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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Vote Republican. It’s easier than
thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Moscow<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>We could learn a lot from crayons: some are
sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are
different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Shirley Ringo<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Sunday, October 17, 2004
5:34 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">vision2020@moscow.com</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Vision2020] Legislative
absences</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Visionaries:</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Uh oh! Mr. Bennett thinks he has me this time!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Yes, I did leave for five days during the 2003 legislative session.
The session was of unprecedented length. Because of the slow economy, and
prior ill-advised tax cuts, state programs were headed for disaster. Speaker
Newcomb was unable to get his very conservative Republican caucus to join
Democrats with a plan to generate revenue. That’s why we were there
so long.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Prior to the session, my husband and I made plans to go to <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:City> with our older
daughter during the week April 21-25. I did not dream that we would still be
in session.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I assure you I considered the matter carefully. The extra 1% sales tax
issue was already settled. (April 17) During the week I was gone, there was
little business conducted on the House floor, and three bills were acted upon
that week in the Revenue and Taxation Committee. My substitute was the very
capable and honorable Dr. Stephen Cooke. (U of I Ag Econ) We communicated
constantly, and, thanks goodness, he followed my directions carefully. I can imagine
how angry I would have been had he not done that.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I worked closely with Dr. Cooke’s wife, Judy Brown on tax issues
throughout the session. Steve seemed the most logical choice to replace me.
If I were more of a political animal, I may have chosen a Democrat with
immediate plans to run for the legislature.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Those five days were the only days I have missed during my four years
in the legislature. If you have further questions, I’ll be glad to
reply. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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