[Vision2020] Legislative Update 6 from Rep Trail - Feb 4-8

[ttrail at moscow.com]

LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER VI--FEBUARY 4-8/2008

Constituents:

Winter is certainly on the minds of many here in the Legislature.  We had
snow at least three times this week, but the weather in North Idaho was
brutal.  Latah County Commissioners Barrett and Stroshein were here this
week for the State County Commissioners meeting.  They had to stay over
until Friday because roads were closed because of avalanches and drifting.
 Temperatures are now up to 45 degrees today and fortunately with no rain.
 Flooding will be the next problem.

This was also the week of the walking wounded in Boise.  Fortunately, Sen.
Cliff Stennett returned to the Senate after an operation to remove a
cancerous brain tumor.   Governor Otter is successfully recovering from a
hip replacement operation.  Rep. Dennis Lake collapsed on Thursday while
debating a bill. It apparently was a very mild stroke, and he will return
to the House on Monday.

My wife and I enjoyed attending a talk by Greg Mortenson, the author of the
best selling book, Three Cups of Tea (over 1,000,000 soft back copies sold
last year).  While climbing K2 (the second tallest mountain in the world)
he got lost on the descent and wandered into an isolated mountain village.
 The villagers saved his life and he vowed to build the village a school
especially for girls.   It took him three years to collect the $12,000 to
build the first school.  Since 1996 through the Central Asian Institute his
organization has built 64 schools in isolated areas of Pakistan and
Afghanistan.  It is interesting to note that he receives more hate mail and
threats from Muslims in the U.S. than from Muslims in Pakistan and
Afghanistan for building schools for Muslim girls.  The book is a great
read.  And now for some legislative news.

  1.  Economy and Budget  --  the tax revenue stream for January came in
$39,000,000 under projections.  These figures were reflective of JFAC
considering to lower the state employee raises from 5% to 3%. Other major
budget items will certainly be under the axe if February figures continue
on a downward trend.  There is also a good indication that we will be in
Boise until March 31st.

  2.  ISTARs  --  The downturn in the economy has negatively impacted on
the amount that SPI Tom Luna wanted to fund the program.  He originally
wanted $65 million but that is now pared down to below $30 million. With
much opposition and a negative Attorney General's opinion against the
proposed Category 4 Contract  --  the Category 4 Contract is now off the
negotiating table.  The IEA is working to develop a faster process to help
move poor performing teachers out of the education field.  Another aspect
being discussed is to develop a fairer evaluation system for teachers that
is more consistent, reliable, and valid.  We are still early enough in the
session that some compromise may come through.

  3.  Beginning Teacher Salaries  --  currently the starting salary for
teachers in Idaho is $31,000, but for the next 5-6 years they can hardly
move up the salary scale because of the way it is set up.  The House
Education Committee expressed major concern to JFAC to try and work on
correcting this problem.  About 40% of new teachers leave the field during
their first five years.

  4.  Protection from ID Theft  --  SB1380 has been approved for print
which would allow consumers to freeze their credit reports.  The bill would
allow consumers to ask each of the three main credit reporting bureaus to
prevent the bureaus from issuing consumers' credit histories, summaries of
loans and payments that form credit scores.  Most lenders will not provide
credit without first reviewing a credit report, which hinders identity
thieves from using stolen information to open new credit accounts.  This is
a good piece of consumer protection legislation.

  5.  Shield Law Protects Victims  --  The House and Jud Rules Committee
approved for printing a bill that would make the Idaho Secretary of State's
Office the mailing address for people hiding from stalkers or dangerous
former partners.  Rep. Shirley Ringo, Dr. Liz Brandt, U. of Idaho College
of Law, and I brought this bill forward on behalf of a citizen's group
seeking to combat domestic violence in the Palouse.

  6.  Legislation That I'm Working On  -- I've had a number of requests for
me to list my active legislative efforts.

      a.  HCR36 --- This is a resolution honoring the University of Idaho's
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and receiving the National Performing Arts
Medal -- sponsors, Rep. Ringo and Trail and Sen. Schroeder.

      b.  Shield Law -- Reps Ringo and Trail.  (see my description in item
5 above)

      c.  Loan Forgiveness for Teachers  --  this was approved in print by
the House Education Committee.  This is act as an incentive to recruit
teachers to teach in hard to fill subject areas such as science, math,
special education, etc.  A qualified educator would get up to $4,000/year
in loan forgiveness for each year he/she taught in Idaho.   This would be
good up to a total of $20,000.  The sponsors are Reps. Mortimer and Trail.

      d.  Normalizing Trade Relations with Cuba  --  I traveled with the
Governor's Trade Mission to Cuba in April.  The Governor asked me to
develop a resolution asking the President and Congress to normalize trade
relations with Cuba.  Not many of us remember that Cuba was the #1 market
for Idaho peas and lentils in 1959. We see trade possibilities for Idaho
agricultural products with Cuba.  The larger question is simply "Why do we
have such a double diplomatic standard with Cuba when we have normalized
trade and diplomatic relations with China, Viet Nam, and many other
communist countries?"  The Cuba Lobby in Florida is the answer. I'm working
with the Governor on this piece of legislation.

      e.  Pre-K Education  --  I'm a co-sponsor on a Pre-K bill with Sen.
Schroeder that would allow school districts to offer Pre-K education
programs.  There would be no state funding.

      f.  Filling Civil Office Vacancies and Bike Safety Laws  --  Mayor
Nancy Chaney and the Moscow City Council asked me to work on two bills
relating to these topics.  I'm currently working with the Idaho Association
of Counties and Cities in reviewing the legislative proposals.

      g.  Electronic Waste Disposal-Over 100,000,000 computers, cell
phones, etc. are dumped in landfills every year.  There are many dangerous
metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, etc. that can leach into the
aquifers.  I had the help of Andy Boyd of the Moscow Recycling Center in
developing the legislation.  However, we need to get more input from the
industry between sessions before we introduce the bill.

There are a number of other pieces of legislation that I am working on, but
I will update you on those later.

I'd appreciate your comments and recommendations.  My e mail is
ttrail at house.idaho.gov and telephone 208-332-1184.

Rep. Trail


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