[Vision2020] Rep. Trail's 9th Legislative update - March 1-5, 2004

Sat, 6 Mar 2004 11:34:15 -0600

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C4036F.0A4F5140
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Dear Constituents

As you may know, I had an angiogram performed last Monday.  I am
grateful for all of your kind thoughts and prayers.  The results from
this test were very positive and I will return to work this Monday.  I
thank Earl Bennett for acting as my substitute in my absence this week.

1.  Higher Education Appropriation Passes:  On a 38-31 vote the House
approved a barebones budget for higher education.  We have dramatically
reduced support for higher education.  In the last 10 year state support
for higher education increased 49 percent while the state general fund
appropriation increased 75%.  Student fees increased 118%.

     It is obvious that this legislature sets a low priority on Higher
Education.  Conservatives want to sock away a $100 million surplus and
then sunset the one percent sales tax in 05.  Then the plan is to
squeeze education budgets for another number of years.

     Ken Robison on JFAC outlines very clearly what the legislature is
doing:

a) Taps student fees for $1.9 million to pay part of the cost of the
governor's requested 2% pay raise for faculty and staff.  This is the
pay raise that comes after two years of no increases.  In all other
budgets, except for public schools, state money is provided for
increases.

b) Gives colleges and universities nothing for the basic occupancy costs
of new buildings.

c) Provides nothing for enrollment growth, leaving universities $2.7
million short.

d) Requires universities to cut elsewhere to deal with the $1.9 million
in state endowment funds.

e) Provides nothing for increased utility costs.

     The overall impact is increased class size, lower faculty and staff
morale, and accelerating the trend of Idaho universities and colleges
toward mediocracy.  This will be a key campaign issue.

2. Integrity in Politics  --  Several recent articles with headlines
like "Evidence mounts that Money buys Idaho Politicians", and "Quest
donates large campaign donation to Governor and $8,000 to lawmakers to
help pass the Quest Bill" have appeared in the Idaho Statesman.
Band-Aid approaches are being utilized but there does not appear to be a
concerted will to enact meaningful ethics reform.  I will be promoting
public campaign finance reform again this coming year as well as full
disclosure for any political candidate.

3. HB 740  --  The House voted 44-26 to kill a bill to make kindergarten
mandatory and lower the state's official school age from 7-6.

4. Charter School Legislation  --  a flood of charter school bills are
flooding various committees as we head down the stretch.  I support
charter schools but feel that we need to form an interim committee to
hold public hearings and come up with reasonable proposals and not make
hasty decisions.  One concern is "who should issue a charter."  There
are some who would like state or regional bodies to do this.  This
conflicts with the concept of local control.  My point is that we are
using public money and that accountability and being able to track the
taxpayer dollars should be foremost.  Legislators can get themselves in
trouble in acting in a hurry  --  Idaho Place comes to mind.

5. House Bill 730 - Currently, when a large dairy or feed lot operation
is applying for a siting permit from the county, only people living
within a one mile radius may attend the hearing.  This bill would have
removed the one mile restriction.  I gave my substitute Earl Bennett
instructions to support the measure.  He voted against it in committee
and the bill was defeated.  I am working with committee members to bring
the bill back for consideration.

     Those are some of the major issues of the week.  I look forward to
return to the legislature on Monday.

Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 6

e mail ttrail@house.state.id.us
Phone 332-1202

You may visit my website at <http://www.infotrail.com/idaho>
www.infotrail.com/idaho
To access this and archived newsletters.

