[Vision2020] Legislative Update VII from Rep. Trail

Sat, 28 Feb 2004 09:43:13 -0600

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C3FDDF.61342ED0
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Dear Constituents:    

     We finished the 8th week of the 2004 Legislative session and my
guess is that we will finish up about the 18th of March.  Major charter
school legislation is coming from the Senate side and the Governor has
just submitted his major charter school bill.  The Marriage Amendment is
stuck away in Sen. Sorenson's desk drawer at this time. The 10
Commandments legislation has been sent to a subcommittee which in fact
is a dark hole for killing bills.  Here are some of the weekly
highlights.

1.  Patriot Act Resolution  --  It looks dead for this session.
Although we have many legislators who signed on to support it,
unfortunately, leadership simply doesn't see the need for the
resolution.  This is frustrating since constituents of all ideologies
support it as well as our Congressional delegation.

2.  Open Meetings Act  --  I submitted an Open Meetings Resolution early
in the session.  I simply wanted to get legislators to vote on their
commitment to open meetings laws.  I've been told that the issue will be
studied between sessions.

3.  Promise Scholarships  -- HB713 -- Rep. Ringo and I introduced the
bill and it will come up for a vote Monday.   Currently students who
qualify receive $250/semester for a total of four semesters.  Many feel
that receiving a total of $1,000 the first year would be a greater
incentive to students.  The plan would reduce administrative costs by
about $20,000/year.

4.  HB531  --  Expungement of juvenile records  --  Rep. Steve Smylie
and I received approval on Wednesday on the bill from Jud and Rules.  I
worked closely with Doug Whitney, Latah County Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney on the bill.   If passed the legislation would provide
expunging records of certain juveniles who had committed minor crimes.
This would enable them to qualify at an earlier time for the military or
other careers.

5.  HCR11  --  Constitutional Amendment to Preserve Hunting and Fishing
Rights for Idaho Citizens.  This is a bill that Rep. Harwood and I
worked on last year, and this year I helping Rep. Clete Edmondsen on it.
It will have to pass both chambers by a 2/3rds vote and then go to the
citizens of the state for a vote.

6.  HJR40  --  This resolution encourages all Idaho Citizens to recycle,
re-use, and take adequate care of hazardous waste including electronic
waste.  Computers, cell phones, and television sets contain lead,
cadmium, mercury, and other toxic metals.  These an leach into aquifers.
The resolution passed the house 70-0.

7.  HB554  --  This is a bill that authored with Walter Steed.  It
simply allows bidding time at the county level to be on the same basis
as cities.  This will allow small contracts to be acted upon in a more
timely manner.  There have been no negative votes so far and it awaits a
final vote in the Senate.

8.  Health Insurance for Kids  --  Legislators voted to restrict
thousands of children from two health insurance programs.  Both the
Governor and I have serious reservations about this move.  The long term
benefit to cover these children will save money to the state

9.  SB1233  --  Sen. Stegner pulled this bill which would have allowed
children to be directly charged for failing to educate their children.

10.  Tattooing  --  Legislation cleared the Senate which restricts the
tattooing of children 14 years or younger.

On Monday I will go to St. Al's Hospital for a surgical procedure, and
be out for a week.  Dr. Earl Bennett, retired Dean of the U. of I.'s
College of Mines will be my substitute.   I'll still be able to
communicate with constituents via ttrail@house.state.id.us 

Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 6

All of my legislative updates can be found at
<http://www.infotrail.com/idaho> www.infotrail.com/idaho

------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C3FDDF.61342ED0
Content-Type: text/html;
	charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" =
xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">

<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">

<meta name=3DProgId content=3DWord.Document>
<meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 10">
<meta name=3DOriginator content=3D"Microsoft Word 10">
<link rel=3DFile-List href=3D"cid:filelist.xml@01C3FDDF.48BD0F70">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
  <o:DoNotRelyOnCSS/>
 </o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <w:WordDocument>
  <w:SpellingState>Clean</w:SpellingState>
  <w:DocumentKind>DocumentEmail</w:DocumentKind>
  <w:EnvelopeVis/>
  <w:Compatibility>
   <w:BreakWrappedTables/>
   <w:SnapToGridInCell/>
   <w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
   <w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
  </w:Compatibility>
  <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
 </w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
 /* Style Definitions */
 p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
	{mso-style-parent:"";
	margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
	{color:blue;
	text-decoration:underline;
	text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
	{color:purple;
	text-decoration:underline;
	text-underline:single;}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle17
	{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
	mso-style-noshow:yes;
	mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
	mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
	font-family:Arial;
	mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;
	mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;
	mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
	color:windowtext;}
span.SpellE
	{mso-style-name:"";
	mso-spl-e:yes;}
@page Section1
	{size:8.5in 11.0in;
	margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
	mso-header-margin:.5in;
	mso-footer-margin:.5in;
	mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
	{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
 /* Style Definitions */=20
 table.MsoNormalTable
	{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
	mso-style-noshow:yes;
	mso-style-parent:"";
	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
	mso-para-margin:0in;
	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	font-size:10.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</head>

