The House wrapped up at 5:42
p.m. The Senate finished at 7:09 p.m. Friday,
and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne hailed
the 105-member Legislature's work. "We have a balanced budget and we've
done it without raising taxes." (Yet)
At that same moment I was happily
sharing my time with my family as we
celebrated the marriage of our
youngest son. What a wonderful time. It does give a perspective
to all things....It helps to understand that some things are of an eternal
nature, and some things are of a temporal nature. It also brings
home the fact, that in fact, all things on this Earth are in some way spiritual.
Why? Because all the deeds of man are, if not now, at a later point
in time going to be reviewed by the "Almighty God." At which time,
those things that were thought to be temporal, will become very spiritual.
As I have watched this past session of the legislature, it has saddened
me greatly. Indeed, much that has been viewed as temporal, will very
soon become very spiritual.
I have never seen a session where
there was so much self focus by the
members of the body. We
saw an effort to put a limit on citizens right to "lobby" their legislators
without having to register as a lobbyist. Thankfully that failed
21-47. We saw efforts to squeeze more money out of the citizen's
pockets by raising property taxes without a vote. That passed the
House, but thankfully that failed in the Senate committee 6-3 as well.
We saw an anti-free enterprise bill that was to fine merchants $5000 if
they wanted to sell off their excess merchandise below cost, and the proceeds
of the fines were to go to education(!?!) That beauty died on the
floor of the House.
I can't believe it got out of
the committee..... We saw the repeal of the
people's initiative. That passed.
We saw a Boise citizens group try for the second year, to get the right
to vote as to whether their property was going to be annexed into a city,
and be taxed...The "Cities" government lobbyists win again, no vote for
you, says the legislature. We saw another assault on your personal
freedoms swim through the senate in a river of tears (13-22), when
a hurting mother tried to make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense.
Luckily it hit dry dock in the House Transportation committee. Pass
of fail, it is appalling that these and other bills were even considered
as viable Idaho Law!! By the way, we all know that bills are
often resurrected in subsequent years, how many of these will be back?
The IEA won again, when there
was an effort made to get some accountability in the teacher's contracting.
And of course we just couldn't bear having anything get out of committee
that might relate to "Character Based sex-ed" for our children. As
all to often happens, we saw two fetal homicide bills, one passed, and
one was killed, based on who sponsored them, rather than their actual legal
content. With a chuckle, this will be one pro-life bill that the
ACLU probably won't be challenging. Interestingly enough, the one
that passed was bad enough, that the sponsor had to come back with an emergency
"trailer bill" to try fix up some of the mess at the last minute.
If that isn't playing politics with our laws, I don't know what is.
Oh yes, and we saw another data bank added to H&W's growing family
of programs. This one will do nothing but demand more money to support
the collection of data to create more programs that require more money,
etc.,etc.,etc...Is self serving legislators playing political chess with
our lives and family's future...Spiritual
or temporal?
We saw more and more money being
spent, and it was done under the flag
of "cut backs." But, as
it has been said, they are simply cutbacks on the
increase.....We have taken $26.7
million from the rainy-day fund, effectively cutting it in half.
We have diverted money from the tobacco settlement -- an estimated $27
million. We have transferred $22 million from the Capitol project
to the state´s general fund, and rearranged, I can't tell you how
much money, from one fund to another to make things "look good" to those
who are watching. In reality most of the additional money given to
agencies to run the state was "one time money." Yet in the face of
this money shell game, the "Idaho digital learning academy" virtually
sailed through both the House and the Senate without any opposing votes,
as the members of JFAC politely pointed out there is no money to fund this
new bureaucracy, and then blithely voted for this new project. Our
illustrious legislature has gambled on our future and our economic stability
for their political gain, and what they hope will be their political future.
Now you tell me, was this session temporal, or spiritual in nature?
And now for the final question
of all...Have you sincerely looked at your
personal ability to run for
an office? I have, and I sincerely hope each of you
have. There is only one
real qualification to run, and that is a willingness to
sacrifice your time and talents
for at least one term for the betterment of the county, and state.
I do realize not everyone is in a family situation that allows them to
run for an office. But I also know there are thousands of retired
or semi-retired people out there that have the ability to run for an office.
I also realize that the thought of a campaign is very intimidating.
I promise you help and guidance with that. If we re-elect these people
SIMPLY because they didn't have any opposition, because there wasn't a
willingness to make the sacrifice the ACCOUNTABILITY IS OURS, again is
the problem temporal or spiritual?
Taxes and Budget
The I encouraged the Legislature to retain the more than $100
million in permanent tax cuts approved last year.
