[Vision2020] More of the GOP Targeting Our Youth & EconomicallyChallenged Parents

[lfalen]

Then change the law requiring a class per se and go  to a proficiency test and allow kids to be trained by any adult. I won't disagree with your second statement.
Roger
-----Original message-----
From: Sunil Ramalingam sunilramalingam at hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:48:19 -0700
To: lfalen at turbonet.com,  v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm,  vision 2020vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] More of the GOP Targeting Our Youth & EconomicallyChallenged Parents

> 
> Roger,
> 
> Isn't it meaningless for you to say "Train your own kids," when Idaho law requires a class for drivers under 17? 
> 
> You say "Fees are too high." The Republican party-line vote will make these classes MORE expensive, and maintains the requirement these drivers take a class.
> 
> Sunil
> 
> > Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 11:29:35 -0700
> > From: lfalen at turbonet.com
> > To: v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm; vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] More of the GOP Targeting Our Youth & Economically	Challenged Parents
> > 
> > Genesee charges $165.00, On April 11 there is a public hearing to raise it to $225.00 on May 1. Fees are getting too high. Train your own kids.
> > Roger
> > -----Original message-----
> > From: "Saundra Lund" v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm
> > Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:20:21 -0700
> > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Subject: [Vision2020] More of the GOP Targeting Our Youth & Economically Challenged Parents
> > 
> > > The hits just keep coming, and it's absolutely *disgusting* to me the real
> > > motive behind so many is to improve the lot of for-profit businesses while
> > > harming the least among us.
> > > 
> > > If these GOP legislators had any shame -- which they've proven time & again
> > > this legislative session that they don't -- they would have, in tandem with
> > > this hair-brained idea, done away with mandatory driver-training program for
> > > those under 17.  I know the "quality" of some of these for-profit driving
> > > schools, and they certainly are no more capable than many parents can do
> > > without having to shell out $350.  Currently, MHS charges $135, so an
> > > increase to $350 would be a whopping 40% increase, and increase many
> > > families could ill-afford  As it is, the rank hypocrisy of the GOP's motive
> > > is glaringly apparent.
> > > 
> > > SL
> > > 
> > > http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/31/1587391/idaho-house-to-debate-cutti
> > > ng.html
> > > 
> > > March 31, 2011
> > > Idaho House to debate cutting driver's ed funding
> > > By JESSIE L. BONNER - Associated Press
> > > 
> > > Idaho would no longer help cover the cost of driver's education classes at
> > > public schools, under a bill before the 2011 Legislature.
> > > 
> > > Republican lawmakers advanced legislation Thursday to strip state funding
> > > from driver's ed classes, essentially ending the $125-per student subsidy
> > > for programs that have been offered through Idaho's public schools since
> > > 1948. The bulk of the money would be redirected into a public school rainy
> > > day account.
> > > 
> > > The changes would leave either students or schools to pick up the slack> > Idaho's wannabe teen drivers already pay $180 to $200 of the total $325 cost
> > > of driver's ed classes, according to lawmakers behind the measure.
> > > 
> > > Republican Rep. Steve Thayn of Emmett contends his bill aims to spur debate
> > > about education spending.
> > > 
> > > "It's a matter of priorities," he said. "Should we continue to subsidize
> > > each student that takes driver's training from a public school or reallocate
> > > those funds back into the classroom?"
> > > 
> > > Student fees covered roughly half the total $2.3 million cost of public
> > > driver's education courses in Idaho schools last year. The state reimbursed
> > > school districts for the remaining $1.3 million, at a rate of $125 per
> > > student enrolled in the training courses, using money collected from
> > > driver's license fees.
> > > 
> > > The Republican-dominated House Education Committee advanced Thyan's bill on
> > > a party-line vote.
> > > 
> > > Critics, primarily Democrats, contend the legislation jeopardizes access to
> > > public driver's training courses and will put the cost out of reach for some
> > > families.
> > > 
> > > "Our rural students are driving and they have a lot of responsibilities,
> > > especially in our farming areas. They need to have the training," said
> > > Democratic Rep. Donna Pence of Gooding.
> > > 
> > > State law requires anyone under age 17 applying for a driver's license to
> > > complete a driver-training program. About 10,000 students took public
> > > driver's ed courses in Idaho school districts last year, according to the
> > > state Department of Education.
> > > 
> > > Supporters of the changes included operators of private driver's ed
> > > businesses, who contend the subsidies for public driver's ed programs create
> > > an uneven playing field. Private driver's ed courses cost between $325 and
> > > $350, lawmakers said.
> > > 
> > > "You're subsidizing a product that's in direct competition to free
> > > enterprise," said Kim Hatch, whose family operates Hatch's Drivers Training
> > > in Meridian.
> > > 
> > > Democratic Rep. Susan Chew of Boise countered that the programs were about
> > > safety.
> > > 
> > > "I thought that the reason we were subsidizing it, is so when I get out in
> > > my car I don't have to run into a crazy kid that hasn't been trained," Chew
> > > said.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
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