vision2020
wildlife initiative
T-
Thank you for your willingness to go out front on the tax rescinding issue.
While I find myself agreeing with you much of the time, a report from today's
Tribune worries me. You are cited as a future sponsor of what is termed an
"anti-animal rights" law, making it impossible for citizens to change Idaho's
fish/game regulations.
I really hope you rethink this position. Consider the politicized nature
of the Idaho Fish and Game Department. This is not the model professional
organization it used to be. The department is dominated now by those who do
not take a professional habitat based view of wildlife, value game way above
other species, and are lax on enforcement of basic rules.
As this situation develops, it may well become necessary for the citizens
to step in and control the department.
Please do not throw huge roadblocks in the way.
BL
Tom Trail wrote:
> >Visionaries: I think that it most interesting at a time everyone says
> >that we can't delay the tax
> cuts that we passed last session to take a look at what Gov. Jeb Bush and
> the Florida Legislature
> did to protect education Gov. Bush and Florida Legislators chose to bite
> the bullet and delay
> the tax cuts until the economy approves in order to protect education.
> The bill received widespread
> bipartisan support and solid Republican support.
>
> I intend to support a similar delay of the tax cuts in the upcoming
> legislative session and will
> share this article with all legislators. Sometimes elected officials do
> show common sense and
> a bit of courage.
>
> I can be reached in Boise via e mail--ttrail@moscow.com or
> ttrail@house.state.id.us
> Fax--208-334-5397
> My desk phone is 208-332-1202
> Mailing address: Rep. Tom Trail, Idaho State Legislature, State Capitol
> Building, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID. 83720-0038
>
> Rep. Tom Trail
>
> >here's the web page:
> >http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/120601/met_8017332.html
> >
> >the text is below:
> >
> >House votes to delay tax cut
> >Lawmakers work on budget shortfall
> >
> >
> >
> >By Jim Saunders
> >Times-Union staff writer
> >
> >TALLAHASSEE -- House Republicans celebrated last spring when they pushed
> >through a tax cut for thousands of Florida investors.
> >
> >But yesterday, with the state slashing money from education and health
> >programs because of a stumbling economy, dozens of those same Republicans
> >had to backtrack.
> >
> >The House voted overwhelmingly to postpone an upcoming $128 million cut in
> >the intangibles tax on investments, clearing the way for lawmakers to
> >finish closing a $1.3 billion budget shortfall today. Republicans said
> >they agreed to put off the tax cut for 18 months because of financial woes
> >that worsened after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
> >
> >"Nine-11 made a difference in Florida, and to ignore that is absolutely
> >missing the point," said House Majority Leader Jerry Maygarden,
> >R-Pensacola.
> >
> >Delaying the scheduled Jan. 1 cut in the intangibles tax was a key part of
> >a budget deal that House and Senate leaders reached during the weekend.
> >That deal calls for closing the shortfall by cutting about $1 million from
> >state programs, collecting the $128 million in intangibles taxes and
> >dipping into the state's reserves.
> >
> >Hitting home
> >All House members from Northeast Florida voted to support delaying a $128
> >million cut in the intangibles tax on investments. The area's senators
> >also supported the measure Monday.
> >
> >
> >The shortfall is in the $20.3 billion general revenue fund, which pays for
> >many of the day-to-day operations of government. That has forced lawmakers
> >to make heavy cuts in school spending, which makes up more than half of
> >the budget.
> >
> >Both chambers are slated today to approve the budget cuts, ending a
> >special session that started last week. Senators on Monday agreed to
> >postpone the intangibles tax cut, which now will go to Gov. Jeb Bush for
> >his expected signature.
> >
> >Bush and the Republican-controlled Legislature have spent the past three
> >years cutting the intangibles tax and have made it a bedrock issue for the
> >party. The tax is collected on investments such as stocks and bonds, which
> >Republicans argue is an unreasonable tax on savings.
> >
> >But Democrats have long argued that cutting the tax helps only the state's
> >wealthiest residents. Some Democrats have called for even more
> >far-reaching steps to solve the state's budget problems, such as rolling
> >back intangibles-tax cuts that were made in 1999 and 2000.
> >
> >"All we are doing this week is putting our finger in the dike, and I say,
> >'Watch out for the flood,''' said House Minority Leader Lois Frankel,
> >D-West Palm Beach.
> >
> >To pay the intangibles tax, individuals must have at least $80,000 in
> >assets such as stocks, bonds and notes. Currently, individuals receive a
> >tax exemption on the first $20,000 of assets. An individual with $80,000
> >in assets would pay $60 a year in taxes.
> >
> >Under the law that passed in the spring, the exemption would have
> >increased from $20,000 to $250,000 on Jan. 1, allowing thousands of
> >investors to avoid paying any intangibles taxes. Similarly, married
> >couples would have seen their exemptions go from $40,000 to $500,000.
> >
> >The House voted 102-17 yesterday to postpone the tax cut, with the
> >dissenters including Speaker Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, and Speaker-designate
> >Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City. All 10 House members from Northeast Florida
> >voted for the postponement.
> >
> >Feeney has long argued that moving forward with the tax cut would help
> >stimulate the state's economy. But with Bush's lobbying, most Republican
> >lawmakers decided to go along with postponing the tax to prevent further
> >cuts in education spending or further raids on the state's reserves.
> >
> >Staff writer Jim Saunders can be reached at (850) 224-7515 or via e-mail
> >at ftutal@flpress.com.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Original Message:
> >-----------------
> >From: Tom Trail ttrail@moscow.com
> >Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 16:24:26 -0700
> >To: trail@infotrail.com
> >Subject: Bush Tax Cut Moratorium in Florida
> >
> >
> >Steve--I remember faintly something about the budget crunch in Florida and
> >that Jed Bush
> >who had advocated a tax cut program and it was passed came back once the
> >big deficit was
> >known and put a moratorium on his tax cut program.
> >
> >Can you get me any details on this. Thanks.
> >
> >Dad
> >
> >Dr. Tom Trail
> >International Trails
> >1375 Mt. View Rd.
> >Moscow, Id. 83843
> >Tel: (208) 882-6077
> >Fax: (208) 882-0896
> >e mail ttrail@moscow.com
> >
> >
> >--------------------------------------------------------------------
> >mail2web - Check your email from the web at
> >http://mail2web.com/ .
> >
>
> Dr. Tom Trail
> International Trails
> 1375 Mt. View Rd.
> Moscow, Id. 83843
> Tel: (208) 882-6077
> Fax: (208) 882-0896
> e mail ttrail@moscow.com
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