[Vision2020] Rep Trail Legislative Update Week II - - Janurary 13-17

Sun, 19 Jan 2003 21:30:35 -0600

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                     LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER II -- January 13-17, 2003

Dear Visionaries:

This is the second Legislative Newsletter of the year. 

 1.  Budget  --  The projected deficit may be higher than the $160
estimated in the Governor's State of the State address.  There is a
shortfall of about $35 million for education from the State Lands
account.  This will make the deficit about $200 million.  Under the
sales tax proposal from the Governor, this would raise about $270
million; however, about $70 million of this would go to "savings" type
accounts that have been almost depleted in helping to balance the
budget.  One compromise would be to raise the sales tax only by 1 cent,
and there might be just enough to balance the budget and hold the line
for education and Medicaid.

 2.  Tax Legislation  --  Rep. Alan Andersen of Pocatello and I will be
introducing tax legislation this coming week that proposes to reduce the
sales tax from 5% to 4%, but through eliminating a number of tax and
sales tax exemptions could raise $130 million for the General Fund.  The
bill also calls for professionals and others to make quarterly income
tax payments.  This would raise about $80 million by June 15th and help
delay any holdbacks if the economic situation worsens.

      I'm sending to JFAC a bill that calls for the appropriation of
about $3,000,000 to hire 40 tax auditors.  The State Tax Commission
estimates that about 40,000 non-filers fail to pay $90 million/year.
This investment could yield another $18 million net to the state.  I'm
also introducing a resolution to the Rev and Tax Committee calling for
the establishment of an Interim Committee to study in depth Idaho Tax
Policy.  Many questions have been raised about the 72 organizations
receiving close to $1 billion in exemptions/year since 1965.  There is
no accountability process which requires these organizations to
demonstrate that there is a positive impact on the Idaho economy because
of the state granting them the exemption.  There may be exemptions that
we need to remove and thus generate more money for the General Fund, but
it must be a fair and equitable process that is used to review each
exemption.

 3.  HB 70  --  Rep. McKague and I introduced HB 70 on Thursday, the
legislation passed 67-3.  The legislation would freeze unemployment
benefit rates for businesses at the current rate for two years and keep
unemployment benefits at the same level for workers.  The trust fund
would be protected.  Rep. Ringo and I both supported this bill.

 4.  Appaloosa License Plate  --  this is a bill that I sponsored last
year. Carrie Bitterwolf's 5th grade class made a power point
presentation to the House Transportation Committee in supporting the
bill.  I noticed that the new license plates are now available for sale.

 5.  Standard Per Diem/Travel Rates for Counties and Municipalities  --
I'm introducing legislation calling on counties and municipalities to
adopt the state's per diem and travel policy as established by the State
Board of Examiners.  Many entities have no policy.  The Governor follows
state policy and this would have everyone follow the same policy.  Mayor
Comstock and Commissioner Paul Kimmel felt the proposal is good idea.

 6.  Judicial Reform Legislation  -- I'm co-sponsoring a number pieces
of legislation in this area.  The first calls on the legislature to
create a committee to look into reform of the way Idaho elects judges
and also finance reform.  Judicial Disqualification legislation would
require the ability of parties to a case pending in the Supreme Court or
Court of Appeals to file a motion to disqualify a Supreme Court or
Appellate judge from sitting on a case where a party has given campaign
contributions of over $1,000 within the past 12 years.

 7.  Seat Belt Legislation  --  The measure would require everyone in a
vehicle to buckle up allow officers to stop vehicles when they see a
seat belt violation.

Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 6

  You can contact me at:

ttrail@house.state.id.us (Boise email)
208) 332-1202  (Boise phone)
208)-334-5379  (Boise Fax) 
mailing address:  
Idaho State Legislature 
State Capitol Building
Boise, ID 83720-0038.

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
; </span>LEGISLATIVE
NEWSLETTER II -- </span></font><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=3D"13" =
Year=3D"2003">January
 13-17, 2003</st1:date><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>

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

This is the second Legislative Newsletter of the year. =
<o:p></o: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>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>1.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><span class=3DGramE>Budget<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>--</span><span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>The projected deficit may be higher than the $160 estimated in =
the
Governor's State of the State address.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>There is a shortfall of about $35 million for education from the =
State Lands
account.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This will make =
the deficit
about $200 million.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Under =
the sales tax
proposal from the Governor, this would raise about $270 million; =
however, about
$70 million of this would go to &quot;savings&quot; type accounts that =
have
been almost depleted in helping to balance the budget.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>One compromise would be to =
raise the sales
tax only by 1 cent, and there might be just enough to balance the budget =
and
hold the line for education and Medicaid.<o:p></o:p></span></font></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>