------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C4036F.0A4F5140
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@01C4036E.F4229710">
<!--[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;}
p.HTMLPreformatted1, li.HTMLPreformatted1, div.HTMLPreformatted1
	{mso-style-name:"HTML Preformatted1";
	margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt =
412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Courier New";
	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
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=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>Dear =
Constituents<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

As you may know, I had an =
angiogram
performed last Monday. &nbsp;I =
am
grateful for all of your kind thoughts and prayers.&nbsp; The results from this test were =
very positive
and I will return to work this Monday.&nbsp;
I thank Earl Bennett for acting as my substitute in my absence =
this week.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>1.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Higher Education Appropriation Passes:<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>On a 38-31 vote the House =
approved a
barebones budget for higher education.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>We have dramatically reduced support for higher education.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>In the last 10 year state =
support for
higher education increased 49 percent while the state general fund
appropriation increased 75%.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>Student fees increased 118%.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It is obvious =
that
this legislature sets a low priority on Higher Education.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Conservatives want to sock away =
a $100
million surplus and then sunset the one percent sales tax in 05.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Then the plan is to squeeze =
education
budgets for another number of years.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Ken Robison =
on JFAC
outlines very clearly what the legislature is =
doing:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>a) Taps student fees for $1.9 =
million to
pay part of the cost of the governor's requested 2% pay raise for =
faculty and
staff.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This is the pay =
raise that
comes after two years of no increases.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>In all other budgets, except for public schools, state money is =
provided
for increases.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>b) Gives colleges and universities =
nothing
for the basic occupancy costs of new =
buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>c) Provides nothing for enrollment =
growth,
leaving universities $2.7 million short.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>d) Requires universities to cut =
elsewhere
to deal with the $1.9 million in state endowment =
funds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>e) Provides nothing for increased =
utility
costs.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The overall =
impact is
increased class size, lower faculty and staff morale, and accelerating =
the trend
of Idaho universities and colleges toward mediocracy.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>This will be a key campaign =
issue.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

2. Integrity in =
Politics&nbsp; --&nbsp; Several recent articles with =
headlines
like &quot;Evidence mounts that Money buys Idaho Politicians&quot;, and
&quot;Quest donates large campaign donation to Governor and $8,000 to =
lawmakers
to help pass the Quest Bill&quot; have appeared in the Idaho =
Statesman.&nbsp; Band-Aid approaches are being =
utilized
but there does not appear to be a concerted will to enact meaningful =
ethics
reform.&nbsp; I will be =
promoting public
campaign finance reform again this coming year as well as full =
disclosure for
any political candidate.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

3. HB
740 &nbsp;--&nbsp; The House voted 44-26 to kill a =
bill to
make kindergarten mandatory and lower the state's official school age =
from 7-6.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

4. Charter School =
Legislation&nbsp; --&nbsp;
a flood of charter school bills are flooding various committees =
as we
head down the stretch.&nbsp; I =
support
charter schools but feel that we need to form an interim committee to =
hold
public hearings and come up with reasonable proposals and not make hasty =
decisions.&nbsp; One concern is &quot;who should =
issue a
charter.&quot;&nbsp; There are =
some who
would like state or regional bodies to do this.&nbsp; This conflicts with the concept =
of local
control.&nbsp; My point is that =
we are
using public money and that accountability and being able to track the =
taxpayer
dollars should be foremost. &nbsp;Legislators
can get themselves in trouble in acting in a hurry&nbsp; --&nbsp;
Idaho Place comes to mind.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

5. House Bill 730 =
&#8211; =
Currently, when a
large dairy or feed lot operation is applying for a siting
permit from the county, only people living within a one mile radius may =
attend
the hearing.&nbsp; This bill =
would have removed
the one mile restriction.&nbsp; =
I gave my
substitute Earl Bennett instructions to support the measure.&nbsp; He voted against it in =
committee and the
bill was defeated.&nbsp; I am =
working
with committee members to bring the bill back for =
consideration.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Those are =
some of the
major issues of the week.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>I look
forward to return to the legislature on =
Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. =
6<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>e mail =
ttrail@house.state.id.us<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Phone 332-1202<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>You may visit my website 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=3DHTMLPreformatted1><font size=3D1 face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>To access this and archived newsletters.<font
color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>

</div>

</body>

</html>

------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C4036F.0A4F5140--