<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span>Rep. Trail writes,</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>"The second week of the Idaho Legislative session was probably highlighted with the abundant moisture in the form of rain and snow that hit Boise and the Idaho mountains.<span> </span>Farmers, skiers, <span id="misspell-0" class="mark">Avista</span> and Idaho Power were at least reassured that the Gods of Fortune had not forgotten them."</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>Not as much as if the Idaho Legislature <span id="misspell-1"><span>drowned (minus our own legislators of course)</span></span>. Keep praying for more rain and snow. </span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>Donovan Arnold</span></div><div><br></div> <div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div
style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div dir="ltr"> <font size="2" face="Arial"> <div style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height: 0px; line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;" class="hr" contentEditable="false" readonly="true"></div> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Rep. Tom Trail <ttrail@moscow.com><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> vision2020@moscow.com <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, January 26, 2012 7:39 AM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter II, Jan 15-21, 2012<br> </font> </div> <br>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span>LEGISLATIVE
NEWSLETTER II—JANUARY 15-21/2012</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> Constituents:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> The
second week of the Idaho Legislative session was probably highlighted with
the abundant moisture in the form of rain and snow that hit Boise and the
Idaho mountains.<span> </span>Farmers,
skiers, <span id="misspell-1" class="mark">Avista</span> and Idaho Power were at least reassured that the Gods of
Fortune had not forgotten them. House State Affairs is
moving ahead to hear a bill on prohibiting camping on State grounds around
the Capitol. Occupiers have been camping out for the past
several months.<span> </span>I went over
several times to talk to these folks but no one was there. <span> </span>Concerns relate to the fact that the
campers are destroying the grass and shrubs, the camp is unsightly, and
that there are health concerns.<span>
</span>Legislators indicate that the bill is no way restricts First
Amendment Rights so that <span id="misspell-2" class="mark">protestors</span> can still gather on State property to
communicate their message to the world. <span> </span>Here are some other happenings of
the week:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> </span><b><u><span>Meeting with the
Governor</span></u></b><span><span> </span>—<span> </span>I had a 40 minute one-on-one
meeting with Governor Otter in which I discussed the following
issues:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> </span><b><u><span>Idaho Health
Exchange:</span></u></b><span><span> </span>I wanted to ask the Governor for
additional information concerning the proposed Idaho Health Exchange.
<span> </span>The Exchanges were envisioned
by the health care reforms as transparent, <span id="misspell-3" class="mark">online</span> marketplaces where
individuals and small businesses could compare and shop for coverage.
<span> </span>The Governor originally
suggested that the stakes for not setting up a state Exchange were high.
<span> </span>He said we are at risk of
having our Medicaid participation level drop from 70-30 to 50-50, a
significant loss, since (the Federal government currently pays 70% of
Medicaid funding relative to Idaho’s 30%). (Basically, if we do not
go forward with an insurance Exchange, the Affordable Health Care Act,
could result in this drop from 70-30 to 50-50). <span> </span>He estimated that this would lead to
an increased burden to Idaho of up to $300 million if the Exchange were
not in place by the end of 2012. <span> </span><span> </span>Idaho received a $20.3 million grant
to establish the Exchange. <span> </span>The
Governor indicated that it will afford the state more control in important
policy considerations, like establishing minimum benefit requirements
acceptable to Idaho insurers. <span> </span>Idaho is among 26 states suing to
throw out the health care reforms’ requirement that everyone buy
health insurance. <span> </span>The Governor
noted that if the state does not adopt a federally certified state run
Exchange, the feds are going to impose a federal Exchange, and that this
will make it worse for small businesses. <span> </span>The Supreme Court will hear argument
on the case in late March and a final decision will be presented around
the first of July. <span> </span>One of the
negative aspects of the $70 million in Medicaid cuts made by the State
last session is that Idaho lost about $150 million in Federal matching
funds and there is abundant evidence that the cuts were devastating to
many low income families. <span> </span>The
