[Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter Week III - January 26-30th

Sun, 1 Feb 2004 10:42:00 -0600

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Dear Constituents:

The Legislative process finally started to roll during the third week of
the session.  Highlights were:

1.  No Child Left Behind  --  We had two days of testimony concerning
the national Act and the ISAT test.  A number of legislators are
concerned about the impact of the Act on small rural districts, and we
are sponsoring a resolution to send back to Congress and the President
expressing our concerns. 

We want a better measure of student growth on a year to year basis,
school performance standards that take into account successes and
failures by subject matter areas, special consideration for students who
are new to the country, and the ability to transfer struggling students
to a new school instead of allowing all students in that school to move.

     We also have concerns that No Child Left Behind is potentially a
huge unfunded federal mandate. It is interesting that the Republican
dominated Assembly in Virginia voted 98-1 to opt out of the program.

2.  Pay for State Workers  -- The Governor recommended a 2 percent pay
hike.  Workers have gone without an increase for two years and have lost
six percent of their buying power.  BSU, for example, notes that over 11
% of their workers are below the poverty line.  Many workers have more
than one extra job, get food stamps, and qualify for welfare.  I will
support a 3% across the board raise when our CEC Committee meets next
week.

3.  Patriot Act  --  Rep. Charles Eberle and I are going to introduce
the Patriot Act resolution this coming week.  We are coordinating this
effort with the SAFE Act that was introduced by Sen. Craig and supported
by Congressman Otter.  This effort is to eliminate some of the more
onerous aspects of the Patriot Act.  It is interesting that a judge last
week declared parts of the Patriot Act unconstitutional.

4.  School Facilities  --  Rep. Ringo and I introduced a bill to repeal
HB403 which was passed last year.  This bill allowed the State to sue
school districts to repair buildings.  Two District Judges found the
bill to be unconstitutional.  We feel that repealing the bill will save
the state a bundle of money by avoiding legal costs.

5.  Taxpayer Protection Act  -- Under the leadership of Rep. Delores
Crow, a bill has been introduced in the Rev and Tax Committee.  The
intent of the bill is that a 2/3rds vote of both chambers would be
necessary to pass any tax increase.  This is a constitutional amendment.

     I plan on introducing another constitutional amendment on Monday
called the Taxpayer Accountability Act.  This would require a 2/3rds
vote in both chambers to pass any tax credit or tax exemption for
special interest groups.  We     currently have 75 tax exemptions and
credits in operation which cost the state about $1.2 billion per year.
An exemption is basically a tax on Idaho citizens in the sense that a
special interest groups get a tax break, and     the citizens of the
state foot the bill.

Rep. Tom Trail

I can be contacted at ttrail@house.state.id.us 

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<div class=3DSection1>

<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"'>Dear
Constituents:<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"'>The
Legislative process finally started to roll during the third week of the
session.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Highlights =
were:<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>

1.&nbsp; No Child Left =
Behind&nbsp; --&nbsp;
We had two days of testimony concerning the national Act and the =
ISAT test.&nbsp; A number of legislators are =
concerned about
the impact of the Act on small rural districts, and we are sponsoring a
resolution to send back to Congress and the President expressing our =
concerns. <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'text-indent:.5in;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"'>We want a better measure of student =
growth on
a year to year basis, school performance standards that take into =
account
successes and failures by subject matter areas, special consideration =
for students
who are new to the country, and the ability to transfer struggling =
students to
a new school instead of allowing all students in that school to =
move.<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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We also have =
concerns
that No Child Left Behind is potentially a huge unfunded federal =
mandate. It is
interesting that the Republican dominated Assembly in Virginia voted =
98-1 to
opt out of the program.<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'><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'>2.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Pay for State =
Workers<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"'>-- The
Governor recommended a 2 percent pay hike.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Workers have gone without an increase for two years and have lost =
six percent
of their buying power.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>BSU, for
example, notes that over 11 % of their workers are below the poverty =
line.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Many workers have more than one =
extra
job, get food stamps, and qualify for welfare.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>I will support a 3% across the =
board raise
when our CEC Committee meets next 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>

3.&nbsp; Patriot =
Act&nbsp; --&nbsp; Rep. Charles Eberle and I are =
going to
introduce the Patriot Act resolution this coming week.&nbsp; We are coordinating this effort =
with the
SAFE Act that was introduced by Sen. Craig and supported by Congressman
Otter.&nbsp; This effort is to =
eliminate
some of the more onerous aspects of the Patriot Act.&nbsp; It is interesting that a judge =
last week
declared parts of the Patriot Act =
unconstitutional.<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>

4.&nbsp; School =
Facilities&nbsp; --&nbsp; Rep. Ringo and I introduced a =
bill to
repeal HB403 which was passed last year.&nbsp;
This bill allowed the State to sue school districts to repair
buildings.&nbsp; Two District =
Judges
found the bill to be unconstitutional.&nbsp;
We feel that repealing the bill will save the state a bundle of =
money by
avoiding legal costs.<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>

5.&nbsp; Taxpayer =
Protection Act&nbsp; -- Under the leadership of Rep. =
Delores
Crow, a bill has been introduced in the Rev and Tax Committee.&nbsp; The intent of the bill is that =
a 2/3rds
vote of both chambers would be necessary to pass any tax increase.&nbsp; This is a constitutional =
amendment.<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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I plan on =
introducing
another constitutional amendment on Monday called the Taxpayer =
Accountability
Act.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This would require a =
2/3rds
vote in both chambers to pass any tax credit or tax exemption for =
special
interest groups.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>We<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>currently =
have 75 tax
exemptions and credits in operation which cost the state about $1.2 =
billion per
year.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>An exemption is =
basically a
tax on Idaho citizens in the sense that a special interest groups get a =
tax
break, and<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
</span>the
citizens of the state foot the bill.<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>

Rep.
Tom Trail<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"'>I
can be contacted at ttrail@house.state.id.us =
<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><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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