[Vision2020] February 9-13 Legislative update

Tom Trail RepTrail@infotrail.com
Sat, 14 Feb 2004 21:52:18 -0600


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Dear Constituents:
 
We are probably in the midterm of the 2004 Legislative session.  JFAC
will soon start setting the education appropriations bills and March
12-20th are predicted to be the range of dates that we may be finishing
the session. Tax returns were not up to estimates for December and
January so JFAC is looking at a budget potentially below the Governor's
budget.
 
Here are some of the week's highlights.
 
1.  3% increase for State Employees  --  The joint House and Senate
Human Resources Committee voted to recommend a 3% pay increase for state
workers.  The additional 1% is contingent upon the state collecting $5
million more in tax revenue this year than expected.  Rep. Ringo and I
voted for an additional 2% increase for state employees who have not
received a raise for 2 years.  If one looks at $19,000 as the poverty
level for a family of four then U. of I. payroll figures indicate that
about 20% of U. of I. workers fall below the poverty level.  Obviously
the poverty level varies  according to the number of people in a family
-- but the figure does give us some general perspective.   Surveys also
indicate that many state workers hold down 1-3 additional jobs, qualify
for food stamps, and some are on welfare.  BSU actually has a type of
soup kitchen approach offering free meals to workers below the poverty
level.  We are losing many of our most valuable state workers, and we
need to develop a long term plan to help get the pay schedule
competitive with the private sector.
 
2.  Governor's Budget for Education Inadequate for Public Education -
The House and Senate Education Committees critically examined the
Governor's Education Budget and found it to short-change education in a
number of areas.  These concerns were reported to JFAC.  Gov.
Kempthorne's plan to spend $5 million less on technology for classrooms
doesn't get any applause from members of either committees.  Accepting
the Governor's plan could harm an Albertson Foundation backed $35
million initiative to help parents and teachers track student
performance.  Recommendations were also made to put $4 million in the
ISAT intervention program to help struggling students with the mandatory
graduation exit test.
 
3.  Integrity of Public Officials  --  Sen. Ingram wants to introduce
legislation that would clamp down on state officials accepting gifts
from companies and lobbyists.  Ingram says lawmakers shouldn't be in the
business of accepting gifts.  But Speaker Newcomb said lawmakers differ
from other public officials.   I beg to differ on this point --
appearances are everything.  In a recent BSU survey about 70% of Idaho
citizens indicated they believe that lawmakers support legislation
according to the amount of contributions and gifts they receive from
companies and lobbyists.  There is that old saying -- follow the money.
A good example brought to my attention by a constituent is the intense
lobbying by Qwest and the Governor to deregulate land phone lines.  Over
the years Qwest has contributed more than $182,000 to the Governor and
lawmakers, and most recently made a sizeable donation to help pay off
the Governor's campaign debt from the 2002 campaign.  Legislation is
also being introduced to raise the contribution level from $1,000 to
$2,000 for candidates.   And it simply goes on and on  --  I can't think
of a better reason than to support public campaign financing.
 
4.  Attempt to Ban Smoking  --  SB1283 would ban smoking in most
restaurants, taxi cabs, retail stores, museums, hospitals, theaters and
offices to the public.  The Senate passed the measure 23-13.  My
research indicates that the restaurant trade may be impacted for a short
period of time but that it recovers.  Last year the American Medical
Association estimated that over 400,000 deaths were attributed to
smoking.   I will support this bill.
 
5.  State Board of Education Debate  --  Sen. Schroeder introduced a
bill that would split the SBOE into two boards: one focused on public
education and the other on higher education.   This system works well in
several states.  Board members such as Tom Boyd and Paul Agidius both
told me that they were overwhelmed with the amount of information they
received before each monthly board meeting, and that they were so caught
up with details that they often couldn't see the broader picture.   Sen.
Schroeder mentioned that this aspect may have prevented the Board from
monitoring and preventing the Idaho Place scenario.   Blake Hall of the
Board immediately attacked Sen. Schroeder saying that the Senator bore
major responsibility for not spotting Idaho Place problems.  This is
very curious since the SBOE has the mandate to be responsible for Higher
Education.  Perhaps Mr. Hall is too busy as a lobbyist for the
University of Chicago and an engineering firm to fully concentrate on
his SBOE duties.
 
