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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> <FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></FONT></o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Legislative Report</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>March 2, 2007</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Work in the Legislature grinds on, with progress on some fronts, and
frustration on others.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Joint Finance Committee approved an appropriation
this morning containing two items important to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One involves $69,558,900 to be used
statewide for alterations and repairs of buildings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is a very important piece for
protecting our investment in buildings and raises the possibility of getting
important support for the University.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We never support building maintenance sufficiently, but this should
help.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The second is a one-time appropriation of $10,000,000 to
support a livestock/dairy research facility to be located in the magic
valley.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are details that must
follow in order for this project to move ahead.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One involves a Congressional tweaking of
the Morrill Act to expand the use of endowment assets.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Representative Trail and I are guiding our bill on address
confidentiality for victims of domestic violence through the legislative
process.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This bill stems from a
cooperative effort by District 6 citizens, law enforcement officials,
legislators, and legal experts.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Professor Elizabeth Brandt from the University College of Law drafted the
legislation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The bill was approved
by the House Judiciary and Rules Committee, with two dissenting votes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Attorney General’s Office expressed
concern with one aspect of the bill, and subsequently approved an amendment
proposed by Professor Brandt that dealt with the concern.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Next week, we will ask the Judiciary
Committee to approve the amendment, hope for favorable House approval and then
take the bill on to the Senate.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee has approved
Superintendent Tom Luna’s school budget almost exactly as he proposed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The major difference concerns
non-funding of a Luna proposal to pay for high school students’ “dual
enrollment” credits – double enrollment in a class for high school and college
credit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Public school teachers are
held to a 3% increase in pay, while public employees receive 5%.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The budget for colleges and universities has been
set.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am disappointed that there
is no money for salary competitiveness beyond the 5% raise in salary
appropriation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is an issue I
intend to pursue in the future.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Next week, the Senate State Affairs Committee will continue debate on
making English Idaho’s “official language.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Democrats on the committee opposed the
bill with Senator Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, commenting that passage of such a
law may further perceptions that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></st1:place> is a closed society that doesn’t welcome
newcomers.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>We had a revealing exposure of the differences in thinking to be found
among legislators.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Representative
George Sayler (D-Coeur d’Alene) sought legislation to require minimum safety
standards and criminal background checks for daycare centers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Representative Tom Loertscher (R-Iona),
on the other hand, found it more important to encourage moms to stay home.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There were more votes in the Loertscher
camp.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Republican leadership has a proposal to require voters to pick a party in
order to vote in primary elections.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Republican Secretary of State Ben Ysursa was not amused, and some say he
nearly experienced a melt-down over it.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>We probably have two or three weeks remaining in this legislative
session.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please contact me if you
have questions.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Shirley
Ringo</FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
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