I decided to write this last newsletter because there were some
significant bills that
were voted on Friday. I've also written an extensive summary of the
legislative
session with my comments which you can access on my homepage:
http://www.users.moscow.com/ttrail or
hhtp://www.infotrail.com/idaho/idaho.html
1. HIGHWAY 95--Last year the House voted about 47-22 in favor of a bond
issue
constitutional amendment to improve highway 95. This year the
House
defeated a Highway 95 (plus improvements for other state road
projects)
bill by a 38-31 margin. Sen. Jack Rigg's bill would have called
for an
advisory by the citizen's on the November ballot. Only two
legislators from
North Idaho opposed the bill.
Opponents didn't like the funding approach using increased car
registration
fees, and like Rep. Bruneel from Lewiston would have prefered some
combination with added fuel tax. Several legislators said they
could'nt vote
for it in an election year.
The Governor signed the 129,000 pound weight load bill increasing
weights on
three demonstration routes in Southern Idaho. It will be
interesting to see
what happens in terms of infrastucture damage and the accident
rate.
The interesting thing is that all of the testing could have been
done by computer
modeling programs of the proposed demonstration routes without
impacting
the road system or causing any highways.
2. SPOUSAL ABUSE AND BATTERING BILLS--A series of three bills were
passed
to increase the penalities for physical spousal abuse. Fifteen
deaths were
associated with spousal abuse in the past several years in Idaho.
97% of
deaths were caused by men partners. One bill increases the
penalty
from a misdemeanor to a felony for a first battering that causes
physical
injury. Penalties are also increased if person intent on
battering another
destroys a phone or interferes in the process of a person calling
for help.
Similar legislation in California is credited with reducing
reported abuse
by over 45%.
3. HIGHER HUNTING FEES--The Idaho Senate sent the Governor a bill that
will
raise some hunting fees in 1999. Deer tags for residents will go
from $10.50
to $16.50 and elk tags from $16.50 to $22.50. Deer tags for non
residents
go from $226.50 to $232.50 and elk tags from $326.50 to $332.50.
This will
boost the budget of Fish and Game by $1.4 million. Legislation
was also
passed that Senior Citizens, age 70 and up, get free hunting
licenses.
4. ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES---The House passed the bill to increase
elected officials salaries and sent it to the Governor. The
Governor's salary
for example, has been increased to a base of about $94,000 and
will be
increased by about 3%/ year through 2002 ( it will be about
$102,000).
5. HAUNTED HOUSE BILL---Under this bill, Realtors will not have to
disclose
to the potential buyer of a house conditions relating to strange
occurences
of the previous owner. This includes rumors of ghosts, alien
abuductions,
and other strange manifestations. More concretely, the realtor,
will not
need to disclose information concerning murders that occurred in
the house
or other similar type incidents.
6. SJR 106---Guaranteed School Bonds---This will go on the November
ballot
as a constitutional amendment. It will permit enabling
legislation to be
finalized next session to allow the State to guarantee school
bonds. It will
enable all school districts to obtain a AAA bond rating and save
money on
interest, insurance, and premiums.
Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 5
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