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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Dear
Visionaries:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>We
are just getting organized for this years legislative session.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Here are some of the highlights from Week I.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>1.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Salary Increase for State Employees<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The
Governor proposed a one percent increase for state employees.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This means that most state employees will be
receiving less money than they did 4 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This considers that the cost of living
goes up 2-3% each year and that health insurance costs have increased.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>A reasonable increase would be 2-3% just to
keep even with the cost of living.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The 1% increase for U. of I. employees
will be fully funded unlike the partial funding for salary increases last
year.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The U. of I. with its financial
problems did not have enough monetary reserves and only awarded the increases
in January 05.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>It is interesting to<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>note that BSU, <span class=SpellE>ISU</span>,
and <span class=SpellE>LCSC</span> (in terms of merit pay from last year's
salary increases) provided merit increases for the majority of their employees
ranging from 2.8 to 6.0%.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The U. of I.
with more than 2,200 employees gave merit increases (averaging 7.8%) to fewer
than 300 employees (Source Idaho Dept. Human Resources).<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Data from the U. of I. in 2004 also indicated
that about 20% of staff were paid at or below the poverty level.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>2.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Public Education Budget<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The
Governor called for a 6.0% increase for k-12 or a total of $999 million.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This includes the 1% increase for teachers
and an increase in technology funding of $4 million and restoring "Least
Restrictive Environment" funding of $1 million.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The Governor did not include any funding
for remediation efforts for as many as 17,000 low performing students in
non-Title 1 schools.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Idaho teachers are doing a good job.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>A quote from the Jan 11<sup>th</sup> Twin
Falls Times News indicates that "When you're near the bottom in per pupil
spending, in the bottom third of teacher salary, but help students achieve in
the top half of the national rankings, it shows Idaho teachers giving more than
their getting."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>3.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Funding for Higher Education<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The
Governor is recommending a $14 increase.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>This includes funding for the accelerating enrollments experienced by
Idaho universities.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>He is recommending
that we<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>keep the $23 million cigarette
tax in place and direct it to the Permanent building fund.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This would assist universities with
maintenance costs and for new buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>4.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Highway Construction<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The
Governor proposed the most expensive and sweeping highway project in Idaho's
history.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>He is calling on the
Legislature to borrow $1.6 billion to build 258 miles of roads in every corner
of the state.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Much of the money would be
directed to improving Highway 95.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Conservatives question whether the state should be obligated to go so
far into debt.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>5.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Rural Idaho<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>--<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Almost $1 million is proposed
for the Rural Idaho Initiative bringing the total fund to almost $5 million.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>6.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Business Incentives<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>--<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The
Governor also proposed new tax breaks for companies that add 500 new jobs with
high salaries and spend at least $50 million in new buildings or plants.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>These
are just a few of the issues outlined in the Governor's State of the State
address.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Constituents can reach me via e
mail at ttrail@house.state.id.us<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>I
appreciate your comments and concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Rep.
Tom Trail<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>ttrail@house.state.id.us<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><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'><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'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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