 My
morning committee finished the hearing process, and tomorrow starts the actual
spending bills. The first of next week is scheduled for the largest part
of the yearly funding, education.
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 We
are still trying to find a way to place 3 million in a building fund at the U
of Idaho. The effort would support our potato industry with a more secure
place to continue the work on potato seed. Over the years, there have
been an efforts to remove the “famous potato” from the license plates in
Idaho. And perhaps you can remember the special state quarters when then
Governor Kempthorn chose the falcon as the symbol on our quarter instead of the
potato. Just a side note, while we produce tons of cheese and many other
crops, the 13 billion pounds of potatoes produced each year would fill BSU
stadium one mile high.
As
for Idaho products, there is a bill being introduced to make Huckleberry Pie
the Idaho dessert. Seems a little frivolous but who knows?
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A
much more needed bill on a different subject did pass. For those of you who
take and love the children who otherwise would have no parents, this effort would
give a tax credit up to $10,000 to help cover the many costs of adoption.
That was an easy vote and a great big thank you wonderful adoptive
parents.
 I
have not seen the bill coming to protect us from foreign law. One thing I
do know Idaho judges take an oath to uphold the laws of the United States and
the State of Idaho. We are in the process of making additional laws that
apply within our borders. Our courts will interpret those laws to make
sure they uphold our State Constitution. This bill seems to imply that
Idaho judges will violate their oath of office. We can hope those who
will be voting know some of the fine judges that I have worked with over the
years.
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We
have several very large issues yet to solve. The loss of the Federal
Funds to supply taking books to elderly and those with poor eyesight is still
an issue waiting for an answer. It would appear the federal tax funds will
not be available. It is my hope, we can provide a continuation of this
service. Last year 3,400 Idahoans used the service, with about 1 in 5 of
us have a vision-related disability.
A
somewhat related issue to be funded is the need for Behavioral Health
support. One in four in Idaho live with some form of mental
illness. And Idaho suicide rates outpace national trends and rank among
the highest in all states. Accidental drug related death rates are now
included in this area of issues to be addressed with the deaths doubling for
all ages in the last five years. The work will take more than a funding
bill and I am afraid it is just beginning. On a brighter note, the
“welfare” part of the Health and Welfare budget is only 5.6 percent of the
total budget, mostly helping with food stamps and child care
 Both the House and the Senate took time this week to
commemorate the life of Abraham Lincoln.
In the Senate chambers, AHCS
orchestra students from Idaho Falls performed patriotic medleys for
legislators. Across the rotunda in the House chambers students from the Idaho
Fine Arts Academy of Vocal Music performed the “Star Spangled Banner” as well
as Civil War era melodies.
Representatives also unveiled the Dean Estes Lincoln Bronze Bust which
will soon be on permanent display in the Lincoln Auditorium hearing room of the
Capitol.
I have completed
another busy week with trying to find neutral ground on non-compete as well as
a bill dealing with pharmaceutical benefit companies. We are getting closer to
revising each bill and both could help our businesses be more competitive which
always translates into reduced costs for the consumer.
I also attended a meeting on workforce development and we certainly see the
opportunity for skilled workers in Magic Valley.
I am on the advisory board for the industrial commission concerning workman’s
Comp. We discussed timely payment of benefits for injuries on the job as well
as possibly new coverage concerning PTSD for police and firefighters. A real
concern but difficult to define and treat.
On my local government and tax committee we finished the rules and some
legislation.
 Talented legislative
Pages sang and performed ukulele arrangements of patriotic music as part of
their farewell performance for lawmakers
This week, legislators
will say goodbye to the pages who have served during the first half of the
session.
The House/Senate Page
program is for high school seniors between the ages of 16-19. A Page's first responsibility is to render
service to Lawmakers while they are on the floor debating. Secondly, the
page is assigned to a specific Committees to give assistance to the committee
chairman and secretary. The hours of service
are Monday through Friday from 8-5 pm. for a six week duration.
For more information
about the Page Program click here.
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 District 25 Legislators welcome the new pages who will serve during the second half the this legislative session.
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 FREE CLINICS
This week HB 513
that I sponsored came from committee and was heard on the House Floor where it
passed and will be sent to the Senate Local Government & Taxation
Committee.
The purpose
of HB
513 is to provide a sales and use tax exemption for the Idaho Association of Free and Charitable
Clinics and its member Clinics.
There are
currently 10 members of the Idaho Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
which are located in Sandpoint, St.
Maries, Lewiston, Caldwell, two in Garden City, Boise, Twin Falls, Shoshone and
Pocatello. This bill will add these free clinics to the definition of
health-related entities.
This tax
exemption will help Idaho's Free Medical Clinics provide additional healthcare
products and services to indigent patients who lack insurance. It will also decrease indigent healthcare
expenses paid by Idaho counties and the state catastrophic fund.
Currently 6%
of the funds raised to purchase medical equipment, supplies and other patient
care needs is not spent to help patients, but instead must be used to pay sales
tax to the State.
The number
of patient encounters provided by the 10 free clinics last year was 18,000 with
estimated value per visit of $160 or over $2.8 M
If 20% of
free clinic patient visits would alternatively have been provided by a local
hospital with an average emergency room visit cost of $1,178 that savings would
be $4.2 M which is a great return on investment.
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LHTAC
This week we
received an annual report from the Local
Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) that serves 192 cities, 33
counties and 63 Highway Districts.
During the last year LHTAC provided over 2,200 hours of technical
assistance and personal outreach to local highway jurisdictions statewide. Which included 129,000 pound Truck Permits, Local
Road Inventory Speed Studies, Traffic Counts, North Idaho Urban Cabinet,
Federal Highways Emergency Relief and Regional Transportation Meetings. LHTAC council is made up of County
Commissioners, City Mayors, and Highway District Commissioners from all areas
of the State.
This week I
also met and visited with the College of Southern Idaho, Idaho Conservation
League, Idaho Trucking Assn., Idaho Farm Bureau, Twin Falls Chamber conference
call, students from St. Edwards Catholic School and a meeting with Magic Valley
teachers and administrators.
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 Diagnosed when she was six years old, this nine
year old manages her Type 1 diabetes (T1D) with the help of her service dog who
warns her when she is experiencing a low glucose level. She came to the Capitol to share her
experiences with lawmakers on the Diabetes Awareness day. Representatives from the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation (JDRF) also provided information to legislators and the
public regarding a cure for T1D.
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 JDRF is the leading global organization
funding T1D research. Its mission is to
accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its
complications. It is an organization
built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities,
collaborating regionally for efficiency, and uniting on a national level to
pool resources, passion and energy. Click Here to learn more about JDRF.
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