[Vision2020] can we trust Earl Bennett?

Sat, 06 Mar 2004 13:56:30 -0800

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Tom Trail's recent legislative report contained two interesting topics 
(reprinted below): Integrity in Politics and House Bill 730.

I found the combination of the two fascinating, given the voting 
decision made by Earl Bennett (Earl is the Republican challenger for 
Shirley Ringo's representative seat).  When Trail went to the hospital 
recently, he asked Bennett to replace him for a week, and left 
instructions to vote in favor of House Bill 730.  Instead, Bennett voted 
against HB 730.

First of all, Trail is right on this bill.  The bill should have 
passed.  Limiting the rights of neighbors to speak out about the siting 
of huge dairy operations near their homes is wrong.  The limitations 
should be lifted, and that is what HB 730 did.  Trail was right to 
support that.

Second, Bennett was wrong to vote no.  He was serving as a placeholder 
for Trail, the elected representative.  Trail gave him instructions to 
vote yes on this bill.  Instead, Bennett voted no.  Not only a mistake 
(supporting mega-dairies at the expense of the people who will have to 
live near them), but an index of poor judgment and lack of integrity.

We need to remember this episode when it comes to voting for our 
representatives in November. BL

> 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.
>
>  
>
>
> 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.
>
>  
>

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Tom Trail's recent legislative report contained two interesting topics
(reprinted below): Integrity in Politics and House Bill 730. 
 
I found the combination of the two fascinating, given the voting
decision made by Earl Bennett (Earl is the Republican challenger for
Shirley Ringo's representative seat).&nbsp; When Trail went to the hospital
recently, he asked Bennett to replace him for a week, and left
instructions to vote in favor of House Bill 730.&nbsp; Instead, Bennett
voted against HB 730. 
 
First of all, Trail is right on this bill.&nbsp; The bill should have
passed.&nbsp; Limiting the rights of neighbors to speak out about the siting
of huge dairy operations near their homes is wrong.&nbsp; The limitations
should be lifted, and that is what HB 730 did.&nbsp; Trail was right to
support that. 
 
Second, Bennett was wrong to vote no.&nbsp; He was serving as a placeholder
for Trail, the elected representative.&nbsp; Trail gave him instructions to
vote yes on this bill.&nbsp; Instead, Bennett voted no.&nbsp; Not only a mistake
(supporting mega-dairies at the expense of the people who will have to
live near them), but an index of poor judgment and lack of integrity. 
 
We need to remember this episode when it comes to voting for our
representatives in November. BL 
 
<blockquote type="cite"
 cite="mid000001c403a1$54e9c140$376b56d1@gatewaysystem">
 <div class="Section1">
 2. Integrity
in Politics&nbsp; --&nbsp; 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.&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>
 <o:p>&nbsp;</o: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>
 <o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>
 <o:p></o:p>
 </div>
</blockquote>
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