District 17 Newsletter | ||
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June 2, 2008
In this Issue: Interim
Committees |
Summer 08 Update ~ FROM TEAM 17 | |
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Team 17 Representative Representative ---------------------- We need
your expertise
To help with legislation on renewable energy, energy incentives or other legislation, call: Senator Werk 208-658-0388 Rep Killen 208-345-2956 Rep Chew 208-344-0098 ---------------------- Contribute
---------------------- Chew for
House Killen for House |
The Team 17 Legislative Report and Survey Delivered to Every Door in the District
If you complete the survey please feel free to add as many comments on the bottom as you wish. Your ideas are very useful in guiding our work during the interim between legislative sessions. This time is when most legislation must be developed and support gathered and organized.
As always, it is an honor to serve you in the Idaho Legislature. Team 17 Very Busy Between Legislative Sessions!
The time between legislative sessions is very busy for legislators. Between interim committees, speaking engagements, community meetings, development of legislation, discussion with groups and individuals about legislation they are developing, legislative meetings with agencies, and constituent work we are kept running most of the time! And they call this a part-time job! Interim CommitteesTeam 17 is deeply involved with work on committees that meet and formulate legislation and recommendations to the legislature. These are called interim committees and they are generally composed of members from both the House and the Senate. This year Team 17 is deeply involved with interim committees. You can be an official member of an interim committee, an ad-hoc (non-voting) member, and an interested party. Many legislators participate with interim committees as an interested party by attending meetings and providing input to committee members since there are many legislators and few interim committee positions. For instance, Representative Chew as a pharmacist is active with the Health Care Task Force in this way. Below is a list of the committees that we are active
with and links to information about the committees (where web sites are
available).
Legislative Initiatives
Developing substantial legislation takes time and is best done between legislative sessions. This provides the opportunity to fully evaluate the issue, speak with experts, carefully develop legislative language, discuss the legislation with various interest groups and organizations, and organize legislative action (including presentation materials and legislative testimony). As you can see it is a time consuming and detailed process. This year Team 17 is working on various legislative efforts for the 2009 legislative session. These efforts include:
Improving Our Quality of Life
Working for the Middle
Class
Responsive and Responsible
Government
Interested and want to help? Please contact us if you are interested in any of these issues and want to lend some expertise as we develop legislation or evaluate options. We are particularly interested in finding someone with expertise in renewable energy and energy incentives. Team 17 Hits the Campaign Trail
As most of you already know, 2008 is an election year. The entire legislature is up for election and Representatives Chew and Killen, and Senator Werk are running for reelection.
Door to Door: We are already deep
into our door to door work. We do this to make sure that we understand the
concerns of the people in the district. This allows us to better represent
you in the
Volunteering: If you are interested in volunteering on any of our campaigns please drop us a note via email and we will contact you. In many instances we are operating as a team during the campaign and you can volunteer to help the entire team! If you have particular interests or skills please let us know in your message.
Contributing: C
ampaigns are costly! It costs over $4,000 to print and mail a postcard
to the district! Add to that the costs for personnel, campaign office
space, yard signs, etc. and it adds up fast! If you are interested in helping out with a monetary contribution you can use the following links for each campaign or mail a check (campaign finance laws preclude joint campaign accounts):
Representative Chew: Credit Card - http://actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/16143 Check – Made out to Chew for
House and mailed to
Representative Killen: Check – Made out to Killen
for House and mailed to
Senator Werk: Credit Card - http://actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/13585 Check – Made out to Werk for
Senate and mailed to
Thank you for allowing us the honor to represent you in the Idaho Legislature. And please feel free to pass this newsletter along.
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District 17 Newsletter | |||
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April 11,
2008 In this Issue: |
End of Session Legislative
Update ~ FROM TEAM 17 | ||
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Team 17 Representative Representative ----------------------- Pizza and Politics Friday April
11th
6:00p.m. to
8:30p.m. at the Borah High School Cafeteria
$10 at the door Pizza and drinks will be served Final 2008 Legislative Public
Forum --------------------- |
Public Forum to Review the 2008
Legislative Session
Come join Team 17 to discuss just what happened during the 2008 legislature. Is this another do-nothing session or did something of substance actually happen? Come find out and talk it over with your legislators and neighbors. When: Wednesday, April 23rd beginning at 7:00 PM Where: Borah High School Library (6001 Cassia - west of the the intersection of Curtis and Cassia) Lots of free parking, plenty of good snacks, and a fun evening! Invite your friends and neighbors. We hope to see you there. The Team 17 End of Session Letter It is a great honor to represent you in the Idaho legislature. Team 17 (Senator Werk and Representatives Chew and Killen) provides our district with a powerful, unified voice on issues that matter to you and to our community. From quality of life to tax policy, from education to healthcare we strive to represent the interests of the community and to stand up for the middle class. This year Team 17 carried on our robust public outreach tradition. Last December we announced four public forums, weekly office hours, and provided contact information so you could voice your concerns. We again invite you to our legislative wrap-up on Wednesday, April 23rd at 7:00 PM in the Borah High School Library. Team 17 represents you in the legislature with three basic principles in mind:
A bill must pass both House and Senate committees
and floor votes to become law. Committee hearings are the only venue for
public testimony. Once a bill clears a committee it comes to a vote in the
full body. When passed by both Houses it must be signed into law by the
Governor. A bill can get derailed at any step in the process - including
(all too often) a committee chairman not even allowing a hearing on a
bill.