&nbsp;2.&nbsp; Tax Legislation&nbsp; --&nbsp; Rep.
Alan Andersen of Pocatello and I will be introducing tax legislation =
this coming
week that proposes to reduce the sales tax from 5% to 4%, but through
eliminating a number of tax and sales tax exemptions could raise $130 =
million
for the General Fund.&nbsp; The =
bill also
calls for professionals and others to make quarterly income tax =
payments.&nbsp; This would raise about $80 =
million by June
15th and help delay any holdbacks if the economic situation =
worsens.<o:p></o: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>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
I'm sending to JFAC a bill
that calls for the appropriation of about $3,000,000 to hire 40 tax =
auditors.&nbsp; The State Tax Commission =
estimates that about
40,000 non-filers fail to pay $90 million/year. &nbsp;This investment could yield =
another $18
million net to the state.&nbsp; =
I'm also introducing
a resolution to the Rev and Tax Committee calling for the establishment =
of an Interim
Committee to study in depth Idaho Tax Policy.&nbsp;
Many questions have been raised about the 72 organizations =
receiving
close to $1 billion in exemptions/year since 1965.&nbsp; There is no accountability =
process which
requires these organizations to demonstrate that there is a positive =
impact on
the <st1:State><st1:place>Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> =
economy
because of the state granting them the exemption. &nbsp;There may be exemptions that we =
need to remove
and thus generate more money for the General Fund, but it must be a fair =
and
equitable process that is used to review each exemption.<o:p></o: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>

&nbsp;3.&nbsp; HB 70&nbsp; --&nbsp;
Rep. McKague and I introduced HB 70 =
on
Thursday, the legislation passed 67-3.&nbsp; The
legislation would freeze unemployment benefit rates for businesses at =
the
current rate for two years and keep unemployment benefits at the same =
level for
workers.&nbsp; The trust fund =
would be
protected.&nbsp; Rep. Ringo and =
I both
supported this bill.<o:p></o: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>

&nbsp;4.&nbsp; Appaloosa License Plate&nbsp; --&nbsp;
this is a bill that I sponsored last year. Carrie Bitterwolf's =
5th grade
class made a power point presentation to the House Transportation =
Committee in
supporting the bill.&nbsp; I =
noticed that the
new license plates are now available for =
sale.<o:p></o: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>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>5.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Standard Per Diem/Travel Rates =
for Counties
and <span class=3DGramE>Municipalities<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>--</span><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>I'm introducing legislation =
calling on
counties and municipalities to adopt the state's per diem and travel =
policy as
established by the State Board of Examiners.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Many entities have no policy.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The
Governor follows state policy and this would have everyone follow the =
same
policy.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Mayor Comstock and =
Commissioner
Paul Kimmel felt the proposal is good idea.<o:p></o:p></span></font></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>

&nbsp;6.&nbsp; Judicial Reform Legislation&nbsp; -- I'm co-sponsoring a =
number pieces
of legislation in this area. &nbsp;The first
calls on the legislature to create a committee to look into reform of =
the way =
<st1:State><st1:place>Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>
elects judges and also finance reform.&nbsp;
Judicial Disqualification legislation would require the ability =
of
parties to a case pending in the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals to =
file a
motion to disqualify a Supreme Court or Appellate judge from sitting on =
a case
where a party has given campaign contributions of over $1,000 within the =
past
12 years.<o:p></o: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>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>7.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Seat Belt <span =
class=3DGramE>Legislation<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>--</span><span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>The measure would require everyone in a vehicle to buckle up =
allow officers
to stop vehicles when they see a seat belt =
violation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></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>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><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>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>You can contact =
me at:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DSpellE><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>ttrail@house.state.id.us</span></font></span> =
(<st1:City><st1:place>Boise</st1:place></st1:City>
email)<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>208) 332-<span class=3DGramE>1202<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>(</span></span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Boise</st1:place></st1:=
City>
phone)<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>208)-334-<span class=3DGramE>5379<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>(</span></span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Boise</st1:place></st1:=
City>
Fax) <o:p></o:p></p>

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

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
  style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Idaho</span></font></st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType>State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
Legislature <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
  style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>State</span></font></st1:PlaceType> =
<st1:PlaceName>Capitol</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceType>Building</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place><st1:City><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
  style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Boise</span></font></st1:City>, =
<st1:State>ID</st1:State>
 <st1:PostalCode>83720-0038</st1:PostalCode></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></p>

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