Governor’s Office also calculated that the cuts to Medicaid cost
Idaho about 4,000 related Jobs. <span> </span>I support the Governor’s
proposal for the Health Exchange.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> </span><b><u><span><span id="misspell-4" class="mark">HB</span>37---the legalization of medical
marijuana</span></u></b><span> -<span> </span>The Governor asked many questions
about the bill. <span> </span>I noted that
the legislation was drafted following the State of New Jersey’s
legislation—considered by many to be the toughest in the U.S. <span> </span><span id="misspell-5" class="mark">HB</span>370 focuses only on legally
providing Medical marijuana under a physician’s recommendation to
patients with long term chronic/debilitating diseases and suffering severe
pain. <span> </span><span id="misspell-6" class="mark">HB</span>370 does not allow the
growing of medical marijuana by a patient. <span> </span>Medical marijuana would be available
through state controlled dispensaries and monitored by <span> </span>the Idaho State Police.<span> </span>Governor Otter noted that he would
contact Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey about their experiences. <span> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> </span><b><u><span>Upper <span id="misspell-7" class="mark">Lochsa</span>
Exchange</span></u></b><span> <span> </span>- This is an issue of great interest
to many citizens in North Idaho. <span> </span>In my discussion with the Governor,
he felt that this was more of a federal (US Forest Service) and private
enterprise (Western Pacific Timber) situation and that the State really
did not have much involvement. <span> </span>I told him that literally thousands
of Idaho citizens were very upset with the entire process and that he
should be aware of it.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span>Other
news: </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><b><u><span>Redistricting</span></u></b><span>—The
Idaho Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the proposed map for redrawing
the state’s legislative districts saying it split too many counties
to be legal. <span> </span>The court ordered
the six member redistricting commission back to work. <span> </span>Later in the week, Republicans
announced a House cleaning. <span> </span>The Speaker said he planned to fire
his appointee to the panel, former GOP Rep. Dolores Crow of <span id="misspell-8" class="mark">Nampa</span>. <span> </span>The Speaker criticized that Crow did
not do enough to protect the party’s interest. <span> </span>Republican Party Chairman <span id="misspell-9" class="mark">Semanko</span>
followed suit, telling Randy Hansen, his appointee, to quit or be fired.
<span> </span>The Idaho Attorney
General’s Office said that redistricting commissioners likely
can’t be fired. <span> </span>And so
the redistricting process goes on as Commissioners will meet on this
coming Thursday in Boise. <span> </span>Filing dates for state legislative
offices is Feb 24-March 9<sup><span id="misspell-10" class="mark">th</span></sup> and it would be advantageous
if candidates knew where their constituencies were located.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> </span><b><u><span>Economic News</span></u></b><span>—Idaho’s
unemployment rate is about 8.2 percent a small drop from last month. <span> </span>Many citizens are not counted in
these figures because their unemployment benefits have run out and they
may have stopped looking for work. <span> </span>The number of Idaho families on food
stamps is estimated to be around 240,000 which is at an all time high.
<span> </span>Economists are still
predicting that it will take another 2-3 years to significantly move out
of this long and record setting recession.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> I’d
appreciate hearing from you with your comments, etc.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span><br> My e mail is </span><a href="mailto:ttrail@house.idaho.gov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:ttrail@house.idaho.gov"><span style="color: blue;">ttrail@house.idaho.gov</span></a><span> or
</span><a href="mailto:thomasftrail@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:thomasftrail@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">thomasftrail@gmail.com</span></a><span>. <span> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span>My
desk phone is 332-1184 or floor phone at 332-1260.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class="yiv1740293512MsoNormal"><span> Rep.
Tom Trail</span></div></div><br>=======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet,<br> serving the communities of the <span id="misspell-11" class="mark">Palouse</span> since 1994.<br> <a href="http://www.fsr.net" target="_blank">http://www.fsr.net</a><br> <span id="misspell-12" class="mark">mailto</span>:<a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" ymailto="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>=======================================================<br><br> </div> </div> </div></body></html>