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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>About two years ago, Senior auditor Stan
Howland,who was retiring from the Idaho Tax Commission, issued a report giving
information about special tax breaks given to a select group of
taxpayers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At the time, Senator Brent Hill (R-Rexburg)
investigated and reported that no laws were being broken. In 2009,
legislation was passed that put more oversight into the process. It didn't
provide uniform procedures and transparency needed to assure that the system in
constitutional, in my opinion. (I am convinced that legislation is
all the legislature would do voluntarily to address the problem.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After much thought, I decided to join attorney
Robert Huntley and Mr. Howland in an effort to address needed reforms.
That is why we have filed the lawsuit. I will include details that were
delivered to the media yesterday after the lawsuit was filed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Shirley</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
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style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>A lawsuit has been filed today by
Representative Shirley Ringo in District Court in Boise, on behalf of the people
of Idaho against the Idaho Legislature and the Idaho Tax
Commission.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>According to Ringo, “The purpose of
the case is to obtain a court decree requiring that the Legislature and the Tax
Commission enact appropriate statutes and regulations which will result in
curtailing the giving of improper and illegal discount on income tax assessments
to certain taxpayers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The practice
has had the effect of lightening the burden of certain taxpayers while other
taxpayers are required to pay their fair share as assessed under the law.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Closing the ‘tax gap’ is an issue of
utmost importance to each and every Idaho citizen.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The tax gap measures the difference
between taxes owed to the state and taxes collected.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the 2010 legislative session, the
appropriation for the State Tax Commission included more support for auditors
and compliance officers to collect unpaid taxes from those with the means to
pay.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That isn’t the whole story,
though.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The program cannot be
entirely effective if Tax Commission Chairman Royce Chigbrow does not fairly and
consistently enforce the results of tax audits.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Idaho’s Constitution charges the
Legislature and the State Tax Commission with levying and collecting taxes in a
‘uniform manner.’<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In 1996, the
Idaho Legislative Services Office issued an audit report describing serious
deficiencies in the system of enforcing collections.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unfortunately, a subsequent letter from
the Attorney General resulted in the dilution of recommended reforms.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Following his retirement in 2008, Senior
Tax Auditor Stan Howland reported that policies of the Idaho Tax Commission have
unfairly reduced the liability of a select group of Idaho taxpayers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Legislation passed in 2009 has not
provided standards, guidelines, or transparency needed to prevent this
practice.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>This is a matter of grave concern to
me, both as a Legislator, a Taxpayer, and a Citizen.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Legislators are responsible for
supporting Idaho’s laws and Constitution.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Further, the vast majority of taxpayers assume their responsibility to
comply with the law.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These citizens
support vital programs such as public schools, higher education, and public
safety.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The special treatment
enjoyed by a few is costing millions in revenue, and the remainder of Idaho’s
business and citizens bear the burden of supporting Idaho’s
institutions.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Contact:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Representative Shirley
Ringo<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>1021 Herrington
Road<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Moscow, Idaho
83843<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>208-883-1005<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>208-301-2272<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>