[Vision2020] Health and Welfare

[Tom Hansen]

Thanks, Rep. Ringo, for everything you are and appreciation for those
things you are not.

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“We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.”

- Leona "Queen of Mean" Helmsley

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/only-little-people-pay-taxes/534648.html

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I am fairly certain, Rep. Ringo, that (if you were to stop by the Guv's
office) you would find those very same words framed on the wall of the
governor's office behind a bouquet of roses that are freshened every
morning.

Tom "one of the little people" Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


> Visionaries:
>
> Bob Huntley, a spectacular individual who ran for Governor in 1998, told
> me that when he served in the Idaho legislature the Joint Finance and
> Appropriations Committee would communicate with the Revenue and Taxation
> Committee when there was a need for more revenues.  I have always thought
> that would be appropriate, but the system doesn't work like that anymore.
> The majority party on the JFAC committee may moan a bit about lack of
> revenues, but they certainly wouldn't advocate for any increase at all.
>
> My colleagues and I put forth a number of proposals to help with revenue.
> Some included such things as delaying implementation of consolidated
> elections ($4 million), delaying reduction of the insurance premium tax
> ($6.7 million), freezing build-up of the grocery tax credit except for
> very low income levels ($9.4 million).  You may recall that Judy Brown and
> I proposed an income tax surcharge for those making over $50,000 TAXABLE
> INCOME.  ($40 million)  All of the above were ignored by majority party
> members.
>
> But there is something even worse, in my opinion.  At the beginning of the
> session, it was not clear whether the feds would renew increased
> reimbursement rates for Medicaid.  (FMAP)  There was a pot of money in the
> Millineum Fund that was set aside to cover in case those rates weren't
> approved.  (about $73 million)  When it became clear that the feds WERE
> going to re-approve those enhanced rates, my colleagues and I on JFAC
> proposed that we use about $30 million of the $73 million to address
> critical needs.  We proposed using $20 million for Medicaid, which at the
> 80%-20% federal match rate would have been significant.  We were not
> allowed to bring it up because it was not officially on the agenda.  That
> was true, but even thought it was late in the session, another meeting
> could have been scheduled the next day.  Note also that a message was sent
> to the Governor's office, asking if he would support the idea, and his
> response was negative.
>
> The bottom line:  don't believe anyone in the legislature who says there
> were no choices.  We had choices, didn't make them, and now people are
> paying the price.
>
> Representative Shirley Ringo
>
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>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown