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<DIV><FONT color=#150e00 size=4>Shirl, that was a beautiful
response. Didn’t know you had it in you. I know you are terribly
busy but I plan to call you soon when Norm isn’t nosing around. Just want
to know how Stacy is doing. Would she like a card or note. I’d say a
prayer or light a candle, but I always had Monica do that for me. More
effective I think.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Take care.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Sue </FONT></DIV>
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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 style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=moscowcares@moscow.com
href="mailto:moscowcares@moscow.com">Moscow Cares</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, January 12, 2012 4:33 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=ringoshirl@moscow.com
href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">Shirley Ringo</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision 2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] From the legislature</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">
<DIV>And who can forget . . . </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><IMG id=719166E8-3197-4066-A5D4-48360E29120E alt=image.jpeg
src="cid:C33A37B941A249CFA372834ECF4E9369@SuePC" width=728 height=1334
apple-original-height="1334" apple-original-width="728"><BR><BR>
<DIV>Seeya later, Moscow.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tom Hansen</DIV>
<DIV>Spokane, Washington</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"If not us, who?</DIV>
<DIV>If not now, when?"</DIV>
<DIV> </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 size=2 face=Arial>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> <FONT size=2
face=Arial>Shirley Ringo</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
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