new
source of funding would be through bonding which would not require any =
dollars
from the State General fund. &nbsp;The
overall economic impact would be about $178 million throughout the state =
and
create an estimated 2,300 jobs.&nbsp; =
The
impact in <st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>
with the <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>U.</st1:PlaceType>
 of <st1:PlaceName>I. =
Teaching</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
and <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Learning</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceType>Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
would be about 12 million dollars with a total economic impact of $27 =
million
and provide over 303 jobs.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><b =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>2.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Legalization of Industrial =
<span
class=3DGramE>Hemp<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>--</span><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span></span></b>I introduced a =
resolution
which would have conveyed a message to the President and Congress the =
desire of
the Idaho Legislature to legalize industrial hemp and have it regulated =
through
the state&#8217;s Department of Agriculture.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Industrial Hemp is a potential =
alternative
crop for <span class=3DGramE>farmers that is</span> environmentally
friendly.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The bill was =
voted down
on a 6-5 vote.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&nbsp; 3.&nbsp; Tax Break for Teachers Killed =
by Rev and
Tax Committee&nbsp; --&nbsp; Under President =
Bush's
Education Plan teachers were granted a $250 tax credit for supplies they =
bought
out of their own pocket for school supplies.&nbsp;&nbsp; Since =
<st1:State><st1:place>Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>
follows the federal tax system teachers were also eligible for a small =
$15 tax
credit; however, the Rev and Tax Committee voted this incentive down by =
10-8
vote.&nbsp; This certainly sent =
out a
message to teachers.&nbsp; Rep. =
Ringo and
I talked to the Speaker about this vote and the Speaker indicated that
something may be done about it in the =
future.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&nbsp; 4.&nbsp; County and municipality per =
diem and
travel rates&nbsp; =
--&nbsp; the
City of <st1:City><st1:place>Boise</st1:place></st1:City>
gained some fame with apparently excessive travel expenses by some city
officials.&nbsp; I introduced a =
bill that
would require all counties and municipalities who do not have travel =
policies
to be required to set such policies that are no higher than the rates =
set for
state employees.&nbsp; This =
would
establish a benchmark for all county, municipal, and state =
employees.&nbsp; Even the Governor follows =
these&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
guidelines. &nbsp;It is a =
matter
of the public trust.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><b =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>5.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Recycled <span =
class=3DGramE>Oil<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>--</span><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span></span></b>A bill that I will =
introduce
in the House Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday would encourage =
state
agencies to use recycled oil.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>The </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
  size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>
utilizes over <span class=3DGramE>500,000<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>barrels</span> of recycled oil a day.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This is resource conservation a =
point
emphasized by President Bush in his State of the Union =
address.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>6.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><span =
class=3DGramE>Education<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>--</span><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span></span></font></b><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>this
coming week I'll be introducing a major bill in the House Education
Committee.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Last year <b
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Senate Bill 1474 </span></b>opened the door to the state =
participating
in school facilities funding for local districts by guaranteeing a =
minimum of
10 percent of the interest on any school bond passed by the =
district.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The formula utilized considered =
market
value and county wide per capita income and unemployment figures.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The last two pieces of data are =
unfair
to resource poor rural districts.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>The piece of legislation that I will introduce substitutes free =
and
reduced school lunch percentages which is better reflective of per =
capita and
unemployment figures for the<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>district.=
<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>To me this is a matter of =
equity.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>You =
can send in
your comments and recommendations to me via =
ttrail@house.state.id.us,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Tel:&nbsp; 208-332-1202, and the mailing =
address is
Idaho State Legislature, <st1:address><st1:Street>P.O. Box =
83720</st1:Street>,
 <st1:City>Boise</st1:City>, <st1:State>ID</st1:State> =
<st1:PostalCode>83720-0038</st1:PostalCode></st1:address>.<o:p></o:p>=

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Rep. =
</span></font><st1:PersonName>Tom
 Trail</st1:PersonName>/Dist. 6<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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