January 24-31 Legislative Update from Rep. Trail

[Tom Trail <RepTrail@infotrail.com>]

 LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER III -- Jan 24-30/99

This newsletter can also be viewed at http://www.infotrail.com/idaho/idaho.html

We are now ready to move ahead into the fourth week of the Idaho
Legislature.  Bills have to be introduced by the end of the workday on
February 1st.  Last week I received about 175 e-mails from constituents.
Here are some of the week's highlights according to this representative.

1.  House Bill 79 -- Minimum Farm Wage Bill for Farm Workers -- Idaho is
about the only state in the Northwest and Rocky Mountain area without a
minimum farm wage bill covering all farm workers.  Rep. Ken Robison (Boise)
is leading the effort to gain passage of this bill.  I'm serving as a
co-sponsor.  About 95% of farmers we've talked to say that they already pay
their workers the minimum wage or more.  It is a principle of fairness and
equity that we should ensure that all farm workers are covered.

2. Statehouse Security -- Gov. Kempthorne wants to spend over $500,000 to
beef up Statehouse security.  One of the proposals is to funnel all
visitors through one door and pass by an X-ray machine.  Until now our
Statehouse has been a symbol of openness.  Anyone could come in from around
the state and pass through the doors to directly see his/her legislator and
the Governor.  There is also some talk of bringing in more state troopers
for "our" protection.
I've heard from numerous constituents who are opposed to making the
Statehouse an armed fort or citadel.  The further we isolate our elected
officials, the more we decrease communications and openness.  Randy
Staplius, a political analyst,  noted that he visited 37 Statehouses and
was never once stopped by a guard or had to go through a metal detector.
I'm not a supporter of these proposed security measures.

3. Vocational Education -- Mike Rush, Vocational Education Administrator,
expounded on the economic importance of education.  He noted that if high
school graduation rates rose from 79% to 90% in the 99-2000 school year,
that state tax revenues would be $42,000,000 higher in 2004 than they would
be without improved graduation rates.  He noted that 29% of high school
dropouts are unemployed and make up a third of all unemployment insurance
claimants.  Another 45% of the claimants have only high school diplomas.
This is in sharp contrast to two generations ago when 60% of American jobs
were unskilled (today,  65% of the nation's jobs are skilled and only 15%
unskilled).  During the last legislative session, there seemed to be more
support for vocational education from the legislature.  There is also
increased support for the School To Work Program which involves job
shadowing of students with businesses.  Students and teachers benefit by
learning from professionals tbat skills are necessary to succeed in the
working world.  Businesses benefit by being able to shape the skills of the
students who will be seeking employment in the future.  

4. Recycling Legislation -- I'm sponsoring a recycling bill which would
permit state agencies to purchase recyclable paper products up to a 5%
premium over market.  This bill has the endorsement from the State
Recycling Association, the City of Moscow, and other organizations.  The
world consumption of paper products reached almost 300 million tons last
year.  In Moscow for every ton of paper products we recycle saves about $70
in hauling a ton of paper to Central Oregon.
Many states require state agencies to buy at least a percentage of recycled
paper products.  King County saves over $500,000 a year by purchasing
recycled paper products.  The bill while optional for state agencies, will
at least let us encourage recycling.

5. Consumer Protection -- There are two telephone solicitation bills being
debated.  The first would allow a citizen to pay $10 for three years to
have their names placed on a list with the Attorney Generals Office.
Solicitors would have to check the list before making calls.  If they
called anyone on the list they would have to pay a large fine.  Another
bill calls for telephone solicitors to identify themselves or face a fine.
The two victim identity theft bills the Attorney General Office and I have
introduced have received positive reaction.

6. PERSI -- State employees retirement bill.  There are three bills in this
package and will be introduced in the House Commerce and Human Services
Committee on Wednesday.  The bills would reduce the Rule of 90 to 85 for
school teachers and other county and local workers and from 80 to 75 for
law enforcement and fire fighters.  There would be increased improvement in
disability and retirement coverage.  This could all be done with no added
cost to the taxpayer because of the health state of the PERSI fund.

7. Emergency School Levies -- A bill is coming from the Senate that would
permit school boards to approve emergency school levies to fix emergency
problems without patron approval.  Apparently there is a ceiling as to how
much the levy could generate.  When the safety in terms of life and limb of
teachers and students because of unsafe facilities came up then the school
board could approve a levy to at least temporarily fix the problem.  While
some might consider it a band-aide approach, it is still a step forward.
The point of argument will be patrons not being able to vote on the issue.

8. Reducing the Super Majority to 60% -- Rep. Donna Boe and I were carrying
this bill.  Gov. Kempthorne is in favor of it; however, we polled the
members of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and 75% of the
committee members opposed it.  There is opposition from many rural areas
where farmers are facing severe economic times and bankruptcy in many
cases.  We've decided to hold this bill for another year.
There are many more issues facing the legislature.  I'll try to cover  some
of these next week.  The Moscow Chamber of Commerce comes in for three days
next week.  Please send your comments, suggestions and recommendations to
me at any of the following:




by mail:

Idaho State Legislature,
State Capitol Bldg
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038.

by phone: (at the House Communications Center)

208-332-1000  (phone)
208-334-5397  (fax)

or by email at:

Boise daytime:           ttrail@house.state.id.us
Boise evening:            mjmaxwell@juno.com
Moscow (weekends):   ttrail@moscow.com

if uncertain, you can email to RepTrail@infotrail.com and your message will
be forwarded to me at the proper location.

Legislative newsletters and additional materials and information can be
located on my web
and home page http://www.infotrail.com/idaho/idaho.html


Rep. Trail/District 5