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Rep. Trail -<BR>
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Idaho is JUST NOW discontinuing death-sentence executions by firing squad????????<BR>
<BR>
I thought that Idaho executions were by lethal injection, the closest thing to humane executions (now, there's an oxymoron for you).<BR>
<BR>
Well . . .<BR>
<BR>
I'll be a son of a Blagojevich!<BR>
<BR>
Look for my first book, coming to a bookstore near you . . .<BR>
<BR>
"County Jail Journal: Tom Hansen, the Early Years"<BR>
<BR>
Seeya at the Intolerista Wingding, Moscow.<BR>
<BR>
<A href="http://www.MoscowCares.com/Wingding">http://www.MoscowCares.com/Wingding</A><BR>
<BR>
Tom Hansen<BR>
Moscow, Idaho<BR>
<BR>
<P class=EC_EC_MsoPlainText><FONT face="Courier New" color=#000000>"For a lapsed Lutheran born-again Buddhist pan-Humanist Universalist Unitarian Wiccan Agnostic like myself there's really no reason ever to go to work."</FONT></P>
<P class=EC_EC_MsoPlainText><FONT face="Courier New" color=#000000> </FONT></P>
<P class=EC_EC_MsoPlainText><FONT face="Courier New" color=#000000>- Roy Zimmerman</FONT></P><BR><BR><BR>
<BR>> To: vision2020@moscow.com<BR>> From: ttrail@moscow.com<BR>> Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 14:45:00 +0000<BR>> Subject: [Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter IX, March 2-7, 2009<BR>> <BR>> LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER IX--MARCH 2-7/2009<BR>> <BR>> Constituents:<BR>> <BR>> A sense of humor does keep one stable during these stressful economic <BR>> times. It is ironic that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has now <BR>> signed a multi-million dollar contract to write a book on "The Dark Side <BR>> of Politics." I wonder what message that conveys to the general public. <BR>> It reminds me of a friend describing trout swimming in gin clear fishing <BR>> waters with hundreds of anglers trying to catch them. He said that the <BR>> trout were as nervous as a felon at a Sheriffs Convention. I doubt that <BR>> Ex-Governor Blagojevich is very nervous at this date. By the way the <BR>> Idaho House passed a bill today ending death by the firing squad.<BR>> <BR>> l. Positive News--I thought it would be appropriate with all of the <BR>> travail and bad news out in the world to focus on at least one good piece <BR>> of news. Micron just announced laying off 2,000 employees, and then the <BR>> Idaho Statesmen front page featured an article on "Are Small Treasure <BR>> Valley Businesses the Answer?" The article featured a half page picture <BR>> of Moscow's own Tony Dupont who is the owner of small company that makes <BR>> Power Cordz, a synthetic cable stronger and lighter than steel for bikes <BR>> and possibly cars and planes. The Lance Armstrong cycling team and many <BR>> of the European professional bike riders used Tony's Power Cordz.<BR>> <BR>> Tony is the son of Dr. Ron and Fran Dupont of Moscow. He graduated <BR>> from Moscow High School and Civil Engineering at the University of <BR>> Idaho. My wife, Jo Ann, and I had lunch with Tony several years ago and <BR>> his goal was to develop a small business to make useful and futuristic <BR>> products. The cables are just the beginning. DuPont plans to use revenue <BR>> from Power Cordz sales to pay for a prototype of the continually variable <BR>> transmission that he developed in college. The transmission can change <BR>> through an infinite number of gear ratios between maximum and minimum <BR>> values. Tony thinks his innovative design will make bikes and cars 15-20 <BR>> percent more efficient. A consulting engineer says that it has the <BR>> potential to revolutionize energy transmission. A large Asian car <BR>> company indicates that if they can be shown a prototype that works in the <BR>> bike field that they will fund development for the auto industry<BR>> <BR>> Three years ago Tony developed his business alone in his Boise <BR>> garage. Today he has five employees. Sales have doubled this past <BR>> quarter. We wish Tony all the success in the world, and what he is <BR>> doing in developing his small but innovative business may be a wave of <BR>> the future.<BR>> <BR>> 2. Teaching More Kids On Less Money--Superintendent of Public <BR>> Instruction, Tom Luna has announced that the public education budget will <BR>> probably be cut for FY10 by at least $60 million. At the same time <BR>> public school enrollment is estimated to expand. Part of the expansion <BR>> is because some parents are moving their children from private to public <BR>> schools because they cannot afford tuition. In the case of both parents <BR>> having to work then home schooling is no longer an option. It appears <BR>> that Idaho Parents are voting with their feet.<BR>> <BR>> SPI Luna indicates that he wants to restrict the amount of money <BR>> moving from rainy day accounts to beef up the budget shortfall, and in <BR>> essence the budget cutbacks will simply mean fewer teachers teaching more <BR>> students. The impact on local schools such as Genesee and Kendrick <BR>> indicates that they may go to a four day school week starting next fall. <BR>> Bruce Bradberry, the Superintendent at Troy indicates that his experience <BR>> shows you only save about 2% by going to a four day school week. It is <BR>> interesting that many of our competitors in the world economy in Europe <BR>> and Asia are actually increasing the number of school weeks. Are we <BR>> headed down to road to becoming a Third Class Nation?<BR>> <BR>> 3. Transportation Issues--The Governor is still trying to move ahead <BR>> with his $200 million plus transportation package. He is calling each <BR>> individual member of the House Transportation Committee over to try and <BR>> convince them to vote for his package. Two of his proposals to increase <BR>> the tax on rental cars were defeated in committee. Frankly, there is <BR>> little enthusiasm among legislators to increase taxes of any kind on <BR>> their constituents in hard economic times. We have heard that money from <BR>> the stimulus package may be used to put in an additional passing lane on <BR>> Steakhouse Hill on Highway 95 north of Moscow.<BR>> <BR>> Well, constituents, JFAC will start to set some budgets this next week as <BR>> we more clearly see the way that the stimulus funds fit into the Idaho <BR>> Budget. In any case, it appears that the Idaho Legislature will be <BR>> extending the session into early April. Again, I'd like to hear from you <BR>> concerning your observations, recommendation, and suggestions. My e mail <BR>> is ttrail@house.idaho.gov and phone 332-1184.<BR>> <BR>> Representative Tom Trail<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> ---------------------------------------------<BR>> This message was sent by First Step Internet.<BR>> http://www.fsr.com/<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> =======================================================<BR>> List services made available by First Step Internet, <BR>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>> http://www.fsr.net <BR>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>> =======================================================<BR></body>
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