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face=Calibri>Legislative Report<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><FONT
face=Calibri>From Representative Shirley Ringo<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>As this legislative session wears on, we become better acquainted
with our new legislators.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The “Tea
Party” faction was energized in the most recent election, sending many extremely
conservative legislators to Boise.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Their influence on decision-making is continually
emerging.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><FONT
face=Calibri>For example, yesterday (March 3) there was a bill to extend
benefits for the unemployed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
measure uses federal funds only.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It
provides relief to families where the wage-earners have been unable to secure
jobs, and stimulates the economy.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>One would expect such a bill to gain considerable support.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Well, wrong again.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>Representative Steve Thayne moved to reject the bill.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“These people shouldn’t delay their
search for jobs,” he said.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(People
who receive unemployment benefits must verify that they are seeking work to
qualify for payments.)<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>I was horrified at the number of others who joined in.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme involved describing lazy folks
who are scamming the system.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Besides, they don’t pay taxes on the benefits, one said.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(In fact, they
do.)<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>Fortunately, the measure passed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(41- 28 – 1)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The twenty-eight nay votes came from
roughly half of the members of the majority party.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><FONT
face=Calibri>House Bill 129 passed March 3.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(56 – 13 – 1)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This legislation weakens Idaho law for
childcare providers by relaxing standards relating to the number of children per
each adult staff member.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><FONT
face=Calibri>The Joint Finance Committee passed a budget for colleges and
universities today.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The general
fund support was down by 3.5%, or about $7.7 million.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I offered a motion designed to give
better support to colleges and universities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It failed by a vote of 16-4, with the
only favorable votes coming from my colleagues in the minority
party.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>Educators, parents, and students who have come to the capitol
building to testify against the “education reform” bills must be feeling
discouraged.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Despite overwhelming
testimony against Senate Bills 1110 (merit pay) and 1108 (anti-union), the House
Education Committee passed them with only five dissenting votes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(13- 5)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Senate Bill 1113 (increase class
size/more on-line classes) is still being held in the Senate Education
Committee.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I would hope it will
stay there.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In theory, the money
saved in that scheme would make money available for merit pay.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It appears the parts are not fitting
together at this time.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>Hearings will be held next week relating to changes in Health and
Welfare policy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most of these
changes will involve cost containment, and many will be drastically unfortunate
for our folks with disabilities.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri>I am always delighted to see visitors from District 6.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Recently, there have been folks from the
Daily News and Lewiston Morning Tribune, the Historical Society, educators, the
Moscow Fire Department, Democrats attending the Frank and Bethine Church dinner,
parents and students, and other constituents.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have also heard from many of you with
opinions and suggestions regarding legislation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you, and continue to let me know
of your concerns.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><FONT
face=Calibri>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H"><FONT
face=Calibri>Shirley
Ringo<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>