FINAL LEGISLATIVE REPORT: MARCH 29, 2010
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER
DISTRICT 4B
Today is the 78th day of the 2010 session of the Idaho legislature, and the last day of the session for this year. It is now 6:10 PM and we have gone to recess for an hour and then will finish with some bills coming from the Senate. We started floor session at 10:00 AM, and have been on the floor all day except for lunch. With our adjournment, this will be the shortest session since 2002.
If I had to sum up the session this year it would be: ”the set the budget and fight the federal government session.” Setting the budget meant severe cuts to almost every budget of state government, including education and health care. I think cutting the budget for the most part reflected the current economic situation, while the attack on the federal government reflects the current perception of the public mood and seeks to capitalize on that for political gain. The irony is that the bills passed to fight the federal government will end up costing the state money through court costs.
In the past two weeks we have focused on passing the appropriation bills and several major pieces of legislation. All the appropriation bills have now been passed. They are based on a projected budget for Fiscal Year 2010 of $2.29 billion. Current revenues are $46 million short of reaching that goal, and the Joint Finance Committee has created a contingency plan to allow the governor to tap into $107 million in funds if needed. The problem is most of that money is committed in the 2011 budget.
As examples of the budget cutting that have taken place, the budget for higher education was reduced by 14.4% in general fund money, the budget for public education K-12 was reduced by 7.5% , and the budget for Medicaid was reduced by $22 million in general fund money, but that also means the loss of $80 million in federal money. These budgets were all reduced for 2010, so these are additional cuts.
Our state constitution requires us to balance the budget and in the past two years state revenues have dropped by around $600 million dollars, so the cuts were necessary, given the choices made. A low revenue projection was made, and that became the basis for the budget. Neither the governor nor majority party leadership was willing to consider any additional revenues. There were several proposals made in the Joint Finance Committee by Rep. Ringo that would have brought in nearly $40 million without a tax increase, but those were rejected by the committee.
This has been a hard session, and all of us knew it would be. It is not pleasant to cut budgets when we know the negative impacts, and for the most part, I accepted those cuts. However, I did vote against the three budgets mentioned above because I believed we could have done better, and the impacts of some of those cuts will be severe.
The other main theme has been the escalation of the feud between Idaho and the federal government. There have been over a dozen resolutions and memorials directed against the federal government, and one bill that directly challenges the recent health care reform passed by Congress. Idaho gained national attention when our governor appeared on Fox TV to talk about our lawsuit against the federal government seeking to deny the implementation of the health care reform bill in Idaho. He also proposed and the legislature passed two memorials to Congress requesting amendments to the U. S. Constitution.
There were also resolutions and memorials on subjects as diverse as wolves, state management of federal lands, God in the public square, and rejecting regulation of guns made and used in Idaho. Some of these bills were intended to create a court challenge to federal law. It seems the only action for job creation the legislature saw fit to do was for lawyers! I do understand and sympathize with the public discontent toward what happens in Washington DC, but I do not think these actions will have any practical effect and will cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in court costs. I would rather have spent that money to preserve the program of support for those with cystic fibrosis. Unfortunately, the legislature chose to cut funding for it.
Some good things were done this session, and the legislature did struggle with the budget, and worked to find creative ways to balance it. There is genuine concern that next year may be worse, and there is talk of a special session later this year and tax increases next year. We have simply run out of reserve funds and have cut programs as far as we can. The alternative to raising more revenue will be to begin to cut programs.
This is my last session, as I have decided not to run again. Four terms seems long enough to serve for someone who already had one career. It has been a rich and rewarding experience, and an honor to represent you. I hope these news-letters have been informative for you and given you some sense of what happens in our legislature beyond what you read in the daily press.
I have learned that Idaho is a very diverse state, with many competing interests. Trying to reconcile those interests into good public policy is not always easy, and usually does not please everyone. I encourage all of you to stay in touch with your legislators and make your views known. That is how we can best represent you.
