That was one of my thoughts upon reading D's comments this morning. My other thought was that D either doesn't like or doesn't understand that we live in a representative democracy. We elect representatives to vote on things for us. D seems to advocate either:<div>
1. A pure democracy.</div><div>2. More use of ballot initiatives (ala Tim Eyman in WA, or California).</div><div><br></div><div>I like our system of representative democracy, and prefer not to circumvent it with countless ballot initiatives. California would seem to be a good warning as to the dangers of too many initiatives.</div>
<div><br></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 12:08 PM, Sue Hovey <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:suehovey@moscow.com">suehovey@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family:'Calibri';color:#000000;font-size:12pt">
<div>And since when is a required 2/3 yes vote democratic? Those of us who
taught in antiquated school buildings for 30 plus years can certainly speak to
that....as could you who went there.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sue </div>
<div style="font-style:normal;display:inline;font-family:'Calibri';color:#000000;font-size:small;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none">
<div style="font:10pt tahoma">
<div> </div>
<div style="background:#f5f5f5">
<div><b>From:</b> <a title="donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" target="_blank">Donovan Arnold</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 25, 2010 11:58 AM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="vision2020@moscow.com" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a> ; <a title="ringoshirl@moscow.com" href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com" target="_blank">ringoshirl</a>
</div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] HJR 4 and 5</div></div></div>
<div> </div></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;display:inline;font-family:'Calibri';color:#000000;font-size:small;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none">
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<div>"It's very limiting for these entities to need a 2/3 favorable vote
every time they need to make these purchases that they need for their
operations."-S. Ringo</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Democracy is so inconvenient isn't it? </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I think it is good practice to have a 2/3 vote before incurring any
debt and bad practice to let a handful of people rack up a debt for future
generations and others to absorb. I think if something truly is needed and
debt needs to be incurred reasonable people will support it and it will
pass. We cannot just let hospitals go bankrupt and shut down let other
businesses, we need them. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Again, people should not keep handing over their money and rights to
an increasingly smaller number of people that may have other interests
than your own in mind. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Donovan J Arnold<br><br>--- On <b>Mon, 10/25/10, ringoshirl
<i><<a href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com" target="_blank">ringoshirl@moscow.com</a>></i></b> wrote:<br></div>
<blockquote style="border-left:rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid;padding-left:5px;margin-left:5px"><br>From:
<span><span>ringoshirl</span></span>
<<a href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com" target="_blank">ringoshirl@moscow.com</a>><br>Subject: [Vision2020] HJR 4 and
5<br>To: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>Date: Monday, October 25, 2010, 5:32
AM<br><br>
<div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Visionaries:</font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">I support both of these. It's very
limiting for these entities to need a 2/3 favorable vote every time they
need to make these purchases that they need for their operations. This
does not affect Gritman.</font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Shirley</font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">H.J.R. 4</p></font></b></div><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">“Shall Section 3C, Article VIII, of the Constitution of
the State of Idaho be amended to authorize</p></font></div>
<p align="left">public hospitals, ancillary to their operations and in
furtherance of health care needs in their service
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">areas, to incur indebtedness or liability to purchase,
contract, lease or construct or otherwise acquire
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">facilities, equipment, technology and real property for
health care operations, provided that no ad
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">valorem tax revenues shall be used for such activities?”
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the State of
Idaho: Section 3C, Article VIII
</p><div></div><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">Legislative Council’s Statement of Meaning, Purpose and
Result to be Accomplished of Proposed
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">Amendment:
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">This proposed amendment will allow public hospitals to
acquire facilities, equipment, technology and
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">real property through a variety of means that aid the
public hospital operations, as long as the acquisitions
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">are paid for solely from charges, rents or payments
derived from the existing or financed facilities and
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">are not funded by property taxes. Under current Idaho
constitutional provisions, public hospitals, as
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">subdivisions of the state of Idaho, have limited ability
to incur debt without the approval of a two-thirds
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">vote at an election held for that purpose. This proposed
amendment will provide a limited alternative
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">to that two-thirds vote requirement. The use of tax
dollars to finance these kinds of investments is
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">prohibited.
</p><div></div><p></p></font><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">Statements FOR the Proposed Amendment
</p><div></div><p></p></font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">1. The proposed amendment will allow Idaho’s public
hospitals, which are primarily located in
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">small towns and rural areas, to invest in new medical
equipment, facilities and technology to
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">better meet the health care needs of patients in their
communities, strengthening Idaho’s entire
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">health care system.
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">2. The proposed amendment will help give public hospitals
the resources they need to attract the
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">best medical personnel, spur the economy by creating jobs,
and increase operational efficiency
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">through long-term contracts.
