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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>S-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>thanks for communicating with Moscow via
V2020.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I would like to hear your opinion of the bill that
Tom Trail says he is co-sponsoring to force Wal-Mart and other major employers
to provide reasonable levels of employee health insurance coverage (modeled on
the recently passed Maryland bill). Do you support it? Do you expect
it to pass? Please respond to V2020 as well on this issue.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BL</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ringoshirl@moscow.com href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">Shirley
Ringo</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 20, 2006 3:59
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] News From the
Legislature - Rep. Ringo</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>NEWS FROM THE LEGISLATURE</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>My position on the Joint Finance Committee continues to be interesting
and challenging.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Projecting revenues becomes a significant piece of budget
building.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The “Economic Outlook
Committee” makes a recommendation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Then the Joint Finance Committee decides whether or not to accept the
committee’s revenue projection.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>There is a significant disadvantage to “low-balling” the revenue
projection.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It results in
officially unexpected money not being built into the base for planning
budgets.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As with this year, those
dollars are treated as surplus.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The surplus mentality is usually accompanied by calls for
one-time-spending.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It offers an
excuse for those who reject long term commitment to programs such as Head
Start, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Community</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Treatment</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Centers</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, and others that improve quality
of life and save money in the future. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Governor’s State-of-the-State message definitely reflects the
ramifications of low revenue projections, and use of “surplus” dollars.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Idahoans are aware that in recent
years, there has been anemic support for public schools, higher education,
teacher and public employee pay, to name a few.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We know there is concern about
providing appropriate property tax relief, and that courts are mandating a
fair system of state support for public school buildings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While the Governor addressed salaries
for public employees and support for schools to an extent, he dropped the ball
on property tax relief and public school buildings.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>One of the Governor’s proposals for use of one-time moneys, giving each
person a $50 “energy rebate”, is failing to get much support from either
political party so far.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The cost
of this program would exceed $60,000,000.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(I have heard support only from the
Governor’s staff and Jim Fischer of the Lewiston Tribune so far, but there may
be more.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Instead, the Democrats
propose directing meaningful support for energy costs and weatherization to
low income individuals who truly need the help.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This targeted assistance would cost
about $20 million.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The difference
in cost between our program and that of the Governor would be used to enhance
public school salaries, and to launch a program to increase state support for
school construction.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>I will keep the flow of information coming.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please keep me informed about your
thoughts.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> <FONT face=Arial
size=2>Shirley</FONT></FONT></o:p></P></FONT></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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