[Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter 6 -- Feb 13-17, 2006

Sat Feb 18 10:19:04 PST 2006

Tom,

  Thanks for the update. Any word on the increase in minimum wage?

  -DJA

ttrail at moscow.com wrote:                    LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER 6--Feb 13-17/2006

We are clearly reaching the halfway point in the 2006 legislative 

session.  We met for three and a half hours today going over a 

package of 8 tax bills.   Many comments made include that bills 

that go to the Senate side often have strange amendments tacked on 

to them by the senators.  There is also talk about holding some 

Senate bills hostage in order to get them to pass bills the House 

Initiated.   The House has also identified bills from the Governor 

that we can hold hostage if he threatens to veto a key House or 

Senate bill.    Almost sounds like a bunch of boys playing in the 

sandbox.

1.  Taxes  --  HB422 --  Circuit Breaker --  this passed the House on 

a 69-0 margin.  The bill would help for people who need help most 

with paying their property taxes – low income elderly and handicapped 

home owners-who are especially hurt by rising valuations on 

residential property. The bill raises the qualifying limit to $28,000. 

Maximum relief is $1,320.

HB421.  This bill passed.  It would raise the current homeowners' 

exemption from the lesser of 50% of assessed valuation or $50,000, 

to the lesser of 50% of $75,000 and index the increase federal cost of 

living adjustments in future years.   This will benefit Idaho home 

owners (72% own their own homes in the state).  I voted for the bill 

although it does represent a shift that impacts businesses and 

agriculture.  The impact on agriculture is minimal  --  about 

50 cents an acre after 380 acres.

HB678 is the big tax bill.  It would transfer half of the current 3 mills 

of local school M & O levying authority to the state general fund at 

the cost of about $125 million.  It would cap revenue growth with the 

remaining half of the M & O at 3% yearly.  Any excess revenues 

would go into a new Public School Income Fund.  On the downside it 

would adversely affect the flexibility that school districts have with 

the current M & O levying authority.  HB679 would raise the state 

sales tax to 5.5% to offset most of the cost of absorbing the 1.5 mills 

of local school  M&O levying authority.   Even with the passage of 

the bill there would be a gap of $20-30 million in getting sufficient 

funding for schools.   Many constituents contacted on both sides of 

HB678.    I voted against 678 simply because of the overwhelming 

number of communications of constituent concerns about upsetting 

the traditional M & O support for school districts.   There were also 

concerns about the state guaranteeing to pick up the $125 million 

over the long term.  Since HB678 passed I did vote for HB679 since 

if it becomes law then we will have to fund it.

2.  Moscow Mountain Cedar Grove  --  The bill to incorporate the 

cedar grove into the State Park system and the resolution calling 

for protection of the grove have been approved for printing in 

Senator. Schroeder's Resources Committee.  Feedback from the 

Lands Board at it's February 14th meeting was very positive.  

Commissioner Paul Kimmell has been in touch with State Lands 

and stakeholders are working on plans for a 25 year lease to protect 

the grove.  Our immediate goal is to get this commitment in writing, 

and then get all of the stakeholders together to work out details.

3.  Bonus Pay for High School Math and Science Teachers defeated in 

the Senate -- a bill to pay high school math and science teachers a 

3-4% bonus was defeated in the Senate on a 21-13 vote.

4.  Dog fighting/felony penalty  --  HB516 -- we had a hearing in Ag 

Affairs, and the bill was held in committee.   I'm working on it over 

the weekend to clarify some of the terms.

5.  Bullying Awareness Week  --  The House Ed Committee passed 

my resolution on a 19-0 vote.   September 10-16, 2006 will be 

Bullying Awareness Week in the public schools in Idaho if the 

resolution passes.  Bullying is one of the leading causes of teenage 

suicide.  Over 4,000 teenagers commit suicide each year and of these

86% are male.

6.  Civic Education Summit  --  HCR33 calls for the Secretary of State 

and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a statewide 

conference on civic education in our public schools.   The House 

Education Committee passed my resolution on a 19-0 margin.

7.  School Facilities Lawsuit  --  Two legislative proposals are being 

advanced which could help resolve the 13 year long lawsuit.  The 

Idaho Supreme Court ordered lawmakers to do more to pay for school 

construction.  Republican legislators are proposing a $25-$35 million 

proposal for school construction and creating multimillion dollar 

accounts for ongoing maintenance and building.  Monies would come 

from the state surplus with additional monies of about $9 million/year 

to aid with school repair and bond levies in the poorer district.   The 

Democrats also have a similar proposal with more money attached to 

it.   The bills will be presented to the House Education Committee this 

coming Thursday.

Please send me your comments, recommendations, and suggestions.

e mail  ttrail at moscow.com

Representative Tom Trail

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