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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Friends:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>February 11, 2009</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Legislative Report</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>I often kid my fellow Democrats who go to fundraising auctions
looking for bargains.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They don’t
seem to understand the notion of fundraising.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now, the final details of the federal
stimulus package are nearly hammered out. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As I hear some of my legislative
colleagues discuss the conditions under which they might be willing to accept
such funds, it occurs to me they fail to understand the basic notion.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stimulus funds – they can be used to
slow job loss, help develop a trained workforce, build roads, bridges, school
buildings support K-12 and higher education.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They can also be used to help support
struggling families and help folks get timely heath care.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Under normal conditions, Idaho can
provide a reasonable degree of support to state agencies that provide these
services, and balance the budget.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Not now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course there are
no guarantees this package will get us back on track, but there is plenty of
evidence that extraordinary measures are necessary. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We need to get money in the hands of
people who will use it and get moving.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>I serve on the Transportation and Defense Committee.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It has become clear to me that Idaho
does not have a revenue structure to support adequate maintenance of roads and
bridges.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yesterday, during the
Transportation committee meeting, Governor Otter’s plan for raising more funds
was unveiled.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Governor proposed
the following:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2"><FONT
face=Calibri>
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Remove support for the State Patrol from the Highway Distribution
Account.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Impose a 6% fee on daily rental of motor vehicles.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Increase the state tax on motor fuel – 2 cents per year for five
years.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Increase registration fees on cars and trucks.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Eliminate the ethanol exemption.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>A good system of transportation is important, and work on roads and
bridges provides jobs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However,
it’s a hard time to think of raising people’s taxes and fees.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It appears the federal stimulus package
proposes to send over $200 million to Idaho for construction and repair of roads
and bridges.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Does anybody want to adopt a wolf?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are many who are eager for wolf
delisting – they are eager for Idaho to manage the wolf population.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The question is currently in the hands
of the federal government.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I would
suggest that we need to give evidence that we will be responsible in our
approach.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Last year, the majority
of legislators passed a bill allowing ranchers to shoot wolves if they are being
“annoying.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think that language
lacks specificity – many of us would be in trouble if being annoying were
sufficient cause to make us a target.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition, I have not heard a
proposal from anyone concerning a very important funding issue.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When wolves are delisted, federal funds
for management will not continue to flow.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U>may </U></B>be available
for an additional three years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If
Idaho plans state management of wolves, funding the program will not be
insignificant.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An official from the
Office of Endangered Species told me he thinks the feds should continue to
shoulder the responsibility.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They
probably won’t do that.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Any Idaho
management plan won’t succeed without financial support.
</FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>