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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>From
today’s (February 26, 2008) Spokesman Review –<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>“Proposal
includes increasing vehicle registration fee to $150”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Remember
the sole-parent, hard-working <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>
waiter(ress) example I presented earlier? Remember how (s)he drops off
his/her child at a day care center (that does not require background
investigations of its employees), working as a waiter(ress) for $3.50 an hour
(since <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>
allows employers to include anticipated tips as part of their employee’s
income)? Well . . . that same waiter(ress) must pay $150 minimum each
year to keep his/her car on the road so shat (s)he can get to work.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>If
Governor Otter truly does wish to stay in step with local states, I suggest he
increase minimum wage to $8.00 an hour and start taxing services (i.e. attorneys),
instead of dumping the financial burden on those who so sorely cannot afford
it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Otter
has plan to raise millions for roads <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Proposal
includes increasing vehicle registration fee to $150<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>John
Miller <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Associated
Press<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>February
27, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>BOISE</span></font></st1:City><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> – Gov. Butch Otter is touting fee increases he
says will help raise an additional $202 million annually by 2011 to maintain <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>'s roads and
bridges, including a plan for substantially higher registration fees for cars.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>In
addition to those hikes, proposals discussed at a meeting Tuesday of the House
and Senate transportation committees to increase money for roads also include a
4 percent rental car tax and increasing fees on commercial truckers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The
Idaho Transportation Department estimates it will have an annual $200 million
highway funding shortfall in coming years. If Idaho doesn't take action to
bridge the gap, officials say the only other alternative is to develop a
strategic withdrawal from maintaining some roads so the state has enough cash
left over for its most-important thoroughfares.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>"There
are plenty of projects we could do, if we had the money to do them,"
Darrell Manning, the chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board, told
lawmakers. "We have procrastinated too long."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>According
to Otter's proposals, he's pushing a 4 percent tax on rental cars that would
raise about $1.3 million annually.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Otter
also wants to gradually boost fees on commercial truckers, raising $25 million
in the 12 months starting July 1 and increasing the proceeds to $50 million by
2011. About $22 million would come from light trucks, with the rest from larger
tractor trailers. Otter hasn't proposed specific legislation; instead he's
working with lawmakers and the trucking industry to come up with a package that
accomplishes his goals.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>"We
wanted to find some middle ground," said Sen. Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home
and a trucking company owner who has been helping draft proposals for his
industry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>By
far the largest piece of Otter's package to increase roads revenue calls for
boosting registration fees for personal vehicles to a flat rate of $150
annually, from between $24 and $48 now, depending on a car's model year. After
the changes, <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>
would rank just 17th among states in registration costs, said Clete Edmunson,
Otter's transportation policy adviser.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>"Even
by increasing revenue up to $150, it's still fair and it's still equitable with
the surrounding states," Edmunson said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Some
lawmakers already indicated opposition to trying to raise the lion's share of
new revenue by increasing registration fees for cars.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Rep.
Phylis King, D-Boise, said it made little sense that people who drive their
cars very little should pay the same as those who use their cars every day for
long distances.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>"My
neighbor who is 90 years old drives very little," King said. "So why
not raise your gas tax? I think for seniors, it would be fairer to charge per
mile."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Edmunson
countered that Otter is philosophically opposed to raising the state's
25-cent-a-gallon gas tax, which hasn't been increased since 1996.
Transportation Department officials also contend revenue from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></st1:place>'s gas tax is stagnating and can't be
counted on in years to come, especially as cars improve their gas mileage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>-----------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Details
of Otter's plan <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Registration
fees: The current state registration fee – excluding county charges
– would be increased to $150, from $24 to $48 now, depending on the car's
model year. The plan would raise $134 million more in revenue by fiscal year
2011, according to the governor's estimates.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Rental
cars: Rental cars would be taxed at 4 percent; the resulting $1.3 million in
proceeds would be deposited directly in the State Highway Account.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Truckers:
Gov. Otter, lawmakers and the trucking industry are working on a plan that
would raise $25 million in fiscal year 2009 from commercial trucks, with
revenue rising to $50 million by 2011. About $22 million would come from fees
on light trucks, with the rest coming from larger tractor-trailers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>ISP
shift: Otter wants to shift $16.7 million in funding for the Idaho State Police
that now comes from transportation-related fees. Instead, the money would be
taken from the state general fund. That would free up money for road work. The
Joint Finance-Appropriations budget writing committee has already expressed
skepticism over the shift, recommending against it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Seeya
round town, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Tom
Hansen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Moscow</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>, <st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>"If
not us, who?<br>
If not now, when?"<br>
<br>
- Unknown<br>
</span></font> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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