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">3. The proposed amendment keeps in place the safeguards
provided in the Idaho Constitution in
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">two ways. First, no tax dollars can be used to finance
these investments. Second, the amendment
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">strictly forbids obligating taxpayers or any state, county
or other governmental entity with these
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">investments.
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">Statements AGAINST the Proposed Amendment
</p><div></div><p></p></font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">1. The existing Idaho constitutional requirement mandating
a two-thirds assent of the voters before
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">a public hospital can enter into long-term debt is an
important safeguard for all Idaho citizens.
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">2. Adoption of the proposed amendment will limit the right
of voters to approve certain debt
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">incurred by the public hospitals.
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">3. Changes to the Constitution should be made only for
major issues of interest to the state or in the
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">event of a constitutional crisis.
</p><div></div><p></p></font><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">H.J.R. 5
</p><div></div><p></p></font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">“Shall Article VIII, of the Constitution of the State of
Idaho be amended by the addition of a new
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">Section 3E, to provide for the issuance of revenue and
special facility bonds by political subdivisions
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">of the state and regional airport authorities as defined
by law, if operating an airport to acquire,
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">construct, install, and equip land, facilities, buildings,
projects or other property, which are hereby
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">deemed to be for a public purpose, to be financed for, or
to be leased, sold or otherwise disposed of
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">to persons, associations or corporations, or to be held by
the subdivision or regional airport authority,
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">and may in the manner prescribed by law issue revenue and
special facility bonds to finance the costs
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">thereof; provided that any such bonds shall be payable
solely from fees, charges, rents, payments,
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">grants, or any other revenues derived from the airport or
any of its facilities, structures, systems, or
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">projects, or from any land, facilities, buildings,
projects or other property financed by such bonds,
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">and shall not be secured by the full faith and credit or
the taxing power of the subdivision or regional
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">airport authority?”
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the State of
Idaho: New Section 3E, Article VIII
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">Legislative Council’s Statement of Meaning, Purpose and
Result to be Accomplished of Proposed
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">Amendment:
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">Currently, local governmental entities that operate
airports and regional airport authorities cannot
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">incur indebtedness without the approval of a two-thirds
vote at an election held for that purpose. This
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">proposed amendment will allow local governmental entities
that operate airports and regional airport
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">authorities to issue revenue and special facility bonds to
acquire, construct, install and equip land,
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">facilities, buildings, projects or other property. Voter
approval will not be required to incur such
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">indebtedness, as long as the bonds are paid for by fees,
charges, rents, payments, grants or other
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">revenues derived from the airport or its facilities. The
use of tax dollars to repay such bonds is
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">prohibited.
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">Statements FOR the Proposed Amendment
</p><div></div><p></p></font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">1. Public airports should have the ready ability to
construct needed facilities, such as terminals,
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">runways, parking structures and hangars, which provide
travelers with better services and
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">accommodations and attract industries to Idaho as long as
the users pay for these facilities.
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">2. Political subdivisions and regional airport authorities
need the ability to efficiently address
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">operational needs as they arise. Adoption of this
amendment will provide this ability without the
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">use of tax dollars to repay any debt or liability
incurred.
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">3. The inability of political subdivisions and regional
airport authorities to incur indebtedness and
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">liability without voter approval has been a contributing
factor in driving regional aviation-related
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">industries to conduct business in neighboring states. If
the proposed amendment is not adopted,
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">Idaho could continue to lose similar economic development
opportunities.
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">4. Public airports are a vital part of economic
development and commerce in the state of Idaho. In
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">2009, aviation contributed an estimated $2.1 billion to
Idaho’s economy. Properties and facilities
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">funded by special facility bonds will attract and expand
industries, such as maintenance, manu</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">facturing
<div></div>
<p align="left">and cargo operations, which will create new jobs and
foster economic development in
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">Idaho. Modern and efficient airports are essential to
Idaho’s prosperity.
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT">
<p align="left">Statements AGAINST the Proposed Amendment (H.J.R. 5
Continued)
</p><div></div><p></p></font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">1. The existing Idaho constitutional requirement mandating
a two-thirds assent of the voters before
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">a political subdivision or regional airport authority can
incur debt is an important safeguard for
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">all Idaho citizens.
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">2. Adoption of the proposed amendment will allow political
subdivisions and regional airport
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">authorities to acquire, construct, install and equip land,
facilities, buildings and projects that are
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">not specifically limited to airport operations.
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">3. Buildings and land owned by the government are not
taxed and therefore provide no revenues to
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">schools, cities, counties or other levying authorities.
Adoption of the proposed amendment could
</p><div></div>
<p align="left">result in an increase in property exempt from taxation.
</p><div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<p align="left">4. Changes to the Constitution should be made only for
major issues of interest to the entire state
</p><div></div><p></p></font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">
<div>or in the event of a constitutional crisis.</div></font>
<div></div>
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