What happened? The tax cuts were never seriously reviewed.
The I suggested dipping into reserves, the state´s "rainy-day
fund," if necessary.
What happened? Lawmakers have taken $26.7 million from the rainy-day
fund,
effectively cutting it in half.
We said the state should not use tobacco settlement money to solve
budgetary woes, It is considered "one time money" and it is
dangerous
to fund ongoing things with one time money.
What happened? Lawmakers will divert money from the tobacco settlement
--
an estimated $27 million, according to the Associated Taxpayers
of Idaho.
The Statesman said lawmakers should oppose further tax cuts because
the
state can´t afford them. I disagreed with that, tax
cuts stimulate spending.
What happened? Lawmakers approved a tax break intended to lure investors
to put their money behind innovative business ideas.
The break, which now goes to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne´s desk, could
cost the
state up to $30 million, sometime after 2009.
The I laughed at Kempthorne´s forecast of 4.3 percent revenue growth for 2002-03.
What happened? Lawmakers were a little skeptical, too. Budget-writers
still
spent on the assumption that the economy will grow by only 2.3 percent.
This
is still laughable.
Education
The I supported Kempthorne´s decision to extend budget cuts
to
public schools. This was the only solution, but they still
over funded the
programs, and left the code that sets the "floor" at the "ceiling"
for teachers
salaries. This will continue to prove to be more expensive
than we can
manage.
What happened? So did lawmakers. They cut this year´s public
school budget
from $933 million to $909.9 million, in a "smoke and mirrors" attempt
to
correct last years disaster.
The Idaho Statesman said legislators should make graduation standards
a
spending priority or hold off on the 2005 target date. I wanted
to postpone
all of this effort.
What happened? Budget-writers will spend $4 million helping teachers
prepare for standards. That´s down from $8 million a year
ago. The final
call on the standards timetable belongs to the State Board of Education.
The Statesman said lawmakers should deal with the school safety issue
proactively, rather than waiting for District Judge Deborah Bail
to issue
her orders. I think this is a joke that is playing out to
be just that.....this
is a big nothing to get the legislature to cough up more money.
The Statesman said the state should lower the two-thirds "supermajority"
on school bond issues. I STRONGLY disagreed with this move
What happened? Lawmakers have sent Kempthorne a bill that will subsidize
interest payments for school construction; subsidies will be given
out on a
sliding scale favoring districts in poorer areas.
Also on the way to Kempthorne: a bill authorizing the state to pay
interest
on bond issues that fix school health and safety problems. This
is an ongoing
ridiculious unfixable problem. The real problem is a lack
on will on the part
of trustees to use their own money to fix the problems. It
is a blackmail effort
to get more and more money out of the taxpayer.
Lawmakers did not act on the "supermajority," as Kempthorne had called
for
in his State of the State address.
Term Limits
The I said the Legislature should not take on the term-limits
issue, saying Idaho voters have spoken on the issue. Their
actions
have been appalling, and rather unbeliveable. Sadly some of
our
best were put in a very tough position, as to how to vote.
On
principle, they felt it was the vote of the people that mattered,
but with that same feeling, it was the people who voted for the
initiative. So, they were in legitimate conflict with how
to vote.
What happened? Lawmakers didn´t heed our advice -- and didn´t
pay much
more attention to term-limits backers and Kempthorne. Idaho became
the
first state to repeal a voter-passed term-limits initiative, overriding
Kempthorne´s veto. This controversial move will allow dozens
of county
officials to run again this year and could allow two-thirds of the
Legislature to run again in 2004, when term limits would have affected
legislators.
The we all laughed at a constitutional amendment designed to
quash
future term-limits initiatives.
What happened? House Speaker Bruce Newcomb floated the idea of an
amendment, but didn´t push it.
Health and Welfare
The Statesman expressed skepticism about Kempthorne´s plans
for
curtailing the growth of Medicaid spending.
What happened? Budget-writers, like Kempthorne, are hoping to hold
the
Medicaid spending increase to 6 percent, with cost cuts such as
reduced
dental benefits. The program will still get $240 million next year.
. The Statesman supported getting rid of the advertising restrictions
on
Children´s Health Insurance Program.
What happened? A Senate committee killed a bill allowing more promotion
of
CHIP. The state also will spend no more than $3.8 million on CHIP,
a
federal-state health program providing health care to about 12,000
children
Anti-terrorism
. The Statesman opposed Attorney General Al Lance´s bill to
allow a state
agency to seal public records, with a judge´s approval.
What happened? The Senate State Affairs Committee killed the bill,
which
had passed the House.
