[Vision2020] Rep. Trail's Legislative Update week 7 -- Feb 15-20,
2004
bill london
london@moscow.com
Sat, 21 Feb 2004 14:48:20 -0800
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T-
I am very pleased to note that two of the more divisive rightwing social
agenda items (forced 10 Commandments placement and the anti gay marriage
amendment) may both die. Thanks for your efforts on both. BL
Tom Trail wrote:
> LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER 7--Feb 15-20, 2004
>
>
>
> Dear Constituents:
>
>
>
> We are moving rapidly toward the end of the legislative session. The
> best prediction is about mid-March. We will be voting on budgets next
> week. In talking with the Speaker the following items may be of interest.
>
>
>
> a. l0 Commandments Resolution -- Dead on arrival.
>
> b. HJR9 Marriage Amendment -- Sen. Sorenson in contemplating
> burying this in her desk draw. Wait and see.
>
> c. Patroit Act Resolution -- The Speaker told me he would
> support Rep. Eberle and my resolution. We hope it will come up next week.
>
> d. Constitutional amendment requiring 2/3rds vote of both chambers
> to pass any tax increase -- assigned to a subcommittee -- DOA
>
>
>
> Two quotes of the week are I think appropriate:
>
>
>
> a. Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and
> campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other.
>
>
>
> b. Once you lose integrity everything else is easy.
>
>
>
> Now on to some of the week's highlights:
>
>
>
> 1. Public Education Budget -- JFAC approved a budget that fully
> funds the technology request, increases beginning teacher salaries,
> funds teachers for increased education credit, and ensures that the
> same amount of discretionary funds is spent per classroom.
>
>
>
> a. This year's budget would fully fund a 10% increase in
> Idaho's minimum teacher salary bringing Idaho's beginning salary
> ranking from 44th in the nation to 30th. This change would provide a
> salary increase for 2,200 of Idaho's teachers and attract new talent
> to the profession.
>
>
>
> b. The budget would reward teachers who earn additional
> education credits or participate in additional training programs.
>
>
>
> c. Base salaries for classified staff would increase by 1% in
> order to recognize the important contribution made by these workers.
>
>
>
> d. The budget would fully fund the amount requested for
> technology that was left out of the Governor's recommendation. This
> is at the level of $8.2 million.
>
>
>
> e. The budget would maintain the amount of per classroom
> discretionary funds that were distributed in Fiscal Year 2004.
>
>
>
> f. I was disappointed that a 1% salary wasn't given to teachers
> because teachers are the key to educational success. We also failed
> to fund for ISAT intervention or remedial training to help students
> with the new Idaho Student Assessment Test.
>
>
>
> 2. Funding for Higher Education -- this was a barebones budget
> approved by JFAC. It is so barebones that I will vote against it.
> The Governor proposed a 2% salary increase for all education but
> failed to put any money in the budget to fund it. It now appears
> possible that the 8% student fee increase may be used to fund faculty
> and staff salaries. The BSU President told the House Ed Committee
> that he didn't want to go down that road. If universities do this it
> may invite a lawsuit.
>
>
>
> 3. HB502 -- the Qwest Telecommunications deregulation bill. The
> final vote was 36-34 to pass the bill. If the legislation passes it
> will give Qwest and other providers free reign to increase land line
> phone rates without the protection of the PUC. We hope that the
> Senate is able to defeat the bill.
>
>
>
> United Vision reported two large donations to the Governor's
> campaign debt reduction in December and February, and that Quest paid
> legislators over $8,000 in December as campaign donations. One can
> draw their own conclusions.
>
>
>
> This is probably enough at this time. You can contact me at:
>
> ttrail@house.state.id.us
>
>
>
> Rep. Tom Trail
>
>
>
> All of my legislative updates can be viewed at:
>
>
>
> www.infotrail.com/idaho <http://www.infotrail.com/idaho>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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T-<br>
I am very pleased to note that two of the more divisive rightwing
social agenda items (forced 10 Commandments placement and the anti gay
marriage amendment) may both die. Thanks for your efforts on both. BL<br>
<br>
Tom Trail wrote:<br>
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<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER 7--Feb 15-20, 2004<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">Dear
Constituents:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">We
are moving rapidly toward the end of the legislative session.<span
style=""> </span>The best prediction is about
mid-March.<span style=""> </span>We will be voting on
budgets next week. In talking with the Speaker the following items may
be of
interest.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>a.<span style=""> </span>l0 Commandments Resolution<span
style=""> </span>--<span style="">
</span>Dead on arrival.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>b.<span style=""> </span><span class="SpellE">HJR9</span>
Marriage
Amendment<span style=""> </span>--<span style=""> </span>Sen.
