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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>April
23, 2009</FONT></P>
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"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face=Calibri
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>Greetings from the Legislature.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>There are a few details remaining to be resolved before the
session ends.</FONT></P>
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face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>The struggle over transportation funding continues.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is an understatement to say that it
is time to find a good compromise and adjourn.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>House leaders apparently haven’t gotten
that memo.</FONT></P>
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face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>Today, those leaders proposed that when our economic
situation improves and meets a particular benchmark, we should raid the general
fund to get $50 million for costs of maintaining roads and bridges.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I suggest that is not a very good
idea.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The use of general fund money
for transportation needs would be a huge policy change – hardly appropriate for
consideration during the waning days of the session.</FONT></P>
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face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Future demand for general fund dollars will be great –
and we will need to pay close attention to priorities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This year, general fund support for
education is down, although budgets for public schools and higher education are
being augmented by one-time stimulus money. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Growth in revenues will be
necessary to even keep support at those levels.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The grocery tax credit is being
increased incrementally, and will eventually have an increased fiscal impact of
$122 million per year. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Personnel costs for public
employees have been reduced by 5% this session – we must work to restore their
level of pay.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>With priorities such as these, it’s hard to understand the
merit of raiding the general fund for maintaining infrastructure.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have consistently supported the idea
that an increase of revenue for maintaining roads is important.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lack of timely maintenance proves much
more costly in the future.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The idea
of a “trigger” that would initiate an increase in the gas tax when economic
conditions improve has merit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>However, I am opposed to a proposal that would obtain money for roads at
the expense of other priorities.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>As always, I am eager to hear your opinion on these
issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You may reach me by phone
at 208-301-2272, or </FONT><A href="mailto:sringo@house.idaho.gov"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>sringo@house.idaho.gov</FONT></A><FONT face=Calibri size=3>;
</FONT><A href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com"><FONT face=Calibri
size=3>ringoshirl@moscow.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Calibri size=3>.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>Sincerely,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3>Shirley Ringo</FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>