another view of the news

["bill london" <bill_london@hotmail.com>]

Below is a copy of the first "Eye Opener" newsletter of the year.
Eye Opener is the e-news from United Vision for Idaho, a coalition of 
progressive political/environmental Idaho groups.
If you wish to continue to receive copies, contact UV at the email 
included....BL

-----------------------


> >
> >				UV-EYE-OPENER
> >United Vision for Idaho
> >January 21, 2000
> >(208)331-7028;
> >E-mail uvidaho@rmci.net					Volume 4, No 1
> >_____________________________________________________________

> >
> >
> >Call Miss Manners.  The Governor totally missed the point of Martin 
>Luther
> >King's message on Monday when he chastised protestors for interrupting 
>his
> >speech.  Wasn't Martin's message about justice and non-violent action
> >rather than "politeness"?  Where was the Governor when a thousand 
>Idahoans
> >were standing on the Capitol steps demanding minimum wage for 
>farmworkers?
> >
> >"Step-by-step the longest march can be won."  Although these words are 
>from
> >the preamble to the United Mineworkers constitution, they could certainly
> >be spoken about the continuing fight to get fair wages for farmworkers.  
>On
> >Sunday and Monday, over 200 people walked nearly 20 miles to dramatize
> >their commitment to fight for minimum wage for agricultural workers who 
>are
> >among the hardest working and lowest paid workers in the state.
> >Representatives Trail and Robison will introduce the bill to include
> >farmworkers probably next week.   A companion bill that would register 
>and
> >bond farmworker contractors will also be introduced.  Some commodity 
>groups
> >are poised to support the bills, which could change the game 
>significantly.
> >
> >And now a word about some of my sponsors.  In his State of the State
> >Address, Governor Kempthorne managed to name about one fourth of the
> >legislators, several famous athletes, and national politicians as well as
> >some of his biggest supporters (contributors). The following is some of 
>the
> >money givers Kempthorne named specifically: Milford Terrell(construction
> >interest), chair of a 25 member committee on assessing Idaho public
> >schools, gave $2,772 to Dirk's 1998 campaign; Gary Mahn, Commerce 
>Director,
> >gave $1,050 to Dirk's 1998 campaign; Pat Takasugi, Ag Director, gave over
> >$5,000 in political contributions over the last couple of years (most 
>going
> >to Dirk's campaign and the Idaho Republican Party); Jim Hungelmann, of
> >Simplot Company , which gave over $53,000 in Idaho political 
>contributions
> >in 1998; Charlie Pottenger, Potlatch Corporation, which gave over $44,500
> >in Idaho political contributions in 1998; Peter O'Neill gave $2,000, most
> >to Dirk's campaign; Steve Meyer, gave at least $50 to Dirk's campaign;
> >Kenlon Johnson gave $260 to Dirk's campaign; and Larry Eastland, gave 
>over
> >$3,000, mostly to the Idaho Republican Party and Idaho Chooses Life PAC.
> >
> >Got needs?  Wait 20 years.  With nearly $28 million coming in yearly from
> >the tobacco settlement, you might think the legislature would seize on 
>the
> >opportunity to meet growing health care and other unmet needs in the 
>state.
> > Instead, the Legislature wants to tie up the money in a trust so that it
> >will be twenty years before we actually have anything like the current
> >amount available to spend.  This, despite the fact that the money will 
>come
> >in yearly into perpetuity.  Senate Bill 1296 was passed by JFAC Friday
> >morning and will be sent to the Senate. The bill transfers the Tobacco
> >Settlement funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund into a new 
>"Millennium
> >Fund", which will be invested by the state Treasurer. Each year 5% of the
> >value of the fund can be allocated by the Legislature. For the Fund's 
>first
> >five years, it is restricted to one-time appropriations each year.  One
> >time expenditures traditionally create opportunities for pork barrel
> >spending rather than thoughtful investments 'for the millenium'.
> >
> >Did I miss something?  It may be that the Governor's State of the State
> >Address on Monday was more notable for what it didn't address than for 
>what
> >it did.  Although he said "we must celebrate the contributions of Idaho's
> >Hispanic community,"  he seems to have forgotten to say anything about 
>fair
> >wages for predominately Hispanic farmworkers.  Probably just an 
>oversight.
> >Oh yeah, and isn't this the 'Generation of the Child'?  Did you hear
> >anything about state funding for Head Start?
> >
> >Try the 21st Century.  Governor Kempthorne did quote from a 100 year old
> >article that said " In all occupations, the people improved their
> >condition, and their prospects for the future are brighter than ever 
>before
