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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>End of 2012 Legislative Session</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Representative Shirley Ringo</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>Significant budgetary actions during this session
include:</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>There was a 4.6% general fund increase in the appropriation for
public schools.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With other funds
included, such as federal funding, the increase in K-12 public school funding
was .4%.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Last year, as part of the “Luna Laws,”
reductions in state funding for educators’ salaries were put in place from
fiscal years 2012 to 2017 to help fund technology and a pay for performance
plan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A positive action taken
during this session retracted those planned reductions.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, in that same legislation it was
specified that in 2014, all other needs for education funding should be
addressed before raises in state support for educator salary can be
considered.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>We need to keep in mind that there are
still ongoing reductions in support for educators’ salaries amounting to about
$27 million.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During this session, I
tried to address these, but was not successful.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>I am sorry Senate Bill 1358, the
anti-bullying bill, was not passed this year.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was passed by a vote of 25 – 8 (with
two absences) in the Senate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was
blocked in the House by Education chair Bob Nonini and house
leadership.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>I believe there are bad decisions made
regarding education policy – decisions made by individuals with no meaningful
background in education.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One trend
with which I strongly disagree involves the notion that speed is more important
than depth in learning.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our current
approach to educating children reminds me of skipping a rock on the surface of a
pond.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Legislation sponsored by House Education
Committee Chair Bob Nonini would have given a credit on state income taxes to
individuals and corporations that make donations to scholarship granting
organizations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He would have
limited the credits to $10 million in each fiscal year.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This legislation would have allowed tax
credits for donations to private schools. The legislation was stopped when
Dennis Lake, Chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee, noted that legislation
dealing with tax issues must start in his committee.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; 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>Colleges and Universities received an 8.6% increase in general
funds.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Much of this involves
“maintenance funding” which should always be included but has not in recent
years.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>When a university has new construction
available for use, there are ongoing costs associated with using that new space
– occupancy costs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Joint
Finance and Appropriations Committee has a policy to determine which of these
costs are funded by the state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
recent years, we have not provided this support – this year we funded some but
not all.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>State appropriations have not been
supplied for enrollment growth in recent years.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This should be done if we expect
universities to maintain program levels.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This year, there is money in the budget for enrollment growth.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>$2 million was supplied for research –
$1 million to the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at Idaho Falls (U of I,
BSU, and ISU share in that research), and $1 million for research projects
shared by universities and industry.</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>Medicaid received an 8.7% increase from the general fund.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Part of this funding is for caseload
growth.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Good news is that dental care is
restored for adults with disabilities.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Legislation from last year required that those who have both mental and
physical disabilities must choose therapy for one, but not both of those
issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This year we restored
support so that one can obtain therapy for both.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Unfortunately, other individuals on
Medicaid will not have access to assistance for non-emergency dental care.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nobody has support for routine vision
care.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>There was some funding for a Suicide
Hotline.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Idaho’s suicide rate is
high compared with other states, and we are currently the only state without a
suicide hotline.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>I believe it was important for
legislators to make progress on a Healthcare Exchange.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Instead, there was maneuvering among
factions of the majority party, and defying the federal government won out over
affordable and accessible options for health insurance.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Considerable time and energy was spent
on the forced ultrasound issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
believe some individuals were willing to cross a line to put legislative noses
into issues that were none of their business.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Fortunately, the legislation stalled on
the House side.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></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 minority party attempted to address the topic of ethics during
this session.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Leaders in the
majority party promised to join in that effort.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, that did not occur.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In my opinion, the one-party rule that
has prevailed in the Idaho Legislature has led to a negligent culture regarding
ethics.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For example, a Senate
Committee chair presided over discussions and decisions regarding oil and gas
explorations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This Senator failed
to disclose his personal holdings and the degree to which he would be affected
by these decisions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Concerns were
raised, and many in the majority party scoffed at those concerns. We owe it to
you, the people to provide the transparency to give assurance that our decisions
here do not promote our own financial agendas.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></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>While programs received better funding this year than in the 2011
legislative session, there have been dramatic cuts since 2009 that have not yet
been addressed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These cuts have
cost jobs and curtailed opportunity for Idaho citizens.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We should also focus upon infrastructure
needs that are critical.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We have
been told that we are short $543 million per year of properly maintaining Idaho
roads and bridges, and that we have a $500 million backlog of maintenance on
state buildings.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In view of this, I
find it highly questionable that this legislature should have approved a $35.7
million ongoing reduction in state revenue.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></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 look forward to joining you in Moscow soon.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Remember, the primary election is May
15.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On the Secretary of State’s
site, you can find the form to declare your political affiliation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Remember to bring your ID, and remember
that only those who have declared their affiliation with the Republican Party
can vote on Republican primary candidates. </FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>