[Vision2020] HJR 4 and 5

Tue Oct 26 06:58:47 PDT 2010

I think in instances where you straddle people with debt and take chances with the future welfare of people, more than a simple majority is needed. 

The more serious the issue and its consequences, the higher the vote should be. In matters of where to put a street light, a simple majority should do fine. In matters of massive debt, war, or constitutional rights a 2/3 majority should be the rule. In matters of the state taking a life, unanimous, 12 votes out of 12. 

To say it should always be a simple majority to change major laws would result in things like abortion laws changing to legal and illegal every other year, the same would go for same sex marriage, prayer in school, where we start and end a war. It would chaotic and make a nation look schizophrenic. 

And yes, I do believe in a representative government, but I also believe the people they represent should be able to place restrictions on those representatives and their power through checks and balances. One of the limitiations should be racking up a massive debt without consent of the people they will burdening with the debt. 

Donovan J. Arnold 

--- On Mon, 10/25/10, Darrell Keim <keim153 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Darrell Keim <keim153 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] HJR 4 and 5
To: "Sue Hovey" <suehovey at moscow.com>
Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com, "Donovan Arnold" <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, October 25, 2010, 12:14 PM

That was one of my thoughts upon reading D's comments this morning.  My other thought was that D either doesn't like or doesn't understand that we live in a representative democracy.  We elect representatives to vote on things for us.  D seems to advocate either: 
1.  A pure democracy.
2.  More use of ballot initiatives (ala Tim Eyman in WA, or California).

I like our system of representative democracy, and prefer not to circumvent it with countless ballot initiatives.  California would seem to be a good warning as to the dangers of too many initiatives.

On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 12:08 PM, Sue Hovey <suehovey at moscow.com> wrote:

And since when is a required 2/3 yes vote democratic?  Those of us who taught in antiquated school buildings for 30 plus years can certainly speak to that....as could you who went there.

Sue 

From: Donovan Arnold 
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 11:58 AM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com ; ringoshirl 
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] HJR 4 and 5

"It's very limiting for these entities to need a 2/3 favorable vote every time they need to make these purchases that they need for their operations."-S. Ringo

Democracy is so inconvenient isn't it? 

I think it is good practice to have a 2/3 vote before incurring any debt and bad practice to let a handful of people rack up a debt for future generations and others to absorb. I think if something truly is needed and debt needs to be incurred reasonable people will support it and it will pass. We cannot just let hospitals go bankrupt and shut down let other businesses, we need them. 

Again, people should not keep handing over their money and rights to an increasingly smaller number of people that may have other interests than your own in mind. 

Donovan J Arnold

--- On Mon, 10/25/10, ringoshirl <ringoshirl at moscow.com> wrote:

From: ringoshirl <ringoshirl at moscow.com>
Subject: [Vision2020] HJR 4 and 5
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Date: Monday, October 25, 2010, 5:32 AM

Visionaries:

I support both of these.  It's very limiting for these entities to need a 2/3 favorable vote every time they need to make these purchases that they need for their operations. This does not affect Gritman.

Shirley

H.J.R. 4
“Shall Section 3C, Article VIII, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended to authorize
public hospitals, ancillary to their operations and in furtherance of health care needs in their service 

areas, to incur indebtedness or liability to purchase, contract, lease or construct or otherwise acquire 

facilities, equipment, technology and real property for health care operations, provided that no ad 

valorem tax revenues shall be used for such activities?” 

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Idaho: Section 3C, Article VIII 

Legislative Council’s Statement of Meaning, Purpose and Result to be Accomplished of Proposed 

Amendment: 

This proposed amendment will allow public hospitals to acquire facilities, equipment, technology and 

real property through a variety of means that aid the public hospital operations, as long as the acquisitions 

are paid for solely from charges, rents or payments derived from the existing or financed facilities and 

are not funded by property taxes. Under current Idaho constitutional provisions, public hospitals, as 

subdivisions of the state of Idaho, have limited ability to incur debt without the approval of a two-thirds 

vote at an election held for that purpose. This proposed amendment will provide a limited alternative 

to that two-thirds vote requirement. The use of tax dollars to finance these kinds of investments is 

prohibited. 

Statements FOR the Proposed Amendment 

1. The proposed amendment will allow Idaho’s public hospitals, which are primarily located in 

small towns and rural areas, to invest in new medical equipment, facilities and technology to 

better meet the health care needs of patients in their communities, strengthening Idaho’s entire 

health care system. 

