<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>Rep. Trail informs us . . .</div><div><br></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium; ">In California 10 percent are uninsured, compared to 17 percent in Idaho."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium;">ONE IN SIX IDAHOANS IS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE ! ! !</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium;">Am I the only one that finds that statistic to be absolutely deplorable?<br></span><br><div>Seeya later, Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Hansen</div><div>Post Falls, Idaho</div><div><br></div><div>"If not us, who?</div><div>If not now, when?"</div><div><br></div><div>- Unknown</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><div><br>On Feb 26, 2012, at 18:50, "Rep. Tom Trail" <<a href="mailto:ttrail@moscow.com">ttrail@moscow.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER
–FEBRUARY 20-24, 2012</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Constituents:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>The
Homestretch</u></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We
are headed down the homestretch with March 25th as a possible target date
for Sine Die.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>JFAC started
passing supplemental budgets.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>These are mostly bills which allow spending authority for federal
grants, and 2013 budgets for dedicated fund agencies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Last Friday the budget committee
approved a 2% salary increase for all state employees.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yesterday afternoon in the
House Commerce and Human Resources Committee we approved on a 8-1 vote
legislation approving a 2% across the board increase for state
employees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Stream lined sales tax
bill</u></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the first
step toward a sales tax on internet sales was introduced as House bill
581.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The bill will have a
hearing in Rev and Tax this coming Wednesday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Animal Cruelty
Legislation</u></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>SB1303 passed on a 31-1 margin.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This would establish an
animal torture charge—punishable as a felony on the third
charge.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The felony would apply
only to the third animal cruelty conviction within 15 years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fines are fairly
minimal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many Idaho
citizens are pursuing an initiative that would have some teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The initiative would establish an
animal torture initiative charge—punishable as a felony on the first
offense.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The initiative also
would ratchet up the fines for animal cruelty; a third conviction would
also carry a prison sentence of six months or more.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Since this language would apply
only to repeat offenders, it’s hard to see how this initiative would
swell the ranks of the state’s prison population.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Senate bill will come up in
House Ag Affairs next week and there will be a trailer bill which may
define the term torture and have increased penalties.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My hope is that we can get
these measures passed this session.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve been working on
these issues for over 10 years and it would be nice to finally see some
good legislation protecting our animals.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>University of Idaho—Flagship
Designation</u></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The
State Board’s recent decision to remove the word
“flagship” from the University of Idaho’s mission
statement reflects a choice that should cause concern for all of
Idaho’s citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>It is a choice of whether to encourage academic excellence or
reduce all universities to the lowest common denominator.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As one editor
mentioned, “What if the State Board told BSU that it could no longer
refer itself as having a top ranked football program?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why not just refer to the
Broncos as just another Idaho public university football team?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The University of Idaho is
the top academic institution in the state.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The UI is recognized as a
First Tier Research University and BSU is somewhere in the Third
Tier.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The UI generates 73
percent of the competitive research dollars in the state and it is the
state’s land grand university.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>The UI has by far the highest graduation rate and retention rate in
the state.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Seventeen of the 19
national merit scholars who enrolled in Idaho public institutions this
year enrolled at the University of Idaho, and the UI has more national
merit scholars than the University of Washington—an institution of
more than 40,000 students.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The
Board’s action almost appeared to come out of “Thin Air”
and was widely criticized even here in the Treasure Valley.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The solution is
simple—the State Board should simply recognize the UI as the
Academic Flagship and BSU as the Football Flagship.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Tax Commission</u></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve been a firm supporter as
evidence at the end of the last session for the 48 permanent and 22
temporary positions that were added to the State Tax Commission for the
purpose of gathering uncollected taxes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The goal was to collect more
revenue without raising taxes and collect $7.00 for every dollar
spent.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Over the past
three years, the State spent $3.7 million and collected $53 million.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That is nearly $50 million that the
state would not have collected except for this initiative.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The program was an unqualified
success as about $14 dollars were collected for every dollar
invested.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This has been
a wise investment of taxpayers’ dollars.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Occupy Boise</u></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Members of the 99% movement camping
on the grounds of the old Ada County Courthouse will have to move on
Monday with the Governor signing the legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Boise Chief of
Police noted that law enforcement had inspected the camping site on a
regular basis and found it neat and clear with no major problems.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He also reported that the
camp leaders told him in late December that they were getting ready to
pack up and leave.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then
the Idaho Legislature came into town and spent several weeks crafting
legislation to “Run the Bums” out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This was time that we could have
well spent in working on other higher priority issues.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><u>Some</u></strong>
<strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>California and Idaho
Comparisons: </u></strong><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some
facts to remember in comparing California and Idaho statistics: </p>
<p style="margin-left:38.7pt;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt
"Times New
Roman"">
</span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Food
stamps</u></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nearly
14.5 percent of Idaho’s citizens are drawing food<strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u> </u></strong>stamps<strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>.</u></strong><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At one point Idaho had the fastest
growth in the food stamp caseloads in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Only 9.7 percent of
California’s population qualifies for that help.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:38.7pt;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt
"Times New
Roman"">
</span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Economy</u></strong>—Idaho’s
still anemic 8.3 percent unemployment rate looks better compared to
California’s 11.1 percent rate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>But if you have a job in Idaho, you earn less.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Idaho’s per
capita income is ranked 45th and California is ranked 10th.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:38.7pt;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt
"Times New
Roman"">
</span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Public
schools</u></strong>—Idaho spends less per student than every state
but one.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>By comparison,
California’s ranking at 34th looks good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:38.7pt;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt
"Times New
Roman"">
</span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Higher
education</u></strong>—California, 29.9 percent of the work force
has at least a four year degree.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Only 14 states do better.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>In Idaho, it’s 24 percent.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Only 10 states do worse.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:38.7pt;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt
"Times New
Roman"">
</span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Health
care</u></strong>—Both states do a poor job of insuring people for
health care.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In California 10
percent are uninsured, compared to 17 percent in Idaho. </p>
<p style="margin-left:38.7pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt
"Times New
Roman"">
</span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Mental
Health</u></strong>—Idaho now has the fourth highest suicide rate in
the nation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>California is
ranked 42nd.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Unfortunately, both the Governor and the legislature disregarded
warnings that cutting Medicaid and mental health services would lead to
more suicides.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We move
ahead to Week 8 of the session.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>I sent out an earlier announcement that I would not be running for
my House Seat again, but instead will run for the Latah County District 1
Commissioner seat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>I feel that 16 years in Boise is enough.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The increasing polarization
in terms of political discussion on the issue and the disconnect between
what Idaho citizen’s needs are and how the Legislature addresses
those needs has become increasingly apparent to me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Please send
me your comments, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My e mail is <a href="mailto:ttrail@house.idaho.gov">ttrail@house.idaho.gov</a> or
<a href="mailto:thomasftrail@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:thomasftrail@gmail.com">thomasftrail@gmail.com</a></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My phone
# is 208-332-1184</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rep. Tom Trail</p></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>