The 2009 Citizen
Survey
Results are in!
Friends and Neighbors:
The 2010 legislative session will likely go
down as one of the worst in Idaho history. From a complete lack of vision
or action to help create jobs, to historic cuts to public schools, to the
refusal to try and collect $250 million in taxes owed annually by tax
cheats, there is little to show for this year's efforts (unless you like
lawsuits paid for by taxpayer money).
I had another good session. I helped to craft
the only comprehensive jobs package (the Idaho Jobs and Opportunity
Blueprint - IJOBs). While all of these bills were derailed they
represented the only effort at small business job creation.
My efforts to ban texting while driving, ban
dissolvable tobacco (think tobacco candy for teens), stop taxpayer
subsidies of tobacco retailers, and enhance road safety were unsuccessful.
These things are important enough that I will keep
trying!
Thankfully a bill to allow citizens to donate a portion
of their tax refund to the needs-based Opportunity Scholarship fund
(co-sponsored with Rep. Chew and others) was successful.
I forcefully opposed budget cuts that negatively
impacted our economy or public safety (public schools, higher
education, some health-related budgets, etc.), bills aimed at
creating costly lawsuits, and the so called "conscience" act that allows
healthcare providers to deny you care without your knowledge (including
your living will directives!).
As we head into the 2010 election I will be
working to hone legislation that I introduced last year (new ideas take a
few years in the legislature). I will also be working on new ideas for
renewable energy, ethics reform, and better ways to clean out the special
interest tax exemptions that are robbing taxpayers of about $1 billion
each year.
If you would like to contact me about these of any
other legislative (or community) initiatives please
use:
Telephone
-
Home Office Line -
208-658-0388
Email -
Office
- elliotwerk@gmail.com
Team 17
Working with Representatives Chew and
Killen (Team 17) is very powerful! Working together Team 17 provides
District 17 with a strong and unified voice in the Idaho Legislature. We
will continue to work hard to represent you and all residents of the great
state of Idaho.
Please take the time to visit the web
sites of Representative Bill Killen at http://www.killenforhouse.com
and Representative Sue Chew at http://www.suechew.com/ .
