[Vision2020] Legislative News

[Shirley Ringo]

 Visionaries:

 

Legislative Report

March 2, 2007

 

Work in the Legislature grinds on, with progress on some fronts, and frustration on others.

 

The Joint Finance Committee approved an appropriation this morning containing two items important to the University of Idaho.  One involves $69,558,900 to be used statewide for alterations and repairs of buildings.  This is a very important piece for protecting our investment in buildings and raises the possibility of getting important support for the University.  We never support building maintenance sufficiently, but this should help.  

 

The second is a one-time appropriation of $10,000,000 to support a livestock/dairy research facility to be located in the magic valley.  There are details that must follow in order for this project to move ahead.  One involves a Congressional tweaking of the Morrill Act to expand the use of endowment assets.  

 

Representative Trail and I are guiding our bill on address confidentiality for victims of domestic violence through the legislative process.  This bill stems from a cooperative effort by District 6 citizens, law enforcement officials, legislators, and legal experts.  Professor Elizabeth Brandt from the University College of Law drafted the legislation.  The bill was approved by the House Judiciary and Rules Committee, with two dissenting votes.  The Attorney General's Office expressed concern with one aspect of the bill, and subsequently approved an amendment proposed by Professor Brandt that dealt with the concern.  Next week, we will ask the Judiciary Committee to approve the amendment, hope for favorable House approval and then take the bill on to the Senate.

 

The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee has approved Superintendent Tom Luna's school budget almost exactly as he proposed.  The major difference concerns non-funding of a Luna proposal to pay for high school students' "dual enrollment" credits - double enrollment in a class for high school and college credit.  Public school teachers are held to a 3% increase in pay, while public employees receive 5%.

 

The budget for colleges and universities has been set.  I am disappointed that there is no money for salary competitiveness beyond the 5% raise in salary appropriation.  It is an issue I intend to pursue in the future.  

 

Next week, the Senate State Affairs Committee will continue debate on making English Idaho's "official language."  Democrats on the committee opposed the bill with Senator Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, commenting that passage of such a law may further perceptions that Idaho is a closed society that doesn't welcome newcomers.

 

We had a revealing exposure of the differences in thinking to be found among legislators.  Representative George Sayler (D-Coeur d'Alene) sought legislation to require minimum safety standards and criminal background checks for daycare centers.  Representative Tom Loertscher (R-Iona), on the other hand, found it more important to encourage moms to stay home.  There were more votes in the Loertscher camp.

 

Republican leadership has a proposal to require voters to pick a party in order to vote in primary elections.  Republican Secretary of State Ben Ysursa was not amused, and some say he nearly experienced a melt-down over it.

 

We probably have two or three weeks remaining in this legislative session.  Please contact me if you have questions.

 

Shirley Ringo

 

 

 
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