> >in the history of the state."   It might have been better if he had 
>quoted
> >from another Statesman article from this week that reported that the gap
> >between Idaho's richest and poorest citizens has increased and that the
> >poorest have actually lost ground in the past 20 years.
> >
> >One thing the Governor did say should have been left on the cutting room
> >floor.  Have you noticed that lately our Governor cannot give a speech
> >without mentioning the Tablerock Cross? It's starting to seem a bit
> >gratuitous. This is a quote from a letter by Rabbi Laura Rappaport:  "his
> >message to us for the new millennium was that (1) the Christians marching
> >through town to support an exclusive religious symbol are the "true"
> >Idahoans and that (2) we basically think no one from outside our own 
>state
> >has anything worthy to say. No matter where you stand on the issue of the
> >cross, this message to our city and our state on this occasion was, at
> >best, inappropriate and insensitive.  Some might say this display of
> >xenophobia was downright scary."
> >
> >Some things are just too hard to whitewash.  While the Governor was
> >proposing a "unified image campaign" to tell the world that Idaho 
>welcomes
> >people "of all races, colors, creeds and faiths", participants at an
> >environmental forum heard evidence that racism is alive and well, and not
> >just among a few North Idaho malcontents, as the Governor likes to say.
> >Representative Bert Stevenson (R-Rupert) treated the audience to a little
> >bit of homespun wisdom.  Seems that Rep. Stevenson believes that laws
> >outlawing discrimination against people of color is somehow analogous to
> >keeping large animal feeding operations (CAFO's) out of our 
>neighborhoods.
> >Some people just don't get it, do they?
> >
> >We can find the pork but where's the beef?  The state has a large surplus
> >and next year's revenues are expected to come in strong.  There's leeway 
>in
> >the budget!  Wouldn't this be a good year for the Governor to support
> >funding for HeadStart?  Improvements in  the quality of child care in
> >Idaho?  Extension of Medicaid coverage to working poor parents?  Instead
> >the Governor's State of the Budget address on Wednesday presented a "stay
> >with the status quo" budget. The governor bragged that his budget 
>"reflects
> >the priorities of the people of Idaho," yet results from a poll
> >commissioned by Idaho Women's Network, Idaho Community Action Network and
> >United Vision for Idaho revealed that strong majorities of Idahoans favor
> >government funding to provide supports for low-income families.  Where 
>were
> >those priorities reflected?
> >
> >What's wrong with this picture?  The IWN-ICAN-UVI poll showed 
>overwhelming
> >support for expanding health coverage for adults.  ICAN released a study 
>at
> >its Tuesday action day showing the need and opportunity to expand 
>Medicaid
> >to adults in Idaho.  Over 220,000 Idahoans have no health insurance and
> >Idahoans can work a maximum of 18 hours at the minimum wage and still
> >receive Medicaid coverage.  In Washington, Oregon and Nevada a person can
> >work 40 hours at the minimum wage and still receive Medicaid.
> >
> >The Incest Protection Act.  Sounds harsh, but the Parental Consent for
> >Abortion Bill coming before the Senate State Affairs Committee is just
> >that.  By mandating parental consent, we endanger young women who are
> >unable to talk to their parents and teens who are victims of physical
> >abuse, rape or incest.  Government cannot mandate better communication
> >within families by passing this bill.  Contact the Idaho Women's Network 
>at
> >344-5738 for more information.
> >
> >Idaho Smart Growth has an open office, available immediately, in its 
>office
> >suite in Boise. One of the groups that has been subleasing from us is
> >moving to their own space. The office is 12 1/2 ft. x 10 1/2 ft. and has
> >two outside windows that overlook an urban greenspace/plaza. There is a
> >conference room and a breakroom (coffee, tea, refrigerator) in the 
>building
> >and the great company of the Idaho Smart Growth staff. Rent is only $218
> >per month. We are looking for someone who is with another non-profit or
> >community planning or environmental work of some kind. We would prefer a
> >one year lease. If you or anyone you know is interested please email or
> >call us for more details.  333-8066, smartgro@micron.net
> >
> >
> >
> >Attachment Converted: "c:\eudora\attach\eyeopener 1.doc"
> >
> >
> >United Vision for Idaho
> >
> >"Building Community Coalitions to Empower Participation in Democracy."
> >
> >http://www.uvidaho.org
> >
> >E-mail: uvidaho@rmci.net
> >(208) 331-7028, FAX (208) 363-9010
> >PO Box 2181, Boise, Idaho, 83701
>

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