District 25 Newsletter - March 4, 2016

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Idaho State Legislture

March 4, 2016

Idaho Day 2016

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Idaho Day Celebration in the Capitol rotunda.


March 4th is Idaho Day

By Representative Linden Bateman

During its 2014 Session, the Legislature established an official IDAHO DAY to be observed each year on March 4th to commemorate the creation of Idaho by President Abraham Lincoln on that day in 1863.  It will be the day when state and local agencies, historical societies, schools, Indian tribes, civic groups, chambers of commerce, clubs, the media, and Idaho citizens in general can celebrate and educate about Idaho, her culture, her history, her diversity, her beauty, her resources and her greatness.


Celebrations nourish and inspire the human spirit. The more we learn about Idaho, the more we will love her and the more we love her, the more we will want to serve her.

 

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Students from the Foothills School of Arts & Science and the Honor Guard from Mountain Home Air Force Base.

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The Idaho Day celebration in the House of Representatives included Students from the Foothills School of Arts & Science, the Honor Guard from Mountain Home Air Force Base, the members of the Idaho House of Representatives and four Idaho Governors.

 (Gov. Cecil Andrus, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, Gov. Jim Risch and Gov. Butch Otter.  Rep. Gayle Batt delivered comments in behalf of Gov. Phil Batt.)

 

A message from Maxine Bell

We began the week with the setting of the public school after working since early January to support the Governor’s recommendations and the needs of those who spend each weekday teaching our children.  The 110 million in new monies in this appropriation included full funding for the career ladder at 41.5 million and 27.3 for the operational fund.  The latter will finally be back to the 2009 budget year when the economy soured.  As we continue to fund all agencies in state government, we have been able to address some unmet needs, adequate but not to endanger what appears to still be a fragile economy in some parts of the state.  The spending part of the budget should be put to bed this time next week, with the task of helping those in the house to have enough comfort for a “yes” vote.

 

One of the bright spots in budget setting this past week was the opportunity to get funding for a behavioral clinic in Magic Valley.  We began this effort to help those who need immediate intervention, not hospitalization, and certainly not a jail cell.  The plan is for a center in each region of the state. The first started up in Idaho Falls two years ago with great results.  This bill will provide full funding for two centers - one in Magic Valley and the other in Boise.  Both areas have done the planning and are ready to begin.  Because there will be some lag time for the centers to become operational, we were able to split two years funding over two centers. The type of help will be available for those who might harm themselves or others, get them back on the necessary medication for control, and be one of the steps to the state taking more action in the area of mental health where we have been lacking.  My sincere thanks to all those in Twin Falls who have been working on a plan for the center. 

 

Along the same line is the suicide prevention funding we were able to provide this year.  This request came from a Health Quality Planning Commission with startling figures of the need to address this problem In the Western states, Idaho had age-adjusted suicide rates of 19.2 per 100,000.  Do hope this is part of the solution.

 

Some very interesting bills are starting to hit the floor now as we move into the last month.  More about that next week but for now, I am looking at the final days of budget setting.  We will end this week with a great event.  Friday, March 4th is Idaho Day, our newest holiday.  We will be treated to a program and do hope something wonderful happens in your schools and communities.  This state is certainly worth celebrating. 

We began the week with the setting of the public school after working since early January to support the Governor’s recommendations and the needs of those who spend each weekday teaching our children.  The 110 million in new monies in this appropriation included full funding for the career ladder at 41.5 million and 27.3 for the operational fund.  The latter will finally be back to the 2009 budget year when the economy soured.  As we continue to fund all agencies in state government, we have been able to address some unmet needs, adequate but not to endanger what appears to still be a fragile economy in some parts of the state.  The spending part of the budget should be put to bed this time next week, with the task of helping those in the house to have enough comfort for a “yes” vote.

 

One of the bright spots in budget setting this past week was the opportunity to get funding for a behavioral clinic in Magic Valley.  We began this effort to help those who need immediate intervention, not hospitalization, and certainly not a jail cell.  The plan is for a center in each region of the state. The first started up in Idaho Falls two years ago with great results.  This bill will provide full funding for two centers - one in Magic Valley and the other in Boise.  Both areas have done the planning and are ready to begin.  Because there will be some lag time for the centers to become operational, we were able to split two years funding over two centers. The type of help will be available for those who might harm themselves or others, get them back on the necessary medication for control, and be one of the steps to the state taking more action in the area of mental health where we have been lacking.  My sincere thanks to all those in Twin Falls who have been working on a plan for the center. 