The last action of the 2010 legislative session was the House killing a bill that would have made it illegal to text while driving. A bill making it a misdemeanor was passed in the Senate, held on the amending order in the House, and a second bill from the House was passed and sent to the Senate. That bill was amended by the Senate, brought back to the House, and eventually killed. As I said, reconciling diverse interests is not easy. In this case, the disagreement was between senators and representatives from the majority party. Such is the process of legislation. Hopefully a bill will come forth next year that will gain approval. Another thing I have learned is Idaho is a conservative state and change comes slowly and incrementally.
MARCH 9, 2010, LEGISLATIVE REPORT
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER
DISTRICT 4B
Today marks the 58th legislative day of the current session and we have 32 bills on the third reading calendar, meaning 32 bills ready for debate and vote. Most are routine technical corrections to code or minor amendments to existing law. With such bills we can do twenty or more in a day on the floor, while a major bills may take an entire floor session for debate and vote. One such bill is the proposed education budget for next year. It will be a decisive test of what the rest of this session will look like and when will we adjourn because it is our major appropriation bill, and it is controversial.
The education budget was developed by the co-chairs of the joint finance and appropriation committee with input from the key education stakeholders. All budget categories were discussed and consent was reached that more of the available money would be appropriated as discretionary money for the local districts. With the low revenue projection , the overall budget will be $128 million less than the current year, which is down $69 million from last year. There is no doubt our economic downturn is impacting public education with larger class sizes to result.
Other than the reduced budget the most controversial feature of the proposal was the addition of intent language declaring that all school districts in the state were facing a financial emergency and could re-open contracts with teachers to negotiate for lower salaries, etc. There is not enough money to meet current contracts, and the budget calls for a 4% reduction in teacher salaries and 6.5% for administrators.
The controversy arose because this was not part of the earlier agreement reached when the budget was developed. Some districts have significant budget reserves and have no need to declare a financial emergency, and legislation passed last year already allows districts who qualify to declare a financial emergency. Teacher salaries will be frozen next year and in those districts where finances are stable it seems unreasonable to declare such an emergency.
This morning JFAC also set budgets for our universities and community colleges, and as expected they are considerably lower than this year and dramatically lower than two years ago. On the budget front, there simply is not much good news. The committee did appropriate money for Idaho public television and rejected governor otter’s earlier suggestion that state funding for it be phased out.
It is filing time for candidates for office and there has been much attention paid here to who is running and for what office, etc. It was time for me to announce that I am not running for a fifth term, and i did that last Saturday. It has been a challenging but rewarding experience, and honor, for me to serve as your representative for these eight sessions, but for various reasons I felt it was time to truly retire. I had the honor of presiding over the house yesterday as speaker of the house as an acknowledgment of my retirement and time served.
The political season has another aspect also, and that is a handful of bills being pushed that are designed solely to gain political support or to pursue a political ideology. There have been numerous bills attacking the federal government in the name of states rights. Today’s example was h589, sponsored by rep. Harwood. It’s acknowledged purpose was to provoke a court challenge to current federal regulations over guns. It would seek to prohibit regulation over firearms produced and sold in Idaho.
The argument over federal versus state power is an ongoing tension in our system of government, and there are valid concerns about federal encroachment over state powers, and over our growing deficit, a problem that has been developing for many years. However, to pass legislation designed specifically to create a court challenge to federal law in a case the state will have to defend, at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, when we don’t have money to meet basic needs of our citizens is not appropriate.
As it turned out today, we passed 13 bills in the house, including h589. I voted against it. As a gun owner myself, I strongly believe in the second amendment, but can find no logical reason to support such legislation in a time of economic hardship such as this.
Spring is coming and the weather is warming. Will “temperatures “inside the legislature warm also as we get into the heart of our most serious work? Stay tuned.
Please stay in contact, I value your input. My e-mail is gsayler@house.idaho.gov, my phone is 208-3321084, and my mailing address is: Representative George Sayler, Idaho State Capitol, 00 W. Jefferson, Boise, ID 83701.
MARCH 3, 2010 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER
DISTRICT 4B
Today is an important one for Idaho. It is budget setting day for our public schools, and the budget for Fiscal Year 2011 will not be a good one for them. The headline from an article in the Idaho Statesman sums it up pretty well: “Lawmakers to Weigh School Cuts Today.” The proposed budget for next year will be $128 million less than the current year, a reduction of 7.5% from 2010, and if you factor in student growth, it will be a reduction of 8.4%. Salaries for all educational personnel will be reduced by a minimum of 4%, and money for programs such as the Math Initiative and the Reading Initiative will face severe reductions. Larger class sizes are sure to result.
