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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>On January 9, 2012, Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter delivered his
State of the State and Budget Address.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The message did not propose an appropriate response to the dynamics of
the current economy.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>During the last four years, Idaho has lost more than 60,000
jobs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The percentage of Idahoans
living below the poverty line has increased, and deep cuts have been made to
education programs, substance abuse treatment, and public health.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>The time is right to invest in Idaho, to move out of the recent
recession.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If we expect results, we
must make a strong statement.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If we
say we are investing in the future, we should be serious about it.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>It is predicted that on June 30 of 2012, we will have approximately
$100 million in excess of the amount we were willing to predict a year ago.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This should present an opportunity to
strengthen programs vital to the well-being of Idahoans and their families.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bear in mind:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Since 2009 we have reduced general fund
support for public education by almost $200 million.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We have reduced support for
professional/technical schools, community colleges, and universities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tuition rates are higher for high school
graduates with the ambition and interest to study further.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tuition rates are higher for displaced
workers who need to retrain.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Individuals with disabilities who rely on Medicaid can’t get help with
dental and vision related expenses.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There are other disturbing cuts in Medicaid programs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Public employees have taken forced
furloughs and levels of pay have been frozen.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>One might note that with slightly over $100 million as a projected
balance at the end of the 2012 fiscal year (June 30, 2012), Governor Otter plans
to put $60 million back into “rainy day” accounts, and he is asking that we
approve $45 million in tax cuts.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It
appears that any other investment in Idaho must come from projected revenue
growth in 2013.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Governor Otter states he supports public education.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He plans a slight increase in <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">general fund</B> money for education, but
overall funding for K-12 schools will be reduced. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(again)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Governor Otter claims that supporting
state employees is a high priority.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>But while he is committed to a $45 million <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">tax cut,</B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>at the same time he plans $41 million
for state employee bonuses <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">if enough
money is left at the end of the year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></B>What should be the higher priority?</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Cuts in education programs, health programs, and state government
cost jobs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course, we don’t want
waste in government.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But, we want
programs that are adequate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Economists know it is not a good idea to cut public jobs when
unemployment is high.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When the
private sector is slowly recovering from high unemployment, it is not desirable
to flood that market with unemployed folks from the public sector.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>I can’t help being reminded of Governor Otter and Department of
Labor Director Roger Madsen’s solution to unemployment.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They have said that extensions of
federal unemployment benefits should be denied.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Then, they reason, people will be
motivated to look harder for jobs.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>All legislators should handle public money with care.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But Idaho leaders have been tight-fisted
to the extreme.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We have failed to
recognize the value of educational institutions to attract businesses that offer
good pay to employees.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
have not backed up our value statements with a strong investment in a rosier,
more dynamic future.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Contact your Governor.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Tell him you don’t embrace his “new normal” – you believe in Idaho and
are serious about investing in Idaho.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> <FONT face=Arial
size=2>Shirley Ringo</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>