 

Along the same line is the suicide prevention funding we were able to provide this year.  This request came from a Health Quality Planning Commission with startling figures of the need to address this problem In the Western states, Idaho had age-adjusted suicide rates of 19.2 per 100,000.  Do hope this is part of the solution.

 

Some very interesting bills are starting to hit the floor now as we move into the last month.  More about that next week but for now, I am looking at the final days of budget setting.  We will end this week with a great event.  Friday, March 4th is Idaho Day, our newest holiday.  We will be treated to a program and do hope something wonderful happens in your schools and communities.  This state is certainly worth celebrating. 

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President Lincoln greeting the sunrise.

Photo credit:  Rep. Clark Kauffman

A message from Clark Kauffman

Idaho Business for Education report ( www.idahobe.org ) shows  the 2015 Idaho College and Career Readiness Report.  Take a look and let me know your thoughts.  IBE’s goal with this report is to help Idaho communities shift focus from high school graduation rates to preparing students for post-secondary education and training, and set their priorities for the future.  Community leaders can use this data to reset their priorities and goals for students if they so choose.

Supreme Court: Idaho Education Network Contract Void.  The Idaho Supreme Court sided with a district judge Tuesday, voiding the contract for the Idaho Education Network broadband project.

The court’s unanimous ruling could have $25 million worth of implications for the state — and its taxpayers. Idaho could be forced to write off or give back federally administered fees that were supposed to offset the costs of the high school Internet system.

Idaho’s loss on appeal should not have any immediate impact on schools, however. The state mothballed the Idaho Education Network in early 2015, after Ada County District Judge Patrick Owen tossed the $60 million project contract. Since then, Idaho schools have purchased high-speed Internet service locally, often at greatly reduced prices.

http://www.idahoednews.org/news/supreme-court-idaho-education-network-contract-void/#.VtYV7seRjzI

 

HCR038  National Day of the cowboy recognized.  This concurrent resolution recognizes the history, power and impact of the cowboy in our society and asks for Idaho to observe a National Day of the Cowboy each year on July 25th with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

 

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Over the month of February 54 legislators participated in the Steps for Schools Challenge, walking a total of 12,871,665 steps in one month. AMAZING!

Although I didn’t win, I walked enough steps to receive $350 for an elementary school in District 25.  The winning school will be determined by a drawing in the future.

 

Revenue & Tax Committee

The tax committee had a quiet week with H540 being the only policy bill to be introduced. H540 is a clarification to the sales and use tax exemption provided to fixed wing aircraft which fly tactical wild fire suppression missions under contract with the federal government. The bill was unanimously supported and sent to the House Floor with a “do pass” recommendation.

The House Committee met on Friday morning to introduce a bill dealing with the findings of the Interim Committee on Urban Renewal.  I will keep you updated as this moves forward.

 

Next week the Division of Financial Management will release the February General Fund collection numbers which tracks how closely collections meet revenue forecasts. This report will give the legislature a better idea of where the FY2016 General Fund collections will end up. With budget writing wrapping up next week we should have a better idea if any tax relief legislation will be heard in the Senate and whether or not some of the hot button issues will be addressed

 

I also met this week with the Idaho Technology Council, the Idaho Soft Drink Assn., Idaho Ambulatory Surgery Centers Assn., and the National Federation of Independent Business/ Idaho Retailers Association.

 

On Friday we celebrated IDAHO DAY at the Capitol.

 

HCR 46 Recognizes Idaho's unique honor in providing the 2016 "People's Christmas Tree" from the Payette National Forest at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. and to encourage Idahoans to participate and support this event.

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Senator Jim Patrick

District 25

Committees:

CHAIR – Commerce & Human Resources

Agricultural Affairs

Education

 

jpatrick@senate.Idaho.gov



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Rep. Maxine Bell

District 25 – Seat A

Committees:

CHAIR – Appropriations

Agricultural Affairs

 

mbell@house.idaho.gov



Clark Kauffman

Rep. Clark Kauffman

District 25 – Seat B

Committees:

Business

Revenue & Taxation

Transportation & Defense

 

ckauffman@house.idaho.gov



State Capitol
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0081
(208) 332-1120