Everyone knew there would be budget cuts to public education this year. We simply don’t have the state revenue to continue operations at the present level. The debatable question is whether the extent of the cuts proposed is necessary. The revenue projection that was set by The Joint Finance Committee is the low projection from the Economic Outlook Committee, so that automatically implies a low school budget. The other issue is the available revenue that many of us believe is available. There may be as much as $60 to 80 million available from other sources, such as taxes owed but not collected. This is revenue available without a tax increase. Republican leadership does not seem to be willing to look at these revenues.
Democrats on JFAC will be offering an alternative motion today that would recover an additional $39 million dollars of that lost revenue for schools, but it is unlikely their motion will prevail. If public education is a concern to you, this would be a good time to weigh in and give your opinion to your legislators.
A look at two other headlines offers a quick review of two of the other issues before the legislature this past week. They are only a small sampling of issues now being debated.
“Idaho open records law caught in the crosshairs” – refers to a bill to keep personal information of hunters confidential. Some wolf hunters have been harassed viciously through their e-mail and phone, so this would prevent that by keeping their personal contact information private. The press objected on the grounds that there were times the press and the public needed access to that information. The measure passed the committee and is before the House.
“Understand why the Immigration bills will die” – discussed why the three bills to try to control illegal immigration will not likely become law. One reason is the opposition of business groups, another is the inconsistency of application of the bills to licensed businesses but not un-licensed ones, and the third reason given was the unreliability of E-verify, a system employers are supposed to use to determine if the immigrant workers they hire are legal. The problem is the system is only about 50% accurate, and employers can bear big expenses if the system is in error.
I am still working on the sub-committee dealing with a re-write of our urban renewal law. We have had several days of testimony and now are in the process of revising the major reform bill into one that will have broad acceptance by the various parties concerned with how urban renewal operates. The outcome will impact how the Lake City Development Corporation operates in Coeur d’Alene.
On Saturday, at noon, I, along with Representative John Rusche and Senator Eliot Werk will be at the Harding Center for our Legislative Listening Tour. We will be presenting a brief summary of legislative actions and isssues, particularly those related to the budget. We will also be there to listen to your concerns and answer your questions. I hope many of you will be able to attend.
It has been an interesting and fast paced two months since my work began this session. I have two bills in committee and have been able to work on issues ranging from Health and Welfare Department rules to wolf management issues. One thing I have learned, contrary to what many think, poitics is not boring!
It is my honor to serve you, and please stay in touch. My e-mail is gsayler@house.idaho.gov, my phone is 208-332-1048, and my mailing address is Representative George Sayler, Idaho House, State Capitol Building, 700 W. Jefferson,Boise, ID, 83701.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010, LEGISLATIVE REPORT
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER
DISTRICT 4B
The legislature can be a surprising place. On a daily basis, as well as the regular scheduled items, there are always unexpected issues or demands on our time. We go from intense two hour meetings on one topic to floor debate on another one in minutes. Being able to shift gears in a hurry is important. There are also the unexpected big actions or decisions that sometimes occur. One such event happened today.
Last week the House State Affairs Committee voted down a proposal to deny a 1% cost of living increase for state retirees under PERSI, the state retirement system. The next day in a surprise move, the committee chair moved to reconsider the bill, citing new information he had received. He had not put the item on the agenda , nor did he allow any public testimony on the new information. The move was in compliance with rules of proceeding but created much controversy because of its unusual nature and the importance of the subject. A day later the bill denying the increase passed the House on essentially a party line vote, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposing.
The real surprise came today when the Senate State Affairs Committee refused to hear the bill, effectively killing it. Since the Republicans control the Senate also, one might have expected the bill to at least have a hearing. Apparently the Senate Republicans have more confidence in the PERSI board, which after five months of study recommended the increase, than did their House counterparts.
