[Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter 10 March 13-20

[ttrail at moscow.com]

Legislative Newsletter 10   March 13-20

Constituents:

     We know that the end may finally be in sight.  JFAC is starting to 
set budgets, and leadership tells us that we will finally close up shop 
somewhere between the 10-17th April.   Spring-like weather also helps us 
to speed up our work.   Here are some issues covered this week.

1.  Governor's Transportation Bill  --  The Governor's bill to increase 
the gas tax was defeated on a 42-28 vote.   The basic issue of improving 
Idaho's transportation infrastructure was supported by everyone; however, 
increasing the gas tax in tough economic times just didn't fit well with 
those who voted against the bill.  I asked constituents for their input 
and received almost 150 responses. Basically about 55 percent were 
opposed to increasing taxes and 45 percent in favor of the bill.

     This was an extremely difficult vote for me, and I finally decided 
to support the bill.  The last time that the gas tax was raised was back 
in 1996 when Governor Batt came to the rescue of North Idaho after 
devastating floods had wiped out many roads and bridges.   The tax went 
up 4 cents a gallon and a majority of the funding went in to repairs 
North Idaho bridges and highways.

     There was also the argument that we need to improve our roads 
because of safety concerns.   School buses cover thousands of miles each 
day taking our kids to school.   The safety of our children and citizens 
is of paramount importance.  In tough economic times we are also trying 
to encourage new     businesses to come to Idaho and provide adequate 
roads for those already here.   A strong economic base provides jobs.   
In any event, it looks like and new transportation revenues are out for 
this session.

     2.  SB1002  --  This was the bill to assist the City of Moscow in 
selling water to the Hawkins Development (if it decided to go ahead and 
built across the state line).   The House Resources and Conservation 
Committee without debate voted to hold the bill in committee which means 
that the bill is dead for this session.   Several committee members said 
the fact that no one can out in support for the bill spoke volumes.  
Several committee members including Chairman Bert Stephenson and 
Representative. Maxine Bell, Co-Chair of JFAC, said this was not a water 
issue but a planning and zoning issue and should be settled at the local 
level.   Committee members reported that there was only one letter of 
support for the bill and that there was great opposition from some Moscow 
and Latah elected officials as well as well as local citizens.

3.  Public Education  --  Last Friday, JFAC set a revenue projection that 
could enable lawmakers to set a budget for next year that cuts public 
school employee salaries by 3.5%.  However, in order to make that happen, 
JFAC will need to use some of the stimulus money the governor recommended 
using for other projects to help balance the state budgets and to offset 
education and personnel cuts.   The Governor had recommended a 5 percent 
salary cut.  There is more than enough money in the Public Education 
Stabilization Fund, the federal stimulus money, and the various state 
rainy day accounts to more than cover any funding gaps for next year.  
The State could further generate more funds through reforming our tax 
laws as proposed by Senator. Schroeder and myself in HB20.   The approach 
calls for sun-setting all of the 75 exemptions that we have granted in 
the state, and setting up a review of whether each exemption actually 
benefits the state.   Those organizations whose exemption was viewed as 
not benefitting the state would be eliminated and the exemption money 
would flow into the state general fund.  This could be used to support 
education.

     In a time when education is being cut back I get the feeling that 
our educational system is rapidly heading toward Third World Country 
status.  We currently require 180 days of school but about 10 days is 
used for testing.  Educational systems in Asia and Europe require from 
215-240 days of school/year.  The proposal of going to a four day school 
week just doesn't compete in the global arena.   There are some important 
facts to remember about supporting education:

     a.  Investing in our children and their education is the best way of 
guaranteeing a stable economy for our state.  The 275,000 students in our 
public school classrooms will show up for an education tomorrow and next 
year, regardless of Idaho's economic conditions.   We owe them a quality 
education.

     b.  Idaho already has the 6th largest class sizes in the national 
and the per pupil expenditures rank 47th lowest in the country.

     c. In many districts the loss of even one teaching position could 
result in the elimination of an entire program such as art or music.
     
     d.  Anything that affects teachers affects students: a teacher's 
working conditions are a student's learning conditions.

     e.  Research has clearly shown that the most important factor 
influencing student achievement is the teacher.   Reducing the number of 
teachers means larger class size and this has a negative impact on 
learning.

     f.   Idaho needs all the tools it can get to recruit and retain 
teachers.  Idaho ranks 41st in the nation for the average salary paid to 
teachers.
 
     The next three weeks will see how well we support education in the 
Idaho and for the future.
 
     Please send me your comments, recommendations, and concerns.  My e 
mail is ttrail at house.idaho.gov and phone is (208) 332-1184.
 
Representative Tom
Trail

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