. The Statesman opposed Lance´s bill on price gouging in times
of crisis,
saying it was vague.
What happened? Both houses passed Senate Bill 1357, which awaits
action by
the governor.
Buildings
. The Statesman said the Legislature should not delay the Capitol
improvement project to fix the budget.
What happened? Kempthorne put on hold the Capitol project, as well
as
state university building projects. House Bill 701, which transfers
$22
million from the Capitol project to the state´s general fund,
has passed
the Legislature and now goes to Kempthorne.
. The Statesman said the state should remodel the old Ada County
Courthouse, which it now owns.
What happened? A House committee approved a facelift and four-story
addition for the Depression-era building, but the state´s
budget crunch has
the project on indefinite hold.
Prisons
. The Statesman encouraged lawmakers to kill a far-reaching rule
that
would allow the Correction Department to seal documents.
What happened? Legislators killed the proposed rule.
. The Statesman encouraged lawmakers to maintain the inmate treatment
programs, calling it a key to helping inmates prepare for life after
prison.
What happened? The state will spend a little more than $1.6 million
on
treatment programs. The good news: That should allow Correction
to maintain
programs now in place. The bad news: Statewide budget cuts last
year forced
reductions in prison treatment programs.
Business
. The Statesman opposed a bill aimed at cracking down on businesses
that
charge below cost on items.
What happened? The House voted 41-28 to kill the bill.
Place Names
. The Statesman again favored passing a bill to remove the word "squaw"
from all Idaho place names. A similar bill had failed in 2001.
What happened? Lawmakers did not do this, but did pass a resolution
encouraging people, or local governments, to ask the State Historical
Society to change offensive place names.
Closed Caucuses
. The Statesman again encouraged the Legislature to open up closed
party
caucus meetings.
What happened? Republicans again used closed caucuses to discuss
several
key issues -- including term limits. House and Senate Democrats
opened
their caucuses.
Fetal Homicide
. The Statesman opposed the so-called "Noah´s law" addressing
fetal
homicide. The Statesman supported an alternative bill, proposed
by Sens.
Sheila Sorensen and Betsy Dunklin, addressing attacks upon a pregnant
woman.
What happened? Kempthorne has indicated he will sign "Noah´s
Law" -- which
extends murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault law to cover
"a human
embryo or fetus." The Senate approved a bill addressing attacks
on a
pregnant woman, but the House Judiciary Committee voted it down.
Impact Fees
. The Statesman opposed a bill to restructure the way the Ada County
Highway District can collect impact fees to pay for new roads, saying
it
would set a precedent for other local governments.
What happened? The bill was amended to give ACHD more time to comply
with
it. It passed the Legislature easily. It now goes to Kempthorne´s
desk.
Land Use
. The Statesman opposed Newcomb´s proposed constitutional amendment
on the
"takings" issue, saying it would hamstring local planning and zoning.
What happened? Newcomb pulled the proposal before the House could
vote on
it.
Capital Punishment
. The Statesman supported a bill to prohibit imposing the death penalty
for people who are mentally retarded.
What happened? A House committee killed the bill.
Rural Idaho
. The Statesman encouraged lawmakers to approve Kempthorne´s
plan to spend
$3.5 million to help bring new jobs to rural Idaho, saying Idaho
needed to
continue its commitment to bringing jobs to small towns.
What happened? The Commerce Department budget offers $500,000 to
keep
economic consultants in small towns, and provides $3 million in
rural
economic grants. The Gem Community grant program is cut from $400,000
to
$150,000. It has passed the Legislature and now goes to Kempthorne´s
desk.
Seat Belts
. The Statesman encouraged the Legislature to pass a tougher seat-belt
law, saying increased seat-belt use would save lives.
What happened? The House Transportation and Defense Committee killed
a
bill to increase seat-belt fines from $5 to $25, and to require
all
passengers to buckle up. The bill had passed the Senate.
Tribal gaming
. The Statesman has encouraged the Legislature to approve a bill
to
resolve the tribal gaming issue, since it would head off the need
for a
voter initiative.
What happened? As they did last year, lawmakers refused to OK an
agreement
with tribes. Now tribes will push an initiative that would afford
them more
control over gambling on the reservations.
Wildlife
. The Statesman favored management plans for Idaho wolves and for
grizzlies outside Yellowstone National Park -- but said the state
should
pay to manage the animals.
What happened? The wolf plan and grizzly plans have passed the
Legislature. Both are resolutions, not bills, so Kempthorne does
not have
to sign either measure. Both plans tie state grizzly and wolf management
to
federal funding.