On other action, the House State Affairs Committee passed a bill to require you to show ID before you person can vote. If this legislation becomes law you will need a valid photo ID or a signed affidavit certifying you are indeed an eligible voter. The one problem I see with the bill is that it makes it a felony if you are found in violation. At a time when we are trying to reduce our prison population to save money it does not seem like a good idea to send someone there if they try to vote fraudulently.
Two notable pieces of legislation passed the House in the last two days, one which I supported and one I did not. The first was called the Master Advance Placement Program. It created a pilot program around the state that will allow students to graduate from high school faster, and if they do they may receive a college scholarship of up to $3,200. Although there was much to like in the bill, including encouraging more students to go on to college and providing help, I voted against it. As a long time high school teacher I felt that allowing students to advance faster merely by passing end of the year exams could lead to a less complete education.
The other measure that passed today was a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow hospitals to go into debt for more than a year without having to have voter approval, but only if the debt would be repaid from hospital revenues and not tax revenue. The amendment stems from a recent Supreme Court case. The court’s decision more narrowly defined the state constitution’s prohibition on extended debt for public entities. It has made it more difficult for hospitals to fund major purchases, contracts and leases for new equipment or facilities. Two similar amendments will also be considered, one for airports and one for cities that have their own utilities. If passed, the proposals would go before the public for a vote in November.
I am co-sponsoring legislation that would allow individuals to make a donation to the Opportunity Scholarship on the Idaho income tax forms. This scholarship is for students in financial need and no new state money has been put into that fund for two years. It is believed this donation opportunity could generate over $50,000 per year. To qualify, students and their family must make the maximum contribution they can, then apply for the scholarship. The maximum award is $3,000 per year, so close to twenty students could receive scholarships through this means. Not nearly enough, but until the state can put more money into the scholarship fund, it will help.
All of the above aside, the major story this week has been the struggle over the budget for our public schools. With the low revenue projection set by the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee, it has become necessary to find additional cuts or money to avoid those cuts. The plan taking shape essentially does two things: it gives the school districts more flexibility over the money they do receive, and it tries to plug holes in the 2010 budget to prevent further cutbacks. It does this at the expense of larger cuts in the 2011 budget. The thought is that districts will have time to prepare for the cuts next year, but making them at this point in the school year would be very difficult. It will take some tweaking of language to bypass current state law dictating how school funds are to be spent to make the plan work.
There is much happening now, and it is not possible to summarize everything, but I hope you find these reports helpful. A great source of news about the legislature is on Idaho Public Television every Friday night through their program “Idaho Reports.” It offers a first-hand insight into some of the major issues every week. If you would like more news about the legislature, I would encourage you to tune in. I would also encourage your support for IPTV, whose funding will also be reduced.
I appreciate the honor of serving you and look forward to your comments and questions. My contact information is gsayler@house.idaho.gov via e-mail, 208-332-1084 by phone, or Representative George Sayler, Idaho House, State Capitol Building, 700 W. Jefferson St., Boise ID, 83701 by mail.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT, FEBRUARY 16, 2010
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER
DISTRICT 4B
The sixth week of the legislative session is half over, and the pace of action has accelerated. A number of issues are working their way through the legislative process, many of which have major importance for the state. What follows is a quick summary of some of them.
The Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee finally set a revenue figure for the rest of fiscal year 2010 and for fiscal year 2011. The number for the current year is $2.28 billion, and for next year revenues are projected to be $2.29 billion. The vote was strictly along party lines and reflected a difference of opinion about revenue projections made by the governor’s chief economist, with the committee accepting a number that was lower by about $60 million each year. If the legislature ends up setting budgets based on these numbers the cuts to programs, including education, will be severe. JFAC will begin setting budgets on Monday.
