[Vision2020] Legislative Report from Ringo

Wayne Price bear at moscow.com
Tue Feb 16 13:27:55 PST 2010


Shirley,

I think you really hit it on the head  when you stated "It seems close  
to imposing a tax upon this class of employees". It is a tax on state  
employees! And added to this remember that UI "state employees" did  
NOT see a raise last year as did the rest of the state employees.  
There is a perception out there that "state employees" are the well  
paid fat cats who do not do much for their checks, the stereo typical  
state employee.

Also, nothing has been done to reign in the abusive practice of  
ignoring the state law by the University of Idaho in regards to  
veterans hiring or bringing a halt to the practice of hiring from out  
of state or for that matter out of the country rather than fully  
qualified local, state or even Americans looking for positions at the  
University!   How about a state law that REQUIRES, for government  
positions, local, state or American hires FIRST and that the  
legislation INCLUDES the University of Idaho?


Wayne










On Feb 16, 2010, at 9:32 AM, Shirley Ringo wrote:

> Visionaries:
>
> Because of the extremely low revenue projection adopted by the Joint  
> Finance and Appropriations Committee, budgets for fiscal year 2011  
> will require more dire measures such as laying off employees,  
> requiring user fees for parents of children with disabilities, and  
> more furloughing.  I will have specific information soon about the  
> budgets for public schools and higher education.
>
> I have been thinking about the general fairness of requiring  
> employees to take furlough days.   While it is a money-saving action  
> that keeps people from being laid off, there are other ways to share  
> the burden.
>
> State employees who have been required to take five furlough days  
> have lost approximately 2% of pay.  At the same time, they have  
> worked to provide the same public services for which they are  
> responsible.   It seems close to imposing a tax upon this class of  
> employees.
>
> If we were to broaden the population to share the burden of revenue  
> shortages by putting a state-wide revenue enhancement plan in place,  
> the impact on individuals would be less.  For example, consider the  
> proposal to impose a 5% surcharge on personal income tax for  
> individuals with taxable incomes exceeding $50,000 per year.  An  
> example of the impact:  a family of four earning about $75,000 per  
> year would pay an addition $164 in state income taxes.  This is a  
> 0.22% increase for that family.  (The revenue gained would not solve  
> all problems, but there are other ideas that could be used also.)
>
> I would like to hear from you on this subject.   The path we are  
> taking will require employees to take many more furlough days.
>
> Today in the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, we heard  
> that from February 1, 2009, to September 30, 2009, “Rule 19  
> screening teams” have screened 119 juvenile offenders across the  
> state.  Of those, 52% were diverted for treatment in community  
> programs.  To date, 86% of those who were diverted have remained out  
> of Idaho Juvenile Corrections custody.
>
> As many of you have heard, HCR042 was introduced in the House State  
> Affairs Committee.  The sponsor, Dennis Lake, proposes to cancel the  
> 1% COLA for PERSI retirees.  I have received many messages asking me  
> to oppose this legislation.   If you oppose HCR042, you should also  
> write to members of the House State Affairs Committee at this time  
> and ask them to hold the legislation in committee.
>
> SB 1353, the “Conscience Bill,” proposes that “No health Care  
> Professional shall be required to provide any health care service  
> that violates his or her conscience.”  This bill is under  
> consideration in the Senate State Affairs Committee.
>
> Please contact me with your issues and concerns.
>
> Rep. Shirley Ringo
>
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