Rep. Trail Legislative Update 8, March 4-10, 2000

[Tom Trail <RepTrail@infotrail.com>]

It looks like we'll be in Boise until at least the 1st of April.  I plan on
filing for re-election in Boise this week and running an active campaign
this Fall and Summer.  Sen. Schroeder has brought many of you up-to-date on
some current education issues in his vision2020 post last week - in case
you missed it, it will soon be available on the vision2020 archive at
http://lists.fsr.com/vision2020/current/index.html 


1.  Taxes   --  The House passed the $41 million tax cut on a 41-29 vote.
There is discussion that the cut will be reduced in the Senate.  In the
floor debate I said that that we should first look toward meeting state
funding needs and then see how much is available for tax cuts.

The math on all of this is really quite simple.  We may have a $70 million
surplus.  We already have a liability ranging from $40 - $80 million that
the State will have to pay truckers for overcharging them during the past 8
years.  We also face the potential loss of the school facilities suit.  If
the State loses then we are looking at some impressive dollar figures.
Passing the $41 million tax cut means a loss of $15 million in the
education budget.  If the right scenario develops, then we could be back
next year looking at tax increases.  JFAC has already trimmed the budget
for public health districts and the Commission for the Blind.  Sadly, the
tax package was all wrapped into one.  Many of us would have supported the
marital deduction and increasing the food tax credit.

2.   HB 500  --  Minimum Wage for Farm Workers  --  The bill was voted down
on a 7-4 vote (picked up 2 votes from last year).  It was interesting that
only the Farm Bureau testified against the bill.  We had several farm
organizations support it as well as many church groups.  Just about
everyone agreed that it is time to include our predominately Hispanic farm
workers as first class citizens instead of second class citizens in terms
of fairness and economic  justice.  We are making progress.  HJR 35 was
passed which would create a Legislative Interim Committee to craft a new
minimum wage bill as well as a Registration of Farm Labor Contractors.  As
I work with Reps. Beiter, Robison and the Farm workers Coalition, we feel
increasingly optimistic that the interim committee will provide for plenty
of public input and that next legislative
session we have an excellent chance of getting passage.

3.   HB 772  --  Recycling  --  This passed the Senate Committee by a 6-2
vote.  The bill would allow state agencies to purchase recycled paper
products by paying up to a 5% preference.  Recycling is a $15,000,000/yr.
business in Idaho and employs 1,300 people.  Sen. Schroeder will carry the
legislation.

4.   Anti-Spamming  --  The Supreme Court has ruled that it is against the
law to send obscene and annoying e-mail messages.  This bill, which Sen.
Schroeder and I worked on with the Attorney General's Office, passed the
House 62-1 and the Senate Committee 8-0.  The bill would provide legal
recourse to e-mail users with help from the Attorney General's Office when
bothered by unsolicited e-mails.

5.   PERSI  --  House Bills 510 and 511 passed the Senate Committee by a
6-2 vote and will be up for a final vote probably late next week.  These
bills would increase retirement benefits for state employees.

6.  Victim ID Theft  --  Consumer Protection  --  HB 504 sponsored by Rep.
Randy Hansen, the Attorney General's Office, and myself passed the House
Judicial and Rules Committee by a 14-0 vote and should be up for a house
vote late this week.  The bill would help consumers more rapidly
re-establish their credit after being a victim of ID theft.

7.  Telephone Solicitation Protection Bill  --  this bill now has new life
as House State Affairs approved a plan to allow Idahoans to pay $10 to
block telephone solicitors.  The bill amends the Idaho Telephone
Solicitation Act by letting Idahoans pay the $10 fee to be put on the AG's
list.  That would prevent solicitations for up to three years.  Telephone
solicitors could by the list for $25 and if they call someone on the list
they would face substantial fines.  The same bill has worked well in Georgia.

8.  Idaho Public TV Privatization Legislation  --  This bill was killed in
the House Education Committee by a 10-7 vote.

9.  Tobacco Settlement Priorities  --  JFAC approved a $2.3 million package
of health advocacy programs that earmarks $750,000 to reduce county tax
spending on health care for poor people with tobacco related ailments.
Other funds will be used for education and substance abuse.

10. Promise Scholarships  --  Sen. Lee's propose passed the Senate 32-0.
I've agreed to be one of the sponsors of the bill in the House.  Under the
plan Idaho high school graduates with 3.0 GPA averages, 20 or higher on the
American College Test, or a 2.5 GPA during the first semester in college or
technical school would qualify for a $500/year from the state.  It is
estimated that 10,000 students per year could benefit from this program.
The bill has the Governor's support as well as the Board of Education.  The
Tobacco settlement funds are seen as one source of funding.

11. Legislative Reflections  --  Legislators often wonder about the impact
of legislation they have sponsored and passed.  Several years ago I
sponsored HB 505.  The bill allowed non-profit resident care centers (with
H & W inspections) to provide assisted care to residents.  The law had
stated that residents had to use outside providers which often cost from
$1,000-$2,000/month while the resident home could provide the cost at
$100/month.  The law also provided access to low interest HUD money to
build affordable housing for low income seniors.  The bill became known as
the Good Sam Bill.  Scott Burpee, the manager of five non-profit resident
homes in Idaho estimates the bill is saving Seniors about $4,000,000/year.




Rep. Trail, district 5

 I would like constituents to e-mail, phone, fax, or write me with their
ideas, comments and recommendations.  

by phone: (at the House Communications Center)

208-332-1000 switchboard
208-332-1202 desk
208-334-5397  (fax)

by email:

ttrail@house.state.id.us      My email in Boise
infocntr@lso.state.id.us      Information desk at the Capitol
            
Address:

Rep. Tom Trail
Idaho State Legislature
State Capitol Building
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038

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