The Land Board agreed to use $22.2 million from the Endowment Earnings Reserve Fund to help with education next year, a figure less than half what Superintendant Luna was requesting. K-12 education is facing a cut of $135 million for the next fiscal year, and the Superintendant has proposed a number of ideas to meet the new budget reality. One was for the Land Board to approve $58 million from the Endowment Earnings Reserve Fund. With the lower amount approved and the low revenue projection it appears the cuts will be even more drastic
As background to the discussion over education funding, there was a major story in the Idaho Statesman that showed that our schools are losing millions of dollars in revenue since the state shifted funding off the property tax and onto the sales tax. The measure was passed at the urging of then Governor Risch and provided about $260 million in property tax relief. The sales tax was increased by one penny to raise $210 million with additional general fund money to be added. However, with the economic decline the sales tax has not performed well and last year brought in only $170 million. The difference between what local property taxes would have provided and the money raised by sales tax has been estimated at between $140 million and $183 million a year. Any of the suggested figures would cover the $135 million gap for next year. Now, there is no money in the budget to cover that gap.
The Land Board also met to consider what to do with the state owned cabin lease sites on Payette and Priest Lakes. The state constitution mandates the Board seek the maximum financial return on state owned lands, with the money going to schools. Over 500 cabin sites are leased by the state, with the state owning the land and the renter the building. The issue is what rates should be assessed on those sites, or whether the state should sell them. Three resolutions were passed. One directed the Department of Lands to come back in a year with a plan to dispose of all the sites, another proposes to reduce the leases from 35 years to 10, and the third directed the Department to return in a month with a proposal for increasing the rental fees.
A number of bills were introduced today in the Revenue and Taxation Committee that are aimed at revising state law governing urban renewal districts such as the Lake City Development Corporation. There were six separate bills with the primary one being 66 pages long. I am on the sub-committee to study the bills and come up with a recommendation to the full committee. I think I am going to need a lot of coffee, as these are complex proposals!
On the subject of taxes the fate of a simple bill illustrates the difference in philosophy between the House and Senate on sales tax exemptions. The House passed a bill on a unanimous vote that would have granted a sales tax exemption on sales to homeless shelters. It had a two year sunset and would have cost the state about $15,000 in lost revenue, but it would have been of direct help to homeless shelters heavily burdened with cliental. The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee killed the bill on a unanimous vote. They simply were unwilling to grant an exemption without a set of criteria guiding who should get the exemption.
The whole issue of exemptions on sales taxes has been simmering for several years, and this small example illustrates the dilemma the legislature faces. The value of all the exemptions now exceeds the amount of sales taxes collected. Perhaps the issue is moving toward a resolution as there are now three bills to require the exemptions to be reviewed and either be ended or have to justify their continuation. On proposal just introduced today calls for them all to be reviewed every five years and for all new ones to be sunset in five years. It will be interesting to see if the legislature has the will to tackle this issue this year.
There have been numerous other bills on various topics introduced as well. Two bills to help create jobs have passed the House Revenue and Tax Committee, three bills on illegal immigration have been introduced or will be soon, two bills regarding wolves came forth, and there were numerous others.
One proposal that disturbs me is a proposal to deny the cost of living increase for PERSI retirees. The PERSI Board had recommended a retroactive 1% increase to recover from last year, but a resolution was introduced by the Chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee to deny the request. I am troubled by this because the state general fund is not affected and the PERSI Board was acting properly and in good faith. If you are concerned, I urge you to contact your legislators.
Today Congressman Minnick and Senator Risch addressed both houses of the legislature. Both described the current process in Congress as broken and not dealing with the needs of the nation, and both sounded a warning about our increasing national debt. Congressman Minnick called for bi-partisan action in Congress. He urged the legislature to form a committee to make a binding resolution on the issue of tax exemptions that the legislature would either vote up or down with no changes. Senator Risch talked of the stalled health care reform in Congress and the differences between the U.S. Senate and the Idaho Senate.It was an interesting comparison of style and substance and a good opportunity to hear from our Congressional delegation.
Thank you for contacting me with questions or concerns about the issues we face. The difficult decisions we make are better decisions when there is input from constituents. I can be contacted by e-mail at gsayler@house.idaho.gov, by phone at 208-332-1048, or by mail at Representative George Sayler, Idaho State Capitol, 700 W. Jefferson, Boise, ID, 83701.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT, FEBRUARY 2, 2010
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER, DISTRICT 4B
As we move through the fourth week of this session, no final revenue projections have been made for the end of the current fiscal year or for FY 2011. Nonetheless, the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee continued to hear budget requests from the various state agencies and educational institutions. They expect to be done with that process by the end of this week.
