Rep. Trail's Legislative Newsletter 9 - March 14-17

[Tom Trail <RepTrail@infotrail.com>]

LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER 9--MARCH 14-`7/2000

  The Idaho Legislative Session is winding down.  Hopefully, we'll be able
to close up shop by March 31st.  However,  there are still a number of
unresolved issues including tax cuts, the transportation law suit, setting
final budgets, and finalizing votes on important bills.

1.  Taxes  --  Early in the week Governor Kempthorne recommended that the
Legislature move immediately to resolve the trucker's suit which
potentially could cost the state between $40 - $100 million.  It appeared
that the State could settle for $27 million plus equalizing mileage rates
for truckers.  The $27 million price tag is just about the size of the tax
cut talked about in the Senate.  The Governor said he would support the
marital deduction and the medical insurance premium deduction for the self
employed.  But he definitely was not supporting the $41 million House
approved tax cut which would reduce the Governor's education budget by $15
million.

2. Higher Education Building Fund  --  JFAC agreed to fund the planning
phase of  BSU's Western Campus with $3.5 million and the University of
Idaho's teaching and learning center with $1.5 million.  In addition, $3.4
million was designated for Lewis-Clark State College's campus activity center.

3.  Fish and Game Fees  --  The House passed a bill that increases
sportsmen's fees by  $4.4 million.  The bill went to the Senate's Resources
and Environment Committee.  In a surprise vote, the Committee sent the bill
to the amending order on the Senate floor.  This means all 35 Senators can
suggest amendments, and it may complicate final action with the surge of
last minute bills and a closing deadline.  There is some hope with four new
Commissioners and a New Director that the Department maybe able to correct
some of the management problems that has plagued the Department in recent
years.

4.  Millennium Fund Priorities  --  Some initial priorities were set by
JFAC in terms of future spending of tobacco monies invested in the
millennium fund.  These include allocating $500,000 for programs to help
people stop smoking and a like amount for anti-tobacco advertising.  Some
of the remainder of the money will be used to encourage the creation of
more youth courts to handle substance abusers.  Some money would be
utilized to reimburse counties for some of the costs of treating the poor
for certain cancers and respiratory diseases tied to smoking.  Future
priorities may include education programs.

5. High School Exiting Standards Face Delay  --  It is apparent that JFAC
will only fund exiting standards for the first year at the $500,000 level
instead of the House Education Committee's recommendation of $1.5 million.
This has the potential impact of delaying the effect of exiting standards
by three years and cutting the number of tests in half.  There is some
concern that the state is rushing into the standards too rapidly.  However,
 representatives from the Board of Education indicate they  do not want to
lose momentum.

6.  School Weapons Ban  --  Rep. Randy Hansen's HB 444 was endorsed by the
Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee.  The bill would ban all weapons from
school grounds.  Only police officers and people with specific permission
from the school board could legally bring a gun or knife longer than 2.5
inches into a public or a private school if the bill passes.  Governor
Kempthorne said that he will sign the bill if it passes the Senate.

7.  Technology Training for Teachers  --  The House endorsed a $500,000
bill for technology training for teachers.  This was a reduction from the
originally proposed $1.0 million figure.  I opposed the reduction because
this represents an almost 75% reduction in the funds over the past three
years.   With the rapid expansion of new software packages and complexity
of new hardware systems, teachers need updating in order to properly
utilize computers and programs in their curriculum and with appropriate
learning strategies.







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