<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>And who can forget . . . </div><div><br></div><div><img src="cid:719166E8-3197-4066-A5D4-48360E29120E" alt="image.jpeg" id="719166E8-3197-4066-A5D4-48360E29120E" width="728" height="1334" apple-original-width="728" apple-original-height="1334"><br><br><div>Seeya later, Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Hansen</div><div>Spokane, Washington</div><div><br></div><div>"If not us, who?</div><div>If not now, when?"</div><div><br></div><div>- Unknown</div></div><div><br>On Jan 12, 2012, at 4:16 PM, Shirley Ringo <<a href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">ringoshirl@moscow.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<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"><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>
</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>=======================================================</span><br><span> List services made available by First Step Internet,</span><br><span> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.</span><br><span> <a href="http://www.fsr.net"><a href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a></a></span><br><span> <a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a></a></span><br><span>=======================================================</span></div></blockquote></body></html>