2. The proposed amendment will help give public hospitals the resources they need to attract the 

best medical personnel, spur the economy by creating jobs, and increase operational efficiency 

through long-term contracts. 

3. The proposed amendment keeps in place the safeguards provided in the Idaho Constitution in 

two ways. First, no tax dollars can be used to finance these investments. Second, the amendment 

strictly forbids obligating taxpayers or any state, county or other governmental entity with these 

investments. 

Statements AGAINST the Proposed Amendment 

1. The existing Idaho constitutional requirement mandating a two-thirds assent of the voters before 

a public hospital can enter into long-term debt is an important safeguard for all Idaho citizens. 

2. Adoption of the proposed amendment will limit the right of voters to approve certain debt 

incurred by the public hospitals. 

3. Changes to the Constitution should be made only for major issues of interest to the state or in the 

event of a constitutional crisis. 

H.J.R. 5 

“Shall Article VIII, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended by the addition of a new 

Section 3E, to provide for the issuance of revenue and special facility bonds by political subdivisions 

of the state and regional airport authorities as defined by law, if operating an airport to acquire, 

construct, install, and equip land, facilities, buildings, projects or other property, which are hereby 

deemed to be for a public purpose, to be financed for, or to be leased, sold or otherwise disposed of 

to persons, associations or corporations, or to be held by the subdivision or regional airport authority, 

and may in the manner prescribed by law issue revenue and special facility bonds to finance the costs 

thereof; provided that any such bonds shall be payable solely from fees, charges, rents, payments, 

grants, or any other revenues derived from the airport or any of its facilities, structures, systems, or 

projects, or from any land, facilities, buildings, projects or other property financed by such bonds, 

and shall not be secured by the full faith and credit or the taxing power of the subdivision or regional 

airport authority?” 

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Idaho: New Section 3E, Article VIII 

Legislative Council’s Statement of Meaning, Purpose and Result to be Accomplished of Proposed 

Amendment: 

Currently, local governmental entities that operate airports and regional airport authorities cannot 

incur indebtedness without the approval of a two-thirds vote at an election held for that purpose. This 

proposed amendment will allow local governmental entities that operate airports and regional airport 

authorities to issue revenue and special facility bonds to acquire, construct, install and equip land, 

facilities, buildings, projects or other property. Voter approval will not be required to incur such 

indebtedness, as long as the bonds are paid for by fees, charges, rents, payments, grants or other 

revenues derived from the airport or its facilities. The use of tax dollars to repay such bonds is 

prohibited. 

Statements FOR the Proposed Amendment 

1. Public airports should have the ready ability to construct needed facilities, such as terminals, 

runways, parking structures and hangars, which provide travelers with better services and 

accommodations and attract industries to Idaho as long as the users pay for these facilities. 

2. Political subdivisions and regional airport authorities need the ability to efficiently address 

operational needs as they arise. Adoption of this amendment will provide this ability without the 

use of tax dollars to repay any debt or liability incurred. 

3. The inability of political subdivisions and regional airport authorities to incur indebtedness and 

liability without voter approval has been a contributing factor in driving regional aviation-related 

industries to conduct business in neighboring states. If the proposed amendment is not adopted, 

Idaho could continue to lose similar economic development opportunities. 

4. Public airports are a vital part of economic development and commerce in the state of Idaho. In 

2009, aviation contributed an estimated $2.1 billion to Idaho’s economy. Properties and facilities 

funded by special facility bonds will attract and expand industries, such as maintenance, manu

facturing 

and cargo operations, which will create new jobs and foster economic development in 

Idaho. Modern and efficient airports are essential to Idaho’s prosperity. 

Statements AGAINST the Proposed Amendment (H.J.R. 5 Continued) 

1. The existing Idaho constitutional requirement mandating a two-thirds assent of the voters before 

a political subdivision or regional airport authority can incur debt is an important safeguard for 

all Idaho citizens. 

2. Adoption of the proposed amendment will allow political subdivisions and regional airport 

authorities to acquire, construct, install and equip land, facilities, buildings and projects that are 

not specifically limited to airport operations. 

3. Buildings and land owned by the government are not taxed and therefore provide no revenues to 

schools, cities, counties or other levying authorities. Adoption of the proposed amendment could 

result in an increase in property exempt from taxation. 

4. Changes to the Constitution should be made only for major issues of interest to the entire state 

or in the event of a constitutional crisis.

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List services made available by First Step Internet, 
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               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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 List services made available by First Step Internet,
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
              http://www.fsr.net
         mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
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