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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Please
contact me with your issues and concerns.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Rep. Shirley
Ringo</FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>