1. CITIZEN INPUT--This is the time for the public to contact their
legislators concerning key bills coming up for committee hearings
and possible votes on the House and Senate Floor. Legislators
will respond on a first priority basis to citizens in their districts.
Those of you who feel strongly about an issue should contact your
legislator by phone, fax, e mail, or letter. Communicating with members
of the committee where legislation will be introduced is also a good
strategy. I'd also recommend communicating with your local elected
officials to contact their legislators.
Phone: 208-334-2000 My Office Desk Phone is: 332-1216
Fax: 208-334-5397 e mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
I can also be reached by e mail at night at mjmaxwell@juno.com
2. SMART GROWTH--There has been some recent discussion about Smart Growth.
I've been utilizing analysis and discussion of key issues from this
source for more than a year. Much of the information has assisted me
in getting info about an issue not available anyplace else. An example
is Rep. Kempton's "takings bill." I have forwarded this information
to other grassroots groups, legislators, and House Committee members
and also our own elected officials.
3. HB 538 AND HB 606--These takings legislation bills will be introduced
tomorrow in House State Affairs Committee. I've already discussed my
objections to both bills in previous newsletters. The bills are a
threat to our local county and city zoning codes and orderly community
development. The bills will provide lawyers and developers with
money enhancing opportunities and will severely restrict community
development. The price to cities and counties will be very high. I
will be voting against both bills.
4. HB443--Budget Reserve Bill--This is a bill that would automatically
divert $15 from revenue available for the state budget to be set in 1999
and probably another $15 million in the succeeding two years. It would
take a 2/3 rds majority in both Houses to modify the diversion, no matter
how much school enrollments grew and no matter what education needs are.
The primary function of the bill will be to hurt Idaho's education system
and take more money from students and property tax payers. People need
to speak up for Idaho's schools, universities and colleges. I will oppose
the bill.
5. TERM LIMITS--There has been continuing discussion about the negative
impact of term limits in Idaho especially in regard to local elected
officials and members of city councils and school boards. Republican
leadership is considering putting the issue up to voters in the next
general election as an advisory vote. Voters would be asked if, since
the term limits law cannot be applied to members of Congress, it should
be repealed for other public officials. Let your legislators know your
position.
6. HIGHWAY 95--Apparently when the Moscow Chamber of Commerce asked Gov.
Batt his stand on proposed legislation to upgrade Highway 95 and other
byways of the state, his response was, "We've already spent enough
money on 95." The bill that Sen. Jack Riggs will introduce is an all
Idaho approach aimed at upgrading our transportation infrastructure
throughout the state -- with a major emphasis on 95. Funds from the
Federal Government and increased taxes of 1-2 cents on gasoline and
an increase in car registration would raise $370 million. Cars nine
years or older--no registration fee and new cars would pay upward to
$30 more a year.
7. TRUCK WEIGHT UPDATE--Legislation will be passed to allow trucks to
increase weight loads from 105,500 pounds to 129,000 pounds. The bill
will be introduced in the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 16th.
The legislaton calls for a 10 mph reduction in top speeds allowed on
the interstates. A demonstration route from Grangeville to Moscow
has been recommended.
Personally I have no problem with this legislation if it is restricted
to Southern Idaho which has a much better road infrastructure. But until
our north Idaho roads are upgraded to meet the south Idaho standards--
I'm opposed to this legislation based on 1) safety problems--already
95 is 2 and 1/2 times more dangerous (more deaths) than any other major
Idaho highway, and 2) we don't have the infrastructure in our road system
to handle these increased weights. I'm opposed to the legislation as it
now stands.
8. GIFTED AND TALENTED LEGISLATION--Reps. Miller, Boe, and I introduced
this bill to the House Tax and Revenue Committee. Everyone liked the
idea; however, the funding mechanism we proposed was severely criticized
We proposed that 5% of each year's budget surplus go to a dedicated
fund to build to total of $500,000. After this point grants would be
made available to school districts (60% district and 40% state) to
enhance gifted and talented programs. These programs have suffered in
recent years. About 25% of the school districts have no gifted and
talented programs, and only 8% of the districts meet the state mandate.
Only 2.9% of the estimated 10% of gifted and talented students now
participate in gifted and talented programs. We are working on the
funding aspects early this coming week.
9. TAX AUDITORS--Gov. Batt wants to hire more tax auditors to go after
companies, etc. who do not pay an estimated $212,000,000 per year in
taxes. He is proposing to hire about 40 new tax auditors for $3 million
and that we could collect over $13 million in new tax revenues. This
is an excellent idea, and the Tax Commission pointed out they are not
going after Saturday morning garage sales, and that they strive to be
500 times more friendly than the IRS.
10. MOSCOW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CROSSES ANTARTICA--This is a bit of different
news. Dirk Danscouer, Moscow High School Graduate-1981 and this
colleage, Alain, finished a 98 day 3,500 mile crossing of the continent
today. Dirk, an AFS student, lived with the Tom Trail family in Moscow.
Both explorers started the journey skiiing and pulling sleds with
supplies (400 pounds). They also used parasails to catch the wind.
A short statement reveals a bit about the conditions they faced:
"Sorry not to have sent you argos messages yesterday night and this
morning, but, as the wind has suddenly changed, we decided to go on
So we did not stop sailing with the parafoils for a day and a night
and we have skied during the 24 hours with 271 km. on the counter.
Ousland's record is now beaten (Ousland from Norway skied 203 km in
24 hrs. last year). We'll make McMurdo within 3 days. You cannot
imagine the hell we have been through. After the Transantartic Mountains
decsending over 13,000 feet to the Ross Ice Shelf, we had to progress
through l meter of deep snow. We sink up to our calves in the snow
but continue to make progress. McMurdo is only 40 kms. away." Carrie
Bitterwolf's class at West Park Elementary has been following the
expedition.
Rep. Tom Trail/District 5
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
2039 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel: (208) 882-6077
Fax: (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail@moscow.com