<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Shirley,</div><div><br></div><div>I think you really hit it on the head when you stated "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; ">It seems close to imposing a tax upon this class of employees". It is a tax on state employees! And added to this remember that UI "state employees" did NOT see a raise last year as did the rest of the state employees. There is a perception out there that "state employees" are the well paid fat cats who do not do much for their checks, the stereo typical state employee.</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">Also, nothing has been done to reign in the abusive practice of ignoring the state law by the University of Idaho in regards to veterans hiring or bringing a halt to the practice of hiring from out of state or for that matter out of the country rather than fully qualified local, state or even Americans looking for positions at the University! How about a state law that REQUIRES, for government positions, local, state or American hires FIRST and that the legislation INCLUDES the University of Idaho?</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">Wayne</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br></span></font></span></font></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div><div>On Feb 16, 2010, at 9:32 AM, Shirley Ringo wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div bgcolor="#ffffff"><div><font face="Arial" size="2">Visionaries:</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><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 class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span> </span>I will have specific information soon about the budgets for public schools and higher education.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Calibri">I have been thinking about the general fairness of requiring employees to take furlough days.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></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-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Calibri">State employees who have been required to take five furlough days have lost approximately 2% of pay.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>At the same time, they have worked to provide the same public services for which they are responsible.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span> </span>It seems close to imposing a tax upon this class of employees.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><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> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>For example, consider the proposal to impose a 5% surcharge on personal income tax for individuals with<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>taxable incomes</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>exceeding $50,000 per year.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>An example of the impact:<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>a family of four earning about $75,000 per year would pay an addition $164 in state income taxes.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>This is a 0.22% increase for that family.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></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-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Calibri">I would like to hear from you on this subject.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span> </span>The path we are taking will require employees to take many more furlough days.<span> </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><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> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Of those, 52% were diverted for treatment in community programs.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>To date, 86% of those who were diverted have remained out of Idaho Juvenile Corrections custody.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Calibri">As many of you have heard, HCR042 was introduced in the House State Affairs Committee.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>The sponsor, Dennis Lake, proposes to cancel the 1% COLA for PERSI retirees.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>I have received many messages asking me to oppose this legislation.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></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-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><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> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>This bill is under consideration in the Senate State Affairs Committee.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Calibri">Please contact me with your issues and concerns.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Calibri">Rep. Shirley Ringo</font></p></div>=======================================================<br>List services made available by First Step Internet,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br> <a href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> <br> <a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>=======================================================</div></span></blockquote></div><br></body></html>