<body lang=3DEN-US link=3Dblue vlink=3Dpurple =
style=3D'tab-interval:.5in'>

<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"'><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"'>Dear
Constituents:<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&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>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We finished =
the 8th
week of the 2004 Legislative session and my guess is that we will finish =
up
about the 18th of March.&nbsp; =
Major
charter school legislation is coming from the Senate side and the =
Governor has
just submitted his major charter school bill.&nbsp; The Marriage Amendment is stuck =
away in
Sen. Sorenson's desk drawer at this time. The 10 Commandments =
legislation has
been sent to a subcommittee which in fact is a dark hole for killing
bills.&nbsp; Here are some of =
the weekly
highlights.<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'>1.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Patriot Act =
Resolution</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>It looks dead for this session.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Although we have many legislators who signed on to support it,
unfortunately, leadership simply doesn't see the need for the =
resolution.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This is frustrating since =
constituents
of all ideologies support it as well as our Congressional =
delegation.<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>

2.&nbsp; Open Meetings =
Act&nbsp; --&nbsp;
I submitted an Open Meetings Resolution early in the =
session.&nbsp; I simply wanted to get =
legislators to vote
on their commitment to open meetings laws. &nbsp;I've been told that the issue =
will be
studied between sessions.<o:p></o: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'>3.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Promise =
Scholarships</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>--<b =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> <span =
class=3DSpellE>HB713</span></span></b>
-- Rep. Ringo and I introduced the bill and it will come up for a vote
Monday.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Currently =
students who
qualify receive $250/semester for a total of four semesters.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Many feel that receiving a =
total of
$1,000 the first year would be a greater incentive to students. <span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>The plan would reduce =
administrative costs
by about $20,000/year.<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>

4.&nbsp; HB531&nbsp; --&nbsp;
Expungement of juvenile records&nbsp; --&nbsp;
Rep. Steve Smylie and I received =
approval on
Wednesday on the bill from Jud and Rules. &nbsp;I worked closely with Doug =
Whitney, Latah
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney on the bill.&nbsp;&nbsp; If passed the legislation =
would provide
expunging records of certain juveniles who had committed minor =
crimes.&nbsp; This would enable them to =
qualify at an
earlier time for the military or other =
careers.<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; HCR11&nbsp; --&nbsp;
Constitutional Amendment to Preserve Hunting and Fishing Rights =
for
Idaho Citizens.&nbsp; This is a =
bill that
Rep. Harwood and I worked on last year, and this year I helping Rep. =
Clete Edmondsen on it. =
&nbsp;It will have to pass both =
chambers by a 2/3rds vote and then go to the citizens of the state =
for a
vote.<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'>6.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><span =
class=3DSpellE>HJR40</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>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>This resolution encourages all Idaho Citizens to recycle, re-use, =
and
take adequate care of hazardous waste including electronic waste.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Computers, cell phones, and =
television
sets contain lead, cadmium, mercury, and other toxic metals.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>These an leach into =
aquifers.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>The resolution passed the house =
70-0.<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>

7. &nbsp;HB554&nbsp; --&nbsp; This is a bill that authored =
with Walter
Steed.&nbsp; It simply allows =
bidding
time at the county level to be on the same basis as cities. &nbsp;This will allow small contracts =
to be
acted upon in a more timely manner.&nbsp;
There have been no negative votes so far and it awaits a final =
vote in
the Senate.<o:p></o: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'>8.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Health =
Insurance for
Kids</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>Legislators voted to restrict =
thousands
of children from two health insurance programs.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Both the Governor and I have =
serious
reservations about this move.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>The long
term benefit to cover these children will save money to the =
state<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>

9.&nbsp; SB1233&nbsp; --&nbsp; Sen. Stegner
pulled this bill which would have allowed children to be directly =
charged for
failing to educate their children.<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'>10.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Tattooing<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>Legislation cleared the Senate =
which
restricts the tattooing of children 14 years or =
younger.<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>

On
Monday I will go to St. Al's Hospital for a surgical procedure, and be =
out for
a week.&nbsp; Dr. Earl Bennett, =
retired
Dean of the U. of I.'s College of Mines will =
be my
substitute.&nbsp;&nbsp; I'll =
still be
able to communicate with constituents via ttrail@house.state.id.us =
<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"'>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"'>All
of my legislative updates can be found at <a
href=3D"http://www.infotrail.com/idaho"><span =
class=3DSpellE>www.infotrail.com/idaho</span></a><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>

</div>

</body>

</html>

------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C3FDDF.61342ED0--