[Vision2020] Legislative Update IX from Rep. Trail

[ttrail at moscow.com]

    We are going down the homestretch for this session of the Idaho 
Legislature.  I suspect we will go several days past the end of next 
week, but I hope to be home around April 1st.

1.  Budget  --  Final appropriation bills are being voted on.   The 
Higher Education bill passed the House.   The budget was about a 2.5% 
increase over last year.  Again, the trend is a downward percentage of 
the total budget for Higher Education  --  now at 10.3%.   Corrections 
received about a 7% increase and Medicaid a 15% increase.  Public 
Education's budget came in at about $988,000,000 or a 2.2% increase.   
JFAC did appropriate money to take care of the 3,500 student increase 
this year and leave about $3 million in a reserve fund.

Teacher and state worker salaries are still up in the air.  Sen. Cameron  
Co-Chair of JFAC is indicating that there may be a motion for a one per 
cent increase but based on a surplus eliminator.  This means if we have a 
big enough tax stream coming in by July 1st, then the one year one 
percent increase will kick in.  If it doesn't then there will be no 
increase.   Because of the lack of salary increases for state workers 
over the past four years we find many state workers sinking below the 
poverty level  --  qualifying for food stamps, working at one or two 
other jobs.   A survey of U. of Idaho staff indicated about 20% were at 
or below the poverty level last year.

2.  Failure To Attack Basic Tax and Funding Problems  --  The one cent 
sales tax which brings in $180/year will sunset on July 1st.  We are at 
about $120 million ahead of last year tax figures, but even the most 
optimistic economists don't feel we will be able to get to the $180 
million that we will need for next years budget.   It should also be 
noted that we will need additional funding for student enrollment 
increases, Medicaid expenses, supplemental for fire fighting, and all of 
the increased needs of other agencies.

I asked Rep. Delores Crow for an opportunity to present my HB 65.  This 
bill would reduce the sales tax from 6 to 4%, eliminate 10 tax 
exemptions, and tax services except medical.   The Idaho Tax Commission 
estimates that HB 65 would generate sufficient revenue to replace the 
$180 million plus add $60 million more to State Revenues.  Earlier in the 
session she gave me a one day notice to pull in all of my experts to 
testify.   I said it wasn't enough time and so she said to ask her 
later.  I did and she said, No.

3. $1.6 Billion Road Bill Moving Toward Passage  --  The bill passed the 
Senate and will now move to the House.   There may be some resistance in 
the House and some legislators who want to place a cap on the amount.

4.  Truancy Measure Signed by Governor  --  Gov. Kempthorne signed Sen. 
Stegner's truancy measure into law.  The bill makes the parents of 
habitual truants guilty of a misdemeanor.

5.   HJM7  --  I introduced HJM7 in the House on Monday and it passed by 
a 66-0 margin.    HJM7 supports Idaho's Congressional delegation effort 
to modify the Patriot Act with the SAFE Act.   This is a movement to fix 
some of the worst excesses of the Patriot Act, and it is supported by a 
bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and advocacy groups.   It would reverse 
the FBI's ability to demand any tangible things from any business, 
organization, or person without showing any existing individualized 
suspicion about the person or persons they are investigating.  It would 
also limit the government's ability to conduct widespread searches of 
your personal information without probable cause.   The resolution now 
goes to the Senate State Affairs Committee.

6.   Financial Disclosure for Political Candidates  --  With the Sen. 
Noble case behind us there is more interest in the issue of requiring 
financial disclosure for political candidates.   Idaho is only one of 
three states that does not require candidates to provide some type of 
financial disclosure.   I've circulated a legislative draft proposal that 
would require candidates to provide basic financial disclosure.   The 
proposal is being reviewed.

I'd like to hear about your questions and concerns.   My e mail is
ttrail at house.state.id.us and the phone is 332-1260.

Rep. Tom Trail


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