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Roger,<br><br>Isn't it meaningless for you to say "Train your own kids," when Idaho law requires a class for drivers under 17? <br><br>You say "Fees are too high." The Republican party-line vote will make these classes MORE expensive, and maintains the requirement these drivers take a class.<br><br>Sunil<br><br>> Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 11:29:35 -0700<br>> From: lfalen@turbonet.com<br>> To: v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm; vision2020@moscow.com<br>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] More of the GOP Targeting Our Youth & Economically Challenged Parents<br>> <br>> Genesee charges $165.00, On April 11 there is a public hearing to raise it to $225.00 on May 1. Fees are getting too high. Train your own kids.<br>> Roger<br>> -----Original message-----<br>> From: "Saundra Lund" v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm<br>> Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:20:21 -0700<br>> To: vision2020@moscow.com<br>> Subject: [Vision2020] More of the GOP Targeting Our Youth & Economically Challenged Parents<br>> <br>> > The hits just keep coming, and it's absolutely *disgusting* to me the real<br>> > motive behind so many is to improve the lot of for-profit businesses while<br>> > harming the least among us.<br>> > <br>> > If these GOP legislators had any shame -- which they've proven time & again<br>> > this legislative session that they don't -- they would have, in tandem with<br>> > this hair-brained idea, done away with mandatory driver-training program for<br>> > those under 17. I know the "quality" of some of these for-profit driving<br>> > schools, and they certainly are no more capable than many parents can do<br>> > without having to shell out $350. Currently, MHS charges $135, so an<br>> > increase to $350 would be a whopping 40% increase, and increase many<br>> > families could ill-afford As it is, the rank hypocrisy of the GOP's motive<br>> > is glaringly apparent.<br>> > <br>> > SL<br>> > <br>> > http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/31/1587391/idaho-house-to-debate-cutti<br>> > ng.html<br>> > <br>> > March 31, 2011<br>> > Idaho House to debate cutting driver's ed funding<br>> > By JESSIE L. BONNER - Associated Press<br>> > <br>> > Idaho would no longer help cover the cost of driver's education classes at<br>> > public schools, under a bill before the 2011 Legislature.<br>> > <br>> > Republican lawmakers advanced legislation Thursday to strip state funding<br>> > from driver's ed classes, essentially ending the $125-per student subsidy<br>> > for programs that have been offered through Idaho's public schools since<br>> > 1948. The bulk of the money would be redirected into a public school rainy<br>> > day account.<br>> > <br>> > The changes would leave either students or schools to pick up the slack.<br>> > Idaho's wannabe teen drivers already pay $180 to $200 of the total $325 cost<br>> > of driver's ed classes, according to lawmakers behind the measure.<br>> > <br>> > Republican Rep. Steve Thayn of Emmett contends his bill aims to spur debate<br>> > about education spending.<br>> > <br>> > "It's a matter of priorities," he said. "Should we continue to subsidize<br>> > each student that takes driver's training from a public school or reallocate<br>> > those funds back into the classroom?"<br>> > <br>> > Student fees covered roughly half the total $2.3 million cost of public<br>> > driver's education courses in Idaho schools last year. The state reimbursed<br>> > school districts for the remaining $1.3 million, at a rate of $125 per<br>> > student enrolled in the training courses, using money collected from<br>> > driver's license fees.<br>> > <br>> > The Republican-dominated House Education Committee advanced Thyan's bill on<br>> > a party-line vote.<br>> > <br>> > Critics, primarily Democrats, contend the legislation jeopardizes access to<br>> > public driver's training courses and will put the cost out of reach for some<br>> > families.<br>> > <br>> > "Our rural students are driving and they have a lot of responsibilities,<br>> > especially in our farming areas. They need to have the training," said<br>> > Democratic Rep. Donna Pence of Gooding.<br>> > <br>> > State law requires anyone under age 17 applying for a driver's license to<br>> > complete a driver-training program. About 10,000 students took public<br>> > driver's ed courses in Idaho school districts last year, according to the<br>> > state Department of Education.<br>> > <br>> > Supporters of the changes included operators of private driver's ed<br>> > businesses, who contend the subsidies for public driver's ed programs create<br>> > an uneven playing field. Private driver's ed courses cost between $325 and<br>> > $350, lawmakers said.<br>> > <br>> > "You're subsidizing a product that's in direct competition to free<br>> > enterprise," said Kim Hatch, whose family operates Hatch's Drivers Training<br>> > in Meridian.<br>> > <br>> > Democratic Rep. Susan Chew of Boise countered that the programs were about<br>> > safety.<br>> > <br>> > "I thought that the reason we were subsidizing it, is so when I get out in<br>> > my car I don't have to run into a crazy kid that hasn't been trained," Chew<br>> > said.<br>> > <br>> > <br>> > <br>> > =======================================================<br>> > List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>> > http://www.fsr.net <br>> > mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> > =======================================================<br>> <br>> =======================================================<br>> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>> http://www.fsr.net <br>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> =======================================================<br> </body>
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