We considered and debated many issues during this legislative session - far too many to cover in this letter. If your issue is not covered here, please contact any of us; we would be pleased to speak with you. Improving Your Quality of Life Many issues that come before the legislature affect your quality of life. This session Team 17 supported improved air quality in the Treasure Valley (HB-586) and GARVEE funding for I 84 improvements (HB-581) including critically needed road resurfacing and reconstruction of interchanges at Vista and Orchard. Too often the legislature rejects legislation that positively impacts our community. Last Summer's District 17 constituent survey revealed a whopping 95% approval for minimum child daycare standards (such as criminal background checks for workers and facility safety). This year the Senate Health and Welfare committee chairwoman refused to allow a full hearing or a vote on child daycare licensing legislation (SB-1376 co-sponsored by Senator Werk). Team 17 will continue to fight for the health and safety of our children! Majority party legislators again refused to give you the power to develop a more robust road and public transportation system. Instead they threw up yet another barrier - an unnecessary constitutional amendment (HJR-4) designed to impose unreasonable restrictions on future local option proposals. Fortunately, the amendment did not pass the Senate. Team 17 was fully engaged in the fight for this critical need for the Treasure Valley. Not only is your air quality directly tied to your ability to get cars off the road, but you deserve the ability to control your own future and quality of life. Team 17 members also successfully sponsored legislation providing in-state tuition to out-of-state Idaho national guard members (HB-385a) and allowing students to carry and self-administer life-saving prescription medication (SB-1443). Sadly, bills creating a statewide siting commission for large coal and nuclear power plants (SB-1293) and removing money from politics through voluntary public campaign financing (SB-1292) were never given a hearing. Working for the Middle Class As the economy declined this session, money became tight. The legislature responded by minimizing budgets in areas that matter to citizens (like education, scholarships, and healthcare) while continuing the accelerating trend of granting huge tax breaks for special interests and their high-paid lobbyists. Once again Team 17 fought against shifting the tax burden to the middle class. This year the majority party rammed through an unprecedented property tax exemption for a French government supported nuclear fuel processing facility (HB-562), a sales tax exemption on nuclear fuel processing equipment (HB-561), and tried again to shift the $120 million/year cost of a special interest personal property tax cut (HB-599) to your wallet. This passed the House but solid Democratic opposition in the Senate resulted in a fiscally responsible compromise. After going to a conference committee that Rep. Killen had the honor of participating in, a final compromise was reached that passed the Senate and House. The final version fully exempts almost 90% of businesses from this tax, but only costs $15 million/year instead of the $120 million that the majority leadership had hoped to hand out. Senator Werk co-sponsored a bill to increase the homeowner's exemption to $150,000 (SB-1304). While this bill did not get a hearing, Team 17 will continue to fight for fair property taxes for the people that we represent. Responding to the foreclosure crisis and foreclosure rescue scams, Representative Killen and Senator Werk passed a bill (SB-1431) to help homeowners protect themselves from scams when they face foreclosure. Rep Chew was active again this year in promoting affordable healthcare for Idahoans. She sponsored bills designed to save uninsured and under-insured people between 40% and 60% on their prescription medications (HB-509) and to use federal grants to minimize Medicaid costs (HCR-40). Two other bills focused on evaluating latex allergies (HCR-42) and upgrading the pharmacy board to better deal with complex health and safety issues (H510). In the special session of 2006 the Republican's shifted taxes to individuals (20% sales tax increase) to cover a massive property tax cut for special interests while promising to cut the punishing tax on food. This year, the Democrats again proposed a bill to eliminate the tax on food. Republican leadership refused to consider this proposal. With our support, the legislature passed a food tax credit change (HB-588) that will increase your credit to $100/person over a five year period (revenue permitting). Team 17 will continue to fight for elimination of this punishing tax. Responsible and Responsive Government Team 17 was active in pushing for more efficient government through energy efficiency measures. Rep. Chew and Sen. Werk co-sponsored a bi-partisan bill to require increased energy efficiency in public school buildings (SB-1412 defeated in committee but being reworked). In addition, the team supported a bill to require more energy efficient state buildings. Team 17's efforts for more efficient state government are beginning to pay off. The Republican party finally bowed to intense pressure and dog fighting became a felony (SB-1260) - after years of effort. This is an illustration of how the people can move a reluctant legislature into the 21st century. Good government dies behind closed doors. This year Team 17 once again supported or co-sponsored legislation to advance ethics reform and open government (SB-1291,1302,1303, and 1339)- all refused a hearing, and 1446 passed). We will continue to push for open and responsive government. With the tax shift in the 2006 special session, funding for public education now depends almost entirely on the state. This year education budgets provide a bare minimum of support. We extensively debated merit pay for educators (iSTARS, SB-1436) but no logical performance-based plan was offered - only plans to tie bonuses to educator contract status and on an unproven ISAT standardized test. Team 17 worked against, and Senator Werk's vote, helped defeat iSTARS (16-19). The majority party attempted to break a long-standing covenant with state employees by proposing the reduction of health benefits for retirees (SB-1447). State employees historically were asked to trade lower pay for secure retirement and SB-1447 would have left retirees vulnerable to limitations on coverage (including prescription coverage) and huge premium increases. The primary reason for this - an accounting liability and concerns about the state's bond rating. Thankfully this effort was defeated in a House committee after passing the full Senate over Senator Werk's opposition. It looks like the Department of Administration will work on a new plan for the 2009 legislative session. If you are interested in this issue please continue to voice your ideas and concerns to Team 17 and to the Governor's office (email the Governor at http://gov.idaho.gov/WebRespond/contact_form.html). The legislature (with the support and encouragement of Team 17) continued moving slowly toward more treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues instead of filling prisons with addicted and mentally ill individuals at a huge cost to taxpayers. This year we supported funding for community-based substance abuse treatment. Interestingly, after committing almost $70 million to new prison beds and pitching a new fully private prison, the Governor vetoed two bills containing almost $17 million in treatment funds. Team 17 supported a compromise proposal restoring 90% of the funding, but we strongly felt that the full funding was needed and should have been approved. As a team we have continued to bring a needed and fresh perspective to the legislature. We have worked to redefine safety standards for child day care, eliminate special interest tax shifts, empower local communities, and enhance ethics and openness in government. As a team we are changing the nature of debate in the legislature to better serve our communities. Again we want to stress what an honor it is to represent you in the Idaho legislature. We appreciate all of the visits, phone calls, emails, and letters. This input helps us to better represent our community.
Sen. Elliot Werk Rep. Sue Chew Rep. Bill Killen To change your address
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ELLIOT WERK |
Legislative
News End of
Sessions Blues | |
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March 30, 2008 Volume 3, Number 1 | ||
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In This Issue · Calling IACI’s Bluff · Disrespecting the Constitution · State Employees Get the Shaft · Team 17 Contact Opportunities Public Meetings Visit My
Home Page at http://www.elliotwerk.org Visit the Legislative Web Page at
http://www.legislature. Visit the Secretary of State – Elections
Page at http://www.idsos.state. Contact Me mailto:elliotwerk@mindspring.com Phone: 658-0388 Legislative Messages: 332-1000 Snail Mail: |
Calling IACI’s Bluff – The Tax Shift Part
Deux
The Idaho Association of Commerce and
Industry (IACI) represents big business interests in I hope you recall that last week I
discussed IACI’s attempt to pass a $120 million business tax cut - $110
million of which went to the largest 16% of big corporations and utilities
(HB-599). Their plan shifted
the cost of the cut to the individual taxpayer and eventually to
homeowners in increased property taxes. Democrats had a better idea – exempt the
first $50,000 in personal property covering 84% of In pushing for their tax break in
committee IACI has consistently discussed the burden of the tax on small
business. They even evoked the saga of the poor lunch cart lady outside of
the Capital that had to pay $400 in taxes on her lunch cart (it turns out
that this is not true). In a down economy, with state revenues
falling, even the Republican’s in the Senate could not decide what to do.