Although everyone is well aware of the lack of money, the agency presenters and university presidents have all talked of cuts already made and impacts of further cuts. For example, the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality listed the ways her agency has cut spending through layoffs, keeping vacant positions vacant and cutting programs and services. One such was the water quality monitoring program which was curtailed last year and will be again next year. Most who have come before the committee have been cautious about requesting additional funds.
Yesterday the Director of Professional Technical Education spoke at Higher Education Day and presented a dramatic picture of the importance of education to our national well being. Many of the statistics he reported were troubling, such as the decline in our nation’s ranking of the percentage of our population getting college degrees and the decline in high school graduation rates. Although Idaho ranks well in high school graduation rates we are near the bottom in college graduation rates.
The obvious need for our state to meet our budgetary woes is more revenue. Spending cuts have slashed state programs and threaten the quality of our educational system. To recover our economy is one of the major priorities this session, and the Democrats in the House and Senate have created a program of six bills designed to create jobs, especially for small businesses.
The program is called The Idaho Jobs and Opportunity Blueprint, or IJOBs for short. One proposal promotes a concept known as “economic gardening.” It directs the state to provide the same useful market information to small businesses as is currently available for large businesses. This will allow those small businesses to better compete in their markets. Another proposal speeds up the permitting process for green energy projects, and another offers significant tax credits on earnings for venture capital investments in Idaho companies.
Last week the Economic Outlook Committee projected a very low revenue number, reflecting a feeling of economic gloom. House and Senate Democrats have argued that to grow our revenue we must grow our economy and their IJOBs program is one attempt to do that. Republican leadership meanwhile has called for cuts in income tax for businesses. So far no one is seriously pushing the idea of going after the many millions in uncollected taxes owed to the state. I believe we should be doing that.
There is little else or real significance to report this week. There is continual discussion and lobbying on all the major issues, but no major legislative proposals have emerged. The budget setting process will start in the next two weeks or so, and that is when the tough decisions will begin to be made.
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. My e-mail is gsayler@house.idaho.gov, my phone is 208-332=2787, and my mailing address is Representative George Sayler, House of Representatives, Idaho State Capitol, 700 W. Jefferson, Boise, ID 83720. I will do my best to respond to your messages.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT, JANUARY 26, 2010
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER (D), DISTRICT 4B
This morning, as I sat at my desk on the floor of the House, awaiting the beginning of our daily floor session, I was struck by how few people are in the gallery to watch our proceedings. Two weeks ago when we first convened, and the Governor gave his State of the State Speech, the gallery was packed to overflowing. Public excitement and media attention have both subsided as we settle into the session. Perhaps this is the opposite of how things should be. In this difficult budget year, as we begin to consider bills and budgets, it is more important than ever for the public to stay interested in what we are doing.
Our first action today was to repeal a section of code that allowed Idahoans to donate a dollar or two from their tax returns to go to a political party of their choice. There was a small cost of about $34,000 to the state general fund, and it was felt that individuals could donate in other ways that would not impact the state’s general fund. The fact that the House approved the bill 64-1 is an indication of how serious our budget situation is.
Last week the Economic Outlook Committee, which I sit on, made their revenue projection for the rest of Fiscal Year 2010 and FY 2011. The projection for the remainder of this year was $2.28 Billion and for FY 2011 it was $2.29 Billion. These figures are millions below what the Governor’s chief economist had forecast and below the committee’s average projection of $2.31 Billion for FY 2010 and $2.75 Billion for FY 2011.
The low budget estimate can be interpreted in different ways. One is that the committee is being prudent and trying to avoid over estimating revenue to avoid budget problems later on. Another is that the estimate was deliberately set low to give support to those who want to trim state government. One thing is certain, the lower estimate for this year means further mid-year budget cuts to schools and other programs beyond what the Governor had called for. I believed the estimate was too low and backed the motion that supported the committee’s average projection.
The good news is that a plan has been crafted to save the Park and Recreation Department. It calls for the use of RV registration fees, use of reserve funds, reductions in staff, more use of volunteers and slightly higher fees. With the savings of $4.5 million to the general fund, the state parks will remain open, although there will likely be a reduction in service.
There is also a plan afoot that would maintain our Human Rights Commission. The Department of Labor has two funds that can be used to provide the money that would otherwise have come from the general fund. This past year the Commission has resolved over 500 civil rights complaints. Keeping the Commission active is very important for our state’s efforts to continue to overcome the stigma caused by the Aryan Nations and other recent incidents.
I have had some interesting suggestions this week from some of you about ways the state can save money, and I am talking about some of them with other legislators or agency personnel. I have found your ideas to be helpful and appreciate the input. One suggestion I am following up on was that state employees‘ holidays be unpaid. While this is certainly not desirable, it may be better than the unpaid furlough days now being required. It would save approximately the same amount and it would avoid the problem of shutting down offices during normal work days as in now happening. In addition, pay for those days could be readily restored once the recession is over and state revenues recover. It would also preserve state jobs.
It is now late evening and as I sit alone working in my office cubicle, I am overwhelmed by the weighty silence of the capitol. All of the noise and sounds of the day are gone, replaced by the hum of the electrical and heating equipment. It is as if the building has paused to consider the many weighty decisions being considered here. Perhaps it would be well if we all could do the same more often.
It is an honor to serve you and I look forward to your input. My contact information is gsayler@house.idaho.gov, or at 208-332-1084, or via mail at Representative George Sayler, House of Representatives, State Capitol, 700 W. Jefferson, Boise ID, 83720.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT, JANUARY 19, 2010
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER (D), DISTRICT 4B
This week the excitement over the re-opening of the capitol gave way to the necessary work of this year’s legislative session. Legislators turned from celebrating the remodeled capitol to the serious work of legislating. A pressing issue on everyone’s agenda is the difficult budget situation the state faces.
The state’s tax receipts from December were lower than had been forecast by $14 million, adding urgency to discussions about funding education and other programs. Before we can begin to set budgets, we need to have a final budget projection for the remainder of this year and for the next fiscal year. The Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee, which I serve on, will meet Wednesday to consider final revenue figures for 2009, and presumably set its revenue projections. No actual budget setting will be made until much later in the session.
Much of the discussion this week focused on the proposals that Governor Otter delivered last week in his State of the State speech. One that caused the most initial concern were the proposed cuts to education that need to be made this year along with a further reduction in K-12 funding and funding for higher education next year. With the recession, enrollments are up as people seek further training and education. With budget reductions, tuition increases, and deletion or reduction of courses and programs also come concerns about our ability to maintain a skilled workforce. Our university presidents have said funding of higher education must be seen as investments in our individual and collective future and important to our economic recovery, a view which I share.
Another issue that caused concern was the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Parks and Recreation. The idea has drawn considerable opposition, including from a leading Senator. It has also drawn fire from the Harriman family whose donation of land for Harriman State Park was dependent upon the creation of a state park system. Efforts are underway to preserve the Department and the Director of Parks and Recreation is apparently making progress on finding ways to save the $4.5 million needed to help balance the budget and still keep the parks open. Those concerned about this issue should still give input to their elected officials.
Action on the floor of the House has been mostly ceremonial or part of the required daily agenda. No bills have been considered, nor has any other important action taken place. The real action right now is behind the scenes as legislators work on gathering support for their bills, work to oppose issues, do their committee work, constituent work, research issues, and so on. By next week we should start to see the first bills come to the floor.
There has been plenty of action outside the Capitol as well. Yesterday, Martin Luther King Day, was a working day for the legislature, and various groups used the occasion to stage a demonstration in front of or near the capitol building. There was the traditional Martin Luther King Day rally attended by over 500 people. It was sponsored by the Human Rights Commission, one of the entities the governor wants to remove from the general fund. There was a rally of ultra-conservative groups who mostly spoke against the federal government, and another by a liberal group, the Idaho Community Action Network, who spoke for immigrant rights and other social justice issues. It is a reminder to me that Idaho does have diversity, and that it is important for all voices to be heard and respected.
