LEGISLATIVE WEEK

[RingoShirl@aol.com]

Well, I finally signed onto vision 2020.  I have a long list of messages from 
many of you folks to read, and am making progress.

The session this year is as interesting as it was last year.  I am getting to 
know folks better, and although there are many issues on which we differ, 
they're very enjoyable on a personal level.  (Most of the time.)

I am renting the home of an individual who is visiting another country.  The 
agreement includes my watering plants and caring for her CAT.  There have 
some difficulties with both.  I generally like cats, and have some of my own. 
 However, this one and I may have a personality conflict of sorts.  Her owner 
told me she sleeps 23 hours a day, but my observation is that she complains 
23 hours a day.  I will continue my effort to bond with this feline, but have 
little progress top report so far.

There are a number of issues to discuss with you, but today, I'll mention the 
vote this past week on giving timber companies relief on property taxes.  
This wasn't an easy vote to make.  On the plus side, the campanies can 
document that their property taxes have taken a sharp turn upward, compared 
to other entities.  Also, the county assessors, with our Steve Fiscus, 
negotiated a four-year phase in as part of a compromise to mitigate the 
effects on the property owners.

On the negative side, I see this as a fragmented approach to solving a much 
larger problem. First, the relief given the timber companies will shift 
responsibility to other property owners.  This is a problem particularly for 
our rural communities that already struggle trying to pass supplemental levies
 for their schools.  Many legislators here criticize these rural communities 
for failure to step up and fund construction where safety issues must be met, 
or where new construction is needed.  I find considerable lack of empathy in 
terms of understanding the differing set of circumstances in each of these 
communities.  It seems to me that to pass legislation giving relief to this 
industry, without more action to mitigate for those who are going to pick up 
the slack is not appropriate.  We are also failing to address the plight of 
our farmers, and others who are in dire circumstances. While recognizing the 
merits of the legislation from the point of view of some folks, I found there 
to be too many reasons I couldn't support it.  I'll welcome your remarks.

There are other things for me to discuss, so more to come.  By the way, I 
think the idea of a community garden is great!

Rep. Shirley Ringo