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<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri>Shirl,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri>Thanks for the message.
Imposing furloughs on conscientious employees is most assuredly a tax on
their income. Buildings may be closed, but the work is still there to
be done by someone. That or all the citizens of Idaho lose services to
which they are entitled. Our taxable income is considerably less than it
was when both Norm and I were working, but even so, I'd willingly pay a
surcharge if it would mean that Idaho citizens got the services they need.
I think the $50,000 floor should be adjusted downward to spread that effect more
broadly and raise more revenue. It seems to me a surcharge on all
taxpayers would be the fair move at this time. Everyone is hurting, but
all of us benefit from the services the state provides. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri>Would you publish the email of
the House State Affairs Committee if you know it offhand. Dennis
Lake's veiled attempt to punish a segment of the population he has never
appreciated anyway is a travesty. He says it's a fairness thing.
That's bs...Dumb isn't his hallmark, mean is. He knows his actions
save the state no money. COLA funds come from PERSI Retirement funds, not
state revenue. Ironically, should his bill pass, it will negatively affect
the state revenue stream and further depress revenue projections. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri>As far as the Conscience
Bill: On the surface it may seem reasonable. Forcing someone to
perform an action in violation of her or his beliefs seems somehow unfair.
But I see this move as a draconian endeavor to impose a specific set of values
upon women (of course, I'm sure the bill isn't that specific, but when David
Ripley is helping shepherd it through the process, it's obviously an anti-choice
endeavor) who are seeking a legal medical prescription or service--a legal act,
even in Idaho. It reminds me of the signs I grew up reading in
segregationist Texas: "We refuse the right to provide service to
anyone." While those words were broadly written, we knew exactly to
whom they really applied. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri>Thanks for all your hard
work. See you in April. Wonder if you'll sine die before we get home
on the 7th. Lord, I do hope so. As regards the Idaho legislature,
Mark Twain's words were right on...as long as it's in session, nobody is
safe.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4 face=Calibri>Sue H. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">Shirley Ringo</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7:32 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A
title="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Legislative Report from
Ringo</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>Because of
the extremely low revenue projection adopted by the Joint Finance and
Appropriations Committee, budgets for fiscal year 2011 will require more dire
measures such as laying off employees, requiring user fees for parents of
children with disabilities, and more furloughing. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I will have specific information soon
about the budgets for public schools and higher education.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>I have been
thinking about the general fairness of requiring employees to take furlough
days.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While it is a
money-saving action that keeps people from being laid off, there are other ways
to share the burden.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>State
employees who have been required to take five furlough days have lost
approximately 2% of pay.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At the
same time, they have worked to provide the same public services for which they
are responsible.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It seems close to imposing a tax upon
this class of employees.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>If we were to
broaden the population to share the burden of revenue shortages by putting a
state-wide revenue enhancement plan in place, the impact on individuals would be
less.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For example, consider the
proposal to impose a 5% surcharge on personal income tax for individuals with <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">taxable incomes</B> exceeding $50,000 per
year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An example of the
impact:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>a family of four earning
about $75,000 per year would pay an addition $164 in state income taxes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is a 0.22% increase for that
family.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(The revenue gained would
not solve all problems, but there are other ideas that could be used
also.)</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>I would like
to hear from you on this subject.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The path we are taking will
require employees to take many more furlough days.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>Today in the
Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, we heard that from February 1, 2009,
to September 30, 2009, “Rule 19 screening teams” have screened 119 juvenile
offenders across the state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of
those, 52% were diverted for treatment in community programs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To date, 86% of those who were diverted
have remained out of Idaho Juvenile Corrections custody.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>As many of
you have heard, HCR042 was introduced in the House State Affairs Committee.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The sponsor, Dennis Lake, proposes to
cancel the 1% COLA for PERSI retirees.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I have received many messages asking me to oppose this legislation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you oppose HCR042, you should
also write to members of the House State Affairs Committee at this time and ask
them to hold the legislation in committee.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>SB 1353, the
“Conscience Bill,” proposes that “No health Care Professional shall be required
to provide any health care service that violates his or her conscience.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This bill is under consideration in the
Senate State Affairs Committee.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>Please
contact me with your issues and concerns.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>Rep. Shirley
Ringo</FONT></P></DIV>
<P>
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