I have heard from a number of you in the past week, and I appreciate your questions and suggestions. Please continue to stay in touch. I can be reached at gsayler@house.idaho.gov or by phone at 208-332-1048. The mailing address is Representative George Sayler, Idaho State Capitol, 700 W. Jefferson,Boise, ID , 83702.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT, JANUARY 12, 2010
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE SAYLER(D), DISTRICT 4B
There was a glow over Boise last week. It was the glow, both literal and figurative, cast by the remodeled and expanded state capitol building. The building literally reflected more light from its newly cleaned or newly installed marble, as more natural light was let into the building as a result of the remodel. The beauty of the capitol cast a spell on the dignitaries, elected officials, and members of the public who thronged the building during its grand re-opening. After two years in the crowded Capitol Annex, there was clearly a sense of excitement about being back in the real capitol, especially with all its new grandeur and expanded space. (The remodel and expansion, by the way, is being paid for by the cigarette tax, not general fund revenue.)
The glow began to fade this week after Governor Butch Otter delivered his State of the State speech. The Governor attempted to redefine the role of state government, using the current economic downturn as his launch pad, and called for the first ever mid-school year cuts in the public education budget. He also proposed a no growth budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins on July 1, 2010. It would include a $14 million reduction for K-12 education from the original Fiscal Year 2010 projection.
Other than some specific budget recommendations, some proposals for agency consolidation, and many comments defining his idea of the proper role of government, the Governor’s speech was short on specifics. To his credit, he talked about the need for efficiency and accountability in government, and praised the independent freedom loving spirit of Idahoans, citing the need for hard work and sacrifice to get the state out of its fiscal dilemma. He also showed support for needed Medicaid funding, cited examples of successful businesses in Idaho, and promised reports would be forthcoming that contained economic development ideas. There was little in the way of specific proposals to create jobs or grow the economy. Clearly his focus was on defining a smaller, more limited role for government that fits his political philosophy.
Among the Governor’s proposals was the no growth budget, keeping spending at the current reduced estimate for fiscal year 2010 of $2,349,100,000. Both the Division of Financial Management and the Economic Outlook Committee are projecting increases in state revenue for next year, but the Governor chose not to accept that. Also, while there is very little support for any tax increases, both the Governor and majority leadership in the legislature have ruled out looking at any other possible revenue increases. For example, the State Tax Commission released a report showing that if the state would invest $10 million dollars in hiring 64 more tax auditors, they could collect about $64 million in unpaid taxes. Neither this, nor any other ideas for non-tax revenue increases were considered. I find this troublesome when considering the implications of the cuts proposed in the Governor’s budget.
With more cuts to higher education, cuts in K-12 education,( which Superintendant Luna admits will hurt student achievement), and a reduction of state employees and services, one begins to question the economic wisdom of such moves. How will these reductions impact the quality of education and workforce skills so critically needed to pull the state out of its economic slump? Will businesses want to locate in a state which may not be able to offer the services it needs or the quality of life its employees want. Will the elimination of the Park and Recreation Department and its merging into the Department of Lands and the Fish and Game Department allow for continued affordable access to quality state parks whose positive economic impact on the state is estimated at $40million? One economist stated that quality companies do not relocate in “cheapville.” Tax policy alone does not attract business. The quality of public education, higher education opportunities, recreation opportunities, and other elements also count. At what point do cuts in the public sector begin to impact the private sector? These and many other questions will need thorough discussion this session.
The newly expanded capitol includes larger committee rooms, a large auditorium for big meetings, public rooms, and other amenities that will make it more truly “the people’s house.” These improvements will make it easier and more comfortable for the public to have access to and input on public policy as it is being made in the legislature. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to give input, either at the capitol or through other contact with your elected officials.
We face difficult decisions this year as we struggle with the difficulty of creating a balanced budget with the revenues we have, without causing irreparable harm to public wellbeing. I welcome your input, and can be reached by e-mail at gsayler@house.idaho.gov, by phone at 208-332-1048, or by mail by addressing me at: Representative George Sayler, Idaho State Capitol, 700 W. Jefferson, Boise, ID, 83707.
It is an honor to serve as your representative and I look forward to hearing from you this session.
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