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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Uh oh!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Bennett thinks he has me this
time!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Yes, I did leave for five days
during the 2003 legislative session.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The session was of unprecedented length.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Because of the slow economy, and prior
ill-advised tax cuts, state programs were headed for disaster.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Speaker Newcomb was unable to get his
very conservative Republican caucus to join Democrats with a plan to
generate revenue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s why we
were there so long.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Prior to the session, my husband
and I made plans to go to Boston with our older daughter during the week April
21-25.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did not dream that we
would still be in session.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I assure you I considered the
matter carefully.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The extra 1%
sales tax issue was already settled.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(April 17)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My substitute was the very capable and
honorable Dr. Stephen Cooke.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(U of
I Ag Econ)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We communicated
constantly, and, thanks goodness, he followed my directions carefully.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I can imagine how angry I would have
been had he not done that.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I worked closely with Dr. Cooke’s
wife, Judy Brown on tax issues throughout the session.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Steve seemed the most logical choice to
replace me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If I were more of a
political animal, I may have chosen a Democrat with immediate plans to run for
the legislature.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Those five days were the only
days I have missed during my four years in the legislature.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you have further questions, I’ll be
glad to reply. </P></DIV></BODY></HTML>