The Idaho Legislature is back in session. This weekly
newsletter will provide a quick run-down on some general highlights from the
legislature. It will also include a personal message from both of us to
let you know how we have been involved in the process as we work to further our
District's legislative priorities.
In addition to reading this
newsletter, you can stay up to date on information from the legislature by
visiting the official Idaho Legislative website at the following address:
http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/
On this site, you can view new bills
as they are introduced and access both House and Senate daily agendas for
legislative committees and floor debates.
Below is a list of some of the
issues the Idaho Legislature will address during this session:
The State Budget
Environmental Rules
Job Creation Incentives
Business Rules
Education Innovation
Veterans
Education Accountability
Healthcare
Education Funding
Taxes
Senior Concerns
Gun Rights
Transportation Funding
Other
Please feel free to share your ideas
and input on these issues by emailing, calling or visiting me here at the
Capitol Building.
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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 2016, 9:54 A.M.
Eye on Boise by Betsy Russell
‘Buy Idaho’ show fills rotunda with
Idaho businesses, displays, freebies
Today's annual "Buy Idaho"
show has brought dozens of Idaho businesses to the state Capitol, where they're
offering displays, information, free samples and more on the first, second and
third floors of the Capitol rotunda. The show is free and open to the public
and runs all day.
Click Here
for the complete story.
From the Desk of:
Representative Maxine Bell
If you are old enough to remember the 1993 movie Groundhog Day,
you will know how the first day of the session seemed. That’s right, just
like we had done it before and before. But it is a pleasure to be allowed
this opportunity, perhaps this time to find a few solutions that we didn’t
catch last session.
Governor Otter’s State of the State set the tone with no
surprises. We are all on the same path as pertaining to a better funded
education system. Last year was the first payment. The economic
view we have been given appears to be adequate to continue on the five year
plan for schools. My budget committee has begun work on the state funding
and feel confident we will enable schools to move ahead with the important work
they do.
Another serious concern for several years has been those in Idaho
who cannot afford health insurance and do not qualify for any subsidy.
The plan that will be presented will take the cigarette and tobacco taxes and
provide $32.00 per citizen per month to be used for the services of our fine
health clinics. This should cover preventive care and with some small
fees from this group, help keep them more healthy and lesson the use of
emergency rooms. The general funds of the state will backfill those items
which are not paid for out of cigarette tax with a cost of about twenty
million. Interestingly we spend several millions each year to help people
stop smoking. Our tax is 57 cents per compared to Utah at 1.90 and
Washington State at 3.00.
There are many issues yet to be heard, some at this point still
unforeseen. As always education funding and the health of our citizens
are always right on the top. One very fortunate aspect of this year’s
budget is the revenue that was set aside last spring will now pay the bills for
the tremendous fires that devastated our state this past summer.
Sincerely,
Maxine Bell
From the Desk of:
Representative Clark Kauffman
We are off and running here at the Idaho Legislature. We spent a great deal of time the first week
of the session organizing committees and reviewing rules. The rule-review process is something unique
to the Idaho Legislature. We have the
authority to review the rules that the Agencies (the Executive Branch) wrote in
order to implement the laws that were passed by us (the Legislative Branch) last
session. This review process helps to
ensure the written rule actually follows the legislative intent of the law.
The first few days of the session included the Governors
State of the State address, an Idaho Business for Education Event, and a Legislative
workshop on civil discourse. We also met
with Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities and with Idaho Small Providers (small group
homes for the mentally ill).
I received the “Ag All Star” award from the Food Producers
of Idaho for my voting record on Ag issues last session.
I attended the Idaho Dept. of Agriculture Breakfast
Briefing, the Boise Metro Chamber Lunch, the American Legion Reception, and met
with the Idaho AFL-CIO.
I had the
opportunity to learn more about Idaho Professional Technical Education during a
presentation with Department of Commerce Director, Megan Ronk.
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The second week of the session seems to have been just as
diverse. I had meetings scheduled with:
Idaho State Grange
Idaho State Pharmacy Assn.
Nat’l Federation of the Blind of Idaho
B.L.U.U.M. School Choice
Idaho Forestry Assn.
Idaho Society of CPA’s
Buy Idaho
Idaho Cable Telecommunications
Idaho Veterinary Medicine Assn.
Idaho Water Users Assn.
And more!
It is an honor to represent you, my constituents, here in the Idaho
Legislature. I welcome your input and
feedback.
Sincerely,
Clark Kauffman
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