5.  HB502  --  This bill is called the "enrich" Qwest bill which would
remove pricing for basic residential and business phone services from
regulation from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.  It would allow
Qwest and 16 other providers across the state to raise local rates as
much as they want whenever they want to.  The PUC is the only protection
Idaho consumers have in terms of phone companies jacking up prices.  The
PUC allows companies to make a decent return on their investment  Qwest
has 444,000 phone lines and if they increase the charge $1/month that
puts an additional $444,444 into their pockets.  A headline in the
Statesman of February 14th indicated that a cable company was increasing
their prices by 17%.  Cable companies are deregulated.
 
      I received a call from a constituent in Potlatch.  She is a senior
citizen living on $700/month.  She said that if her phone bill goes up
then either her phone or prescription has to go.  HB502 will be an
additional tax on the Idaho citizen especially hitting low income
citizens and small businesses.
 
       Qwest is still recovering from massive fraud charges from their
executives for defrauding stockholders of over $250,000,000 and for
fraud concerning the selling of $30 million in equipment to schools in
Arizona which didn't exist.   
 
       It is curious that several years ago we proudly supported the
continuance of regulation of electric power.  We pointed out with pride
how we protected the consumer.  What short term memories we have in the
legislature.  I just hope that we do not become known as the ENRON
Legislature with the passage of HB502.
 
6. Promise Scholarship  --  Rep. Ringo and I will introduce a piece of
legislation that would change the payment of the scholarship.
Currently, the Scholarship (B) pays qualified high school students
graduating from a Idaho high school (with a 3.0 gpa) and who go to an
Idaho university or college $250/semester (for 4 terms).  We are
recommending that the $1,000 be paid up front during the first year or
$500 for each of the first two semesters.  This will serve as a greater
incentive to attract first year students and also reduce university
administrative costs.
 
Rep. Tom Trail/Dist 6
 
You can reach me 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"'>We
are probably in the midterm of the 2004 Legislative session.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>JFAC will soon start setting =
the education
appropriations bills and March 12-20th are predicted to be the range of =
dates
that we may be finishing the session. Tax returns were not up to =
estimates for
December and January so JFAC is looking at a budget potentially below =
the
Governor's budget.<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"'>Here
are some of the week's highlights.<b =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span>=
</b></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'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></b></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'>1.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>3% increase for =
State
Employees </span></font></b><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>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The
joint House and Senate Human Resources Committee voted to recommend a 3% =
pay
increase for state workers.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>The
additional 1% is contingent upon the state collecting $5 million more in =
tax
revenue this year than expected.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>Rep.
Ringo and I voted for an additional 2% increase for state employees who =
have
not received a raise for 2 years.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>If one
looks at $19,000 as the poverty level for a family of four then U. of I.
payroll figures indicate that about 20% of U. of I. workers fall below =
the
poverty level. <span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>Obviously =
the poverty
level varies<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>according to =
the number of
people in a family -- but the figure does give us some general
perspective.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Surveys =
also indicate that
many state workers hold down 1-3 additional jobs, qualify for food =
stamps, and
some are on welfare.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>BSU =
actually has a
type of soup kitchen approach offering free meals to workers below the =
poverty
level.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>We are losing many =
of our most
valuable state workers, and we need to develop a long term plan to help =
get the
pay schedule competitive with the private =
sector.<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'>2.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Governor's =
Budget for
Education Inadequate for Public Education</span></font></b><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> -
The House and Senate Education Committees critically examined the =
Governor's
Education Budget and found it to short-change education in a number of
areas.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>These concerns were =
reported to
JFAC.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Gov. Kempthorne's =
plan to spend $5
million less on technology for classrooms doesn't get any applause from =
members
of either committees.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>Accepting the
Governor's plan could harm an Albertson Foundation backed $35 million
initiative to help parents and teachers track student performance.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Recommendations were also made =
to put $4
million in the <span class=3DSpellE>ISAT</span> intervention program to =
help
struggling students with the mandatory graduation exit =
test.<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'>3.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Integrity of =
Public Officials</span></font></b><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>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Sen. Ingram wants to introduce legislation that would clamp down =
on
state officials accepting gifts from companies and lobbyists.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Ingram says lawmakers shouldn't =
be in the business
of accepting gifts.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>But =
Speaker Newcomb
said lawmakers differ from other public officials.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I beg to differ on this =
point -- appearances
are everything.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>In a =
recent BSU survey
about 70% of Idaho citizens indicated they believe that lawmakers =
support
legislation according to the amount of contributions and gifts they =
receive
from companies and lobbyists.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>There is
that old saying -- follow the money.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>A
good example brought to my attention by a constituent is the intense =
lobbying
by Qwest and the Governor to deregulate land phone lines.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Over the years Qwest has =
contributed more
than $182,000 to the Governor and lawmakers, and most recently made a =
sizeable
donation to help pay off the Governor's campaign debt from the 2002
campaign.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Legislation is =
also being
introduced to raise the contribution level from $1,000 to $2,000 for
candidates.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>And it =
simply goes on and
on<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>I can't think of a better reason than to support public campaign
financing.<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'>4.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Attempt to Ban =
Smoking</span></font></b><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>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>SB1283 would ban smoking in most restaurants, taxi cabs, retail =
stores,
museums, hospitals, theaters and offices to the public.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The Senate passed the measure =
23-13.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>My research indicates that the =
restaurant
trade may be impacted for a short period of time but that it =
recovers.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Last year the American Medical =
Association
estimated that over 400,000 deaths were attributed to smoking.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I will support this =
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>

