[Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter Week I - January 12-16th
Tom Trail
RepTrail@infotrail.com
Sat, 24 Jan 2004 09:55:17 -0600
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0008_01C3E260.2CB60510
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear Visionaries:
This is my first Legislative Newsletter for the 2004 legislative
session.
First, I want to give you my e mail, phone, fax, and conventional mail
contact information:
ttrail@house.state.id.us in Boise
tel (208) 332-1202,
fax (208) 334-5397
Rep. Tom Trail
Idaho State Legislature
State Capitol Building
Boise, ID 83720-0038
In this first legislative newsletter for 2004 I will focus mainly on
initiatives facing the Idaho Legislature. The Governor has proposed
what is essentially a flat budget for FY 2005. His message was a shot
across the bow of many conservatives who want to eliminate the one cent
sales tax a year early and further cut services. Obviously, it is an
election year and so conservatives are trying to get out their message
to their dedicated core supporters.
There are only slight increases proposed for education and a small
increase for teachers and staff. Part of this increase will be eaten
away by the new PERSI contributions rates scheduled to start July 1st.
Many legislators and I are greatly disturbed by the small 2% increase
for state employees after no raises for two years. These employees have
lost over 6% buying power. We had 40 employees testify to the CEC
Committee. Many employees are working extra jobs, on welfare, or using
food stamps. I'm collecting data to find out how many state employees
are below the poverty level. BSU reports that about 11% of their staff
are below the poverty level. Is this something that a flagship
institution would like to brag about? Another major problem is that
when agencies are provided money for raises that most goes to the higher
salaries employees. I will be pushing for an across the board increase.
Specific Issues
1) Technology -- It is interesting that the Governor is proposing to
create a new Office of Technology with lots of funding and telling us
that the future industry of the state is this same area. Then we look
at the Governor's education budget and find big cuts in technology
funding for students and teachers. Something doesn't add up here. The
Governor didn't mention the "Generation of the Child" once in his
speech. I am concerned with the proposed cutting of technology funds to
the schools. We need to prepare our students to be technologically
competent for future generations. This is clearly crucial for economic
development.
2) Tax Compliance Officers -- The 15 positions authorized last year
by the Legislature have collected a net of about $8.5 million in unpaid
taxes for the first six months of the fiscal year.
3) Open Meetings and Initiative Reform -- I'm introducing legislation
calling for the Legislature to strengthen its commitment to the Idaho
Open Meetings Act. IACI may introduce legislation to try and reform our
current initiative process. I will oppose such legislation.
4) Financial Institutional Responsibility -- Patterned after
California legislation, I'll be introducing a bill that will call upon
financial institutions to immediately contact a client if there is any
suspected security breach regarding personal client data, i.e. social
security #, bank account #, credit card #, etc. My wife recently had
this happen when someone stole some Wells Fargo hard drives containing
client data. Wells Fargo did an excellent job of contacting my wife and
helping to resolve the problem.
5) HB 315 -- White Pine School District -- Governor Kempthorne has
promised to support an appropriation of $377,000 for Whitepine as money
due for meeting the District's commitment to HB315.
6) HB403AA -- School Facilities -- Idaho must be in the Guinness
Book of Records as the state suing school districts more than any other
state. I received an e mail from an Orofino 8th grade class yesterday
asking us to repeal HB403AA. I proudly responded that Rep. Ringo and I
had already drafted legislation to specifically do this.
7) Repeal Property Tax Cap and Teacher Index Legislation -- JFAC
tacked on legislative intent language in regard to both these subjects
last year with out public input or a hearing. I'm introducing
legislation that would restore both the Property Tax Cap and Teacher
Index as it was before the legislature passed the 2004 appropriations
bill. Both Sen. Schroeder and I are introducing Joint House and Senate
Rules that would require a public hearing and that JFAC could not
include intent language without a 2/3rds majority in either chamber.
8) State Board of Education -- I will propose a bill that would require
the State Board to follow the Administrative Procedures Act under which
they are presently required to follow.
9) Tax Credit for Teachers -- I'll be reintroducing legislation to
restore the tax credit for teachers who buy supplies out of their own
pockets. The Bush administration initiative allows this for federal
income tax.
10) ABCTE Exam -- The Bush administration and the Idaho State Board of
Education by temporary rule are proposing that anyone who wants to teach
can take a multiple choice test. If they pass they can then teach in
the classroom. This makes about as much sense as giving anyone who
wants to become a medical doctor a multiple choice test. If they pass
then give them a scalpel and turn them loose. I'll be supporting
legislation to negate this poorly conceived effort.
Again, I welcome your input - you may contact me at:
ttrail@house.state.us.id
My desk phone is (208) 332-1202.
Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 6
www.infotrail.com/idaho
------=_NextPart_000_0008_01C3E260.2CB60510
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:st1=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
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@01C3E260.2B97EAE0">
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"PostalCode"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"PlaceType"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"City"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"place"/>
<!--[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]--><!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![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.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal;
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.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
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:navy;}
@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><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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>This is my first Legislative Newsletter for the 2004 legislative
session.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span><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'>First, I want to give you my e mail, phone, fax, and =
conventional mail
contact information: <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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>ttrail@house.state.id.us in =
</span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Boise</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p=
></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>tel (208) 332-1202,<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'>fax (208) 334-5397<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Rep. Tom Trail<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'>Idaho State Legislature <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>State Capitol =
</span></font><st1:PlaceType>Building</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o=
:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Boise, ID =
</span></font><st1:PostalCode>83720-0038</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>In this first legislative newsletter for 2004 I will focus =
mainly on
initiatives facing the Idaho Legislature.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>The Governor has proposed what is essentially a flat budget for =
FY
2005.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>His message =
was a shot
across the bow of many conservatives who want to eliminate the one cent =
sales
tax a year early and further cut services.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Obviously, it is an election year and so conservatives are trying =
to get
out their message to their dedicated core =
supporters.<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'>There are only slight increases proposed for education and a =
small
increase for teachers and staff.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Part of this increase will be eaten away by the new PERSI =
contributions
rates scheduled to start July 1st.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Many legislators and I are greatly disturbed by the small 2% =
increase
for state employees after no raises for two years.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>These employees have lost over =
6% buying
power.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>We had 40 employees =
testify
to the CEC Committee.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Many
employees are working extra jobs, on welfare, or using food stamps.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I'm collecting data to find out =
how many
state employees are below the poverty level.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>BSU reports that about 11% of =
their staff
are below the poverty level.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>Is
this something that a flagship institution would like to brag =
about?<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Another major problem is that =
when
agencies are provided money for raises that most goes to the higher =
salaries
employees.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I will be =
pushing for an
across the board increase.<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'>Specific Issues<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>1)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Technology<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span></font></b>It is =
interesting that
the Governor is proposing to create a new Office of Technology with lots =
of
funding and telling us that the future industry of the state is this =
same
area.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Then we look at =
the<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Governor's education budget and =
find big
cuts in technology funding for students and teachers.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Something doesn't add up =
here.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The Governor didn't mention the
"Generation of the Child" once in his speech.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I am concerned with the =
proposed cutting
of technology funds to the schools.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>We need to prepare our students to be technologically competent =
for
future generations.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This =
is clearly
crucial for economic development.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>2)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>Tax
Compliance Officers<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span></span></font></b>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The 15 positions authorized =
last year by
the Legislature have collected a net of about $8.5 million in unpaid =
taxes for
the first six months of the fiscal year.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>3)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Open Meetings and Initiative Reform<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span></span></font></b>--<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>I'm
introducing legislation calling for the Legislature to strengthen its
commitment to the Idaho Open Meetings Act.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>IACI may introduce legislation to try and reform our current =
initiative
process.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I will oppose =
such
legislation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>4)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Financial Institutional Responsibility<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span></font></b>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Patterned after California =
legislation,
I'll be introducing a bill that will call upon financial institutions to
immediately contact a client if there is any suspected security breach
regarding personal client data, i.e. social security #, bank account #, =
credit
card #, etc.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>My wife =
recently had
this happen when someone stole some Wells Fargo hard drives containing =
client
data.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Wells Fargo did an =
excellent
job of contacting my wife and helping to resolve the =
problem.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>5)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>HB
315<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span></span></font></b>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>White Pine School District<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Governor Kempthorne has promised to support an appropriation of =
$377,000
for Whitepine as money due for meeting the District's commitment to <b
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>HB315</span></b>.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>6)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>HB403AA<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span></span></font></b>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>School Facilities<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Idaho must be in the Guinness Book of Records as the state suing =
school
districts more than any other state.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>I received an e mail from an Orofino 8th grade class yesterday =
asking us
to repeal <b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>HB403AA</span></b>.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I proudly responded that Rep. =
Ringo and
I had already drafted legislation to specifically do =
this.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>7)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Repeal Property Tax Cap and Teacher Index Legislation<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span></font></b>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>JFAC tacked on legislative =
intent
language in regard to both these subjects last year with out public =
input or a
hearing.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I'm introducing
legislation that would restore both the Property Tax Cap and Teacher =
Index as
it was before the legislature passed the 2004 appropriations bill.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Both Sen. Schroeder and I are
introducing Joint House and Senate Rules that would require a public =
hearing
and that JFAC could not include intent language without a 2/3rds =
majority in
either chamber.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>8)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>State Board of Education </span></font></b>-- I will propose a =
bill that
would require the State Board to follow the Administrative Procedures =
Act under
which they are presently required to follow.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>9)<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span>Tax
Credit for Teachers<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> =
</span></span></font></b>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I'll be reintroducing =
legislation to
restore the tax credit for teachers who buy supplies out of their own
pockets.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The Bush =
administration
initiative allows this for federal income tax.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>10) ABCTE Exam<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span></font></b>--<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The Bush administration and the =
Idaho
State Board of Education by temporary rule are proposing that anyone who =
wants
to teach can take a multiple choice test.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>If they pass they can then teach in the classroom.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This makes about as much sense =
as giving
anyone who wants to become a medical doctor a multiple choice test.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>If they pass then give them a =
scalpel
and turn them loose.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I'll =
be
supporting legislation to negate this poorly conceived =
effort.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Again, I welcome your input - you may contact me =
at:<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'>ttrail@house.state.us.id<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span><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'>My desk phone is (208) 332-1202.<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> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 6<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'>www.infotrail.com/idaho<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
------=_NextPart_000_0008_01C3E260.2CB60510--