[Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter IX March 5-9, 2012

[Donovan Arnold]

 Rep. Trail writes; 
 
"Jim Weatherby, an astute political observer here in Boise, pointed that in the primary in 2008 that about 140,000 Republicans voted as contrasted with the 44,000 who voted last Tuesday. He feels that the caucus system tends to disenfranchise many of our citizens."
 
It looks like the Republicans are accomplishing their goals. Maybe in 2016 they can disenfranchise more people and get it down to about 1,000 by only allowing people that get a VIP invitation and donate $10000 to the Party to be able to attend.  You cannot just be letting any old person in Idaho show up at a caucus and vote for the Republican Party Primary Candidates now can you? 
 
This is the way Idaho Republicans Party leaders think. And it is no wonder so many of the few remaining good people in the Idaho Legislature are moving on by not running again. 
 
Donovan Arnold

From: Rep. Tom Trail <ttrail at moscow.com>
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 7:45 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter IX March 5-9, 2012


Legislative Newsletter 9---March 5-9/2012


Dear Constituents:
      Well, the Ides of March are well on the way, and hopefully we will have only two weeks more of the Idaho Legislature before we close up shop and head out of Dodge.  The Republican caucus process seemed to work well with about 44,000 turning out statewide to cast their presidential votes.  Idaho was also fortunate to attract a number of Presidential candidates who came in the State to campaign.  Jim Weatherby, an astute political observer here in Boise, pointed that in the primary in 2008 that about 140,000 Republicans voted as contrasted with the 44,000 who voted last Tuesday. He feels that the caucus system tends to disenfranchise many of our citizens.  I did get several calls from residents who were out of state who wondered where they could get absentee ballots.  This won't work with the caucus system.
      I remember that in 2000 that we had a change-over of about 30 seats in the Legislature.  This normally occurs after redistricting.  We could very well see 30-35 new faces in the Legislature in 2013.  Ten senators are stepping down, and this represents some 118 years of service, and the 15 members of the House stepping down represent 172 years of combined service. A total of nine chairmanship positions will need to be filled.    So we will be losing a great deal of institutional memory; however, this is part of our democratic process.
      The University of Idaho Flagship issue continues to simmer.  I've received numerous e mails and calls from alumni, faculty, staff, and students who are outraged by the State Board's decision to strike the flagship designation from the UI's mission statement.  According to the Black Journal of Education this now leaves 49 states with designated flagship institutions.  The State Board Chairman stated, "Work together to capitalize on Idaho's strengths and position ourselves to benefit from a stronger economy."  He misses the point that if you are capitalizing on your strengths, you don't make every college an identical image.  If you are capitalizing on the economy, you advertise that which increases enrollment.  Each university could claim an undeniable designation of leadership in some areas.  We certainly wouldn't want to take away BSU's claim to being football flagship.  However, if you take away Idaho’s claims in engineering,
 research, and proven academic strengths,  enrollment will be reduced.  The Board's decision reveals a complete lack of common sense and penchant for micromanaging.  We need to get back to the real issues that our institutions face and that belong to the schools.  In the meanwhile, legislators who support the UI's flagship position are developing a strongly worded letter which will be presented to the Board at its April meeting in Moscow.
      The House voted 65-0 to restore three cuts accounting for $1.5 million of the $35 million it slashed from Medicaid programs last year.  The restored cuts to the disabled include treatment for more than one mental or developmental condition and preventative dental care.   House Committee Chairwoman Janice McGeachin said lawmakers didn't fully comprehend the consequences that would result from last year's cuts.  Frankly, many of us did realize what the impact would be.  I was contacted by a mother whose 11 year old son needed extensive dental work.  She could not find a dentist in North Idaho who would accept her son as a patient and finally located a dentist in Liberty Lake, Washington who would do the job.  It is also obvious that our failure to adequately provide funding for mental illnesses has actually increased the cost to counties with added impact on the state's emergency fund.  JFAC also came up with $110,000 to restore an Idaho
 suicide hotline.  This will be coupled with private donations.  This is a badly needed service.  Idaho ranks in the top five states in terms of the number of suicides each year.
     The bill to increase the tax on cigarettes will be introduced in the House Rev and Tax Committee on March 12th.  Statistics indicate that 80% of smokers started smoking before the age of 18.  If the bill passes, then the added revenues could be utilized to fund smoking prevention programs and also pick up some of the slack from last year's Medicaid cuts. 
      There will also be discussion concerning the setting of traffic speed laws and revise the method that speed limits are set on state highways located in cities.  Allowing local elected officials to determine these speed limits was a good idea.  However, the new legislation would require the Department of Transportation or the City to do a traffic study and then sit down together to determine the appropriate speed limits based on community information.  Local control will be reduced if this happens.
      Funding for UI Ag research was recommended by JFAC.  In addition, the budget for the 2013 fiscal year includes a 2 percent pay raise for employees as well as additional money to cover increases in employee benefits costs  The total increase is for a 4.6 percent increase from the current year's budget.  Last year we managed to protect Ag research from any cuts.  Agriculture is a major economic force in Idaho with almost $7 billion in farm gate sales plus the value added aspects it contributes to the economy.
      Please send me your comments and recommendations. My e mail is ttrail at house.idaho.gov or thomasftrail at gmail.com.    My phone is 208-332-1184.
 Rep. Tom Trail
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