<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'>5.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>State Board of =
Education
Debate<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"'>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Sen. Schroeder introduced a =
bill that would
split the SBOE into two boards: one focused on public education and the =
other
on higher education.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; =
</span>This system works
well in several states.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>Board members
such as Tom Boyd and Paul Agidius both told me that they were =
overwhelmed with
the amount of information they received before each monthly board =
meeting, and
that they were so caught up with details that they often couldn't see =
the
broader picture.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; =
</span>Sen. Schroeder
mentioned that this aspect may have prevented the Board from monitoring =
and
preventing the Idaho Place scenario.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Blake
Hall of the Board immediately attacked Sen. Schroeder saying that the =
Senator
bore major responsibility for not spotting Idaho Place problems.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This is very curious since the =
SBOE has the
mandate to be responsible for Higher Education.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Perhaps Mr. Hall is too busy as a lobbyist for the University of =
Chicago
and an engineering firm to fully concentrate on his SBOE =
duties.<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'>5.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>HB502</span></font></b><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>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>This bill is called the &quot;enrich&quot; Qwest bill which would =
remove
pricing for basic residential and business phone services from =
regulation from
the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>It would allow Qwest and 16 other providers across the state to =
raise
local rates as much as they want whenever they want to.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The <span =
class=3DSpellE>PUC</span> is the only
protection Idaho consumers have in terms of phone companies jacking up
prices.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The <span =
class=3DSpellE>PUC</span>
allows companies to make a decent return on their investment<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Qwest has 444,000 phone lines =
and if they
increase the charge $1/month that puts an additional $444,444 into their
pockets.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>A headline in the =
Statesman of
February 14<sup>th</sup> indicated that a cable company was increasing =
their
prices by 17%.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Cable =
companies are
deregulated.<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"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I =
received a call from a constituent in
Potlatch.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>She is a senior =
citizen living
on $700/month.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>She said =
that if her
phone bill goes up then either her phone or prescription has to go.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>HB502 will be an additional tax =
on the Idaho
citizen especially hitting low income citizens and small =
businesses.<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"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
</span>Qwest is still recovering from massive
fraud charges from their executives for defrauding stockholders of over
$250,000,000 and for fraud concerning the selling of $30 million in =
equipment
to schools in Arizona which didn't exist.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span><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"'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
</span>It is curious that several years ago we
proudly supported the continuance of regulation of electric power.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>We pointed out with pride how =
we protected
the consumer. <span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>What short =
term memories
we have in the legislature.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>I just hope
that we do not become known as the ENRON Legislature with the passage of =
HB502.<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'>6. Promise Scholarship</span></font></b><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>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Rep. Ringo and I will introduce a piece of legislation that would =
change
the payment of the scholarship.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Currently, the Scholarship (B) pays qualified high school =
students
graduating from a Idaho high school (with a 3.0 <span =
class=3DSpellE>gpa</span>)
and who go to an Idaho university or college $250/semester (for 4 =
terms).<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>We are recommending that the =
$1,000 be paid
up front during the first year or $500 for each of the first two
semesters.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This will serve =
as a greater
incentive to attract first year students and also reduce university
administrative costs.<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"'>Rep.
Tom Trail/Dist 6<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"'>You
can reach me 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>

<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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