Sorenson in contemplating burying
this in her desk draw.<span style=""> </span>Wait and
see.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>c.<span style=""> </span><span class="SpellE">Patroit</span>
Act
Resolution<span style=""> </span>--<span style=""> </span>The
Speaker told me he would support
Rep. <span class="SpellE">Eberle</span> and my resolution.<span
style=""> </span>We hope it will come up next week.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>d.<span style=""> </span>Constitutional amendment requiring
2/<span class="SpellE">3rds</span> vote of both chambers to pass any
tax increase --
assigned to a subcommittee -- DOA<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">Two
quotes of the week are I think appropriate:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>a.<span style=""> </span>Politics is the gentle art of
getting votes
from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect
each
from the other.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>b.<span style=""> </span>Once you lose integrity everything
else
is easy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">Now
on to some of the week's highlights:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">1.<span style="">
</span>Public Education Budget<span style=""> </span>--<span
style="">
</span>JFAC approved a budget that fully funds the technology
request,
increases beginning teacher salaries, funds teachers for increased
education
credit, and ensures that the same amount of discretionary funds is
spent per
classroom.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>a.<span style=""> </span>This year's budget would fully fund
a 10%
increase in Idaho's minimum teacher salary bringing Idaho's beginning
salary
ranking from 44th in the nation to 30th.<span style="">
</span>This change would provide a salary increase for 2,200 of
Idaho's
teachers and attract new talent to the profession.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>b.<span style=""> </span>The budget would reward teachers
who
earn additional education credits or participate in additional training
programs.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>c.<span style=""> </span>Base salaries for classified staff
would
increase by 1% in order to recognize the important contribution made by
these
workers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span><span style=""> </span>d.<span style="">
</span>The budget would fully fund the amount requested for
technology that was
left out of the Governor's recommendation.<span style="">
</span>This is at the level of $8.2 million.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>e.<span style=""> </span>The budget would maintain the
amount of
per classroom discretionary funds that were distributed in Fiscal Year
2004.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>f.<span style=""> </span>I was disappointed that a 1% salary
wasn't given to teachers because teachers are the key to educational
success.<span style=""> </span>We also failed to fund for <span
class="SpellE">ISAT</span> intervention or remedial training to help
students
with the new Idaho Student Assessment Test.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">2.<span style="">
</span>Funding for Higher
Education<span style=""> </span>--<span style=""> </span>this was a
barebones budget approved by
JFAC.<span style=""> </span>It is so barebones that I
will vote against it.<span style=""> </span>The Governor
proposed a 2% salary increase for all education but failed to put any
money in
the budget to fund it.<span style=""> </span>It now
appears possible that the 8% student fee increase may be used to fund
faculty
and staff salaries.<span style=""> </span>The BSU
President told the House Ed Committee that he didn't want to go down
that
road.<span style=""> </span>If universities do this it
may invite a lawsuit.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">3.<span style="">
</span><span class="SpellE">HB502</span><span style=""> </span>--<span
style="">
</span>the Qwest Telecommunications deregulation bill.<span style="">
</span>The final vote was 36-34 to pass the
bill.<span style=""> </span>If the legislation
passes it will give Qwest and other providers free reign to increase
land line
phone rates without the protection of the <span class="SpellE">PUC</span>.<span
style=""> </span>We hope that the Senate is able to
defeat the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="">
</span>United Vision reported two large donations to the Governor's
campaign
debt reduction in December and February, and that Quest paid
legislators over
$8,000 in December as campaign donations.<span style="">
</span>One can draw their own conclusions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">This
is probably enough at this time.<span style="">
</span>You can contact me at:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:ttrail@house.state.id.us">ttrail@house.state.id.us</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">Rep.
Tom Trail<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">All
of my legislative updates can be viewed at:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><a
href="http://www.infotrail.com/idaho"><span class="SpellE">www.infotrail.com/idaho</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="2" face="Courier New"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span
style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
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