Quick Legislative Update from Rep. Trail

[Tom Trail <RepTrail@infotrail.com>]

This is a quick update of what occurred today in the Legislature:

1.  Education Budget  --  The good news is that the Education budget as
proposed by the Governor and supported by the Senate and House Education
Committees is protected.  JFAC in making the final approval of the budget
also did something almost without precedent: they turned the entire budget
over to be managed by Marilyn Howard, SPI, and her Department staff.  They
will also set priorities although I doubt that they will stray far from the
general budget line items.  The teacher salary increase line item is safe.

2.  Minimum Wage for Farmworkers Interim Committee approved by leadership.
There were 15 requests and only 3 were funded with the minimum wage
committee being top priority.  I feel this gives us the best chance through
the legislative process to final achieve our goal this coming year.

3.  Promise Scholarships  --  Sen. Lee is the Senate sponsor of the
legislation.  I was the chief sponsor in the House.  The bill was approved
on a 42-28 margin.  The bill when funded will provide 5,000 Idaho high
school graduates with a 3.0 GPA with $500/semester scholarships (for a
total of 4 semesters).  Universities will provided matching scholarships
for many students.  We are seeking possible funding through the Millennium
(tobacco funds) Fund in FY 2002.  The Governor appears to support the bill.
  This may be one of the best policy decision the State has made in many years.

4.  Religious Freedom Bill  --  we passed an amendment delaying the trigger
date of the bill from July 1, 2000 to Feb 1, 2001.  There has been a great
deal of pressure on the Governor about the disagreement of many religious
groups who came out against the bill.   The Governor will probably sign the
bill but he has asked the sponsors Bert Stevenson and Dan Mader to work
with his office to meet with various groups and hold hearings on the bill
this Summer and Fall, hence it may be possible to amend the bill in January
2001.  I would have preferred the Governor vetoing the bill and then
reworking it if some type of consensus from all groups could be achieved.
However,  this is progress.

5.  Truck lawsuit  --  $17 million from the rainy day fund and $10 million
from the pollution fund will pay off and settle the suit.

6.  Tax cuts  --  I joined a number of representatives who wanted to vote
on each of the separate elements of the tax cuts instead of voting for
everything in one package.  We lost and the House sent back to the Senate
HBs 801, 802, and 803.  The total tax cuts in the bills ranged from $26
million to $28 million.  This was down considerably from the $41 million HB
707.  With the lawsuit being settled and the education budget protected,
the tax cut will at least have the marital deduction and the tax credit for
self employed for health insurance.  The bills went to the Senate this
afternoon, and there is a good chance that the Senate will send them back
amended with each one of the separate components (which is fine by me).  We
may finally reach an impasse and no tax credit voted on at all.



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