Feed their big business benefactors or save some vestige of the state
budget for some minimal level of state services (like education, substance
abuse treatment, healthcare, etc.). They could not decide. As hard as IACI
and big business lobbied, the Republican caucus remained split. Conversely, the Senate Democrats were not
split – we were unanimously against this special interest tax shift and
again offered our plan. Exempt the first $50,000 at a cost of only $9.4
million. After two days of caucusing the
Republicans emerged on Thursday afternoon and offered the Democrats a
deal. A $75,000 exemption at a cost of about $15.5 million and covering
almost 90% of businesses in Pretty cool stuff and I must give the
Senate Republican’s their due for coming up with a very good plan. Now you would think that IACI, with all
their concern for small business, like the lunch cart lady, would embrace
this as half a loaf. After all, their big businesses would also benefit
from this exemption. Not surprisingly they immediately
announced their opposition and their intent to kill this effort in the
House. Why? Why would IACI not support a tax cut for business – especially
if it covered the entire tax burden for almost 90% of businesses in
You might have guessed. If this passes
how can IACI come back to the legislature in future years and plead for
this tax cut in the name of small business? Small business will already be
completely exempted from the tax. No more hiding behind the lunch lady and
all those poor small businesses throughout the state. No, IACI would be
forced to come to the legislature with their agenda completely exposed -
may we please have a $105 million tax cut that shifts to individual
taxpayers and homeowners that benefits only the largest 10% of
corporations in the state. Doesn’t sound too compelling does it? If you
would like to get this wise compromise passed, I would encourage you to
contact members of the You can
contact the House (by committee) by going to http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/contactbycommittee.cfm.
Just select a House committee and email away! Let’s get this passed and
help small business in
How to Abuse the Constitution – The Saga of HJR-4 The constitution of the State of HJR-4 is the “brain child” of Republican House leadership. The amendment seeks to place into the constitution restrictions on all future local option tax proposals. These restrictions include requiring a 2/3 supermajority of local voters to pass a tax, voting to occur only in a November election, and requiring a 2/3 supermajority passage in any county or city involved in the area where the tax would be levied.
So what’s wrong with that? Plenty!
First, local option taxes are already allowed by the constitution. The legislature must pass a statute allowing a specific local option tax for a specific purpose. This means that the legislature can impose any requirements and restrictions it desires on any proposal for a local option tax.
Second, the
amendment requires a 2/3 super majority vote in each county affected by a
proposal. In our valley we are looking to develop a robust road and public
transportation system to avoid gridlock and air quality problems as we
grow. These
issues do not stop at county boundaries – they transcend these
political boundaries and are of consequence to us all. Would it make sense
to vote on a proposal for a road that runs through Canyon and
So why are we even considering this amendment? Quite simple – Republican House leadership wants to impose their particular vision of local option taxing on the citizens of our state into perpetuity. They want to tie your hands, and the hands of your children, and your grandchildren, and – well you get the idea.
This amendment is completely unnecessary because any of these provisions (and more) can be required by a legislature in any bill to authorize a local option tax election. The legislature will always have that option. Should we really be placing the limited vision of a few powerful legislators into our constitution to bind the hands of future generations? Team 17 thinks not and hopes that this proposal dies in the Senate. You can contact State Senators ands ask them to reject HJR-4 by going to http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/contactbycommittee.cfm and selecting a Senate committee and emailing to them.
The state of Team 17 recognizes this bill represents
all that makes for bad public policy - long waits for answers to
legislative committees working on short timelines, many amendments, and
little opportunity to get the word out to people most affected.
Currently,
the bill is being held at the desk of the Speaker of the House. He is
considering deviating from the normal process and either sending it
directly for a vote in the House or sending it to a committee that does
not normally deal with the issue of human resources. Bypassing referral to
the normal committee is particularly troubling because our citizen
legislature depends on a knowledgeable committee to take public testimony,
reason things out, and make a recommendation on the bill. To help, time is short. To stop this bill, please write an e-mail to The Speaker of the House, Lawrence Denney at ldenny@house.idaho.gov and ask him to hold the bill and instead form an interim committee to come up with, and communicate, a good plan for our state retirees and current employees. That way we can keep the promise we made to retirees and do what is right for all of us.
Joint Legislative Forum: Ø
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 – 7:00 PM in the Final Joint Legislative Office Hours of the 2008
Session - this Tuesday from 7:00 – 8:30 PM in the We discuss issues and concerns with
citizens on a first come – first served basis. So far these have been
crowded so come early!
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Legislative News - Beware the Ides of
March | |
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March 15, 2008 Volume 3, Number 1 | ||
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In This Issue · Good Stuff · Bad Stuff · Ugly Stuff · Team 17 Contact Opportunities Public Meetings Visit My Home
Page at http://www.elliotwerk.org Visit the Legislative Web Page at
http://www.legislature. Visit the Secretary of State – Elections
Page at http://www.idsos.state. Contact Me mailto:elliotwerk@mindspring.com Phone: 658-0388 Legislative Messages: 332-1000 Snail Mail: |
Good Stuff – Public School Energy Efficiency
Lives!
As you may remember SB-1412 (http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1412.html)
authored by myself and Representative Chew and vetted for nine months was
summarily killed in committee. This legislation sought to require design
and building processes that would lead to better, more energy efficient
new school buildings. While the legislation is dead for this year it has led
to robust discussion of the issue and a commitment to continued work in
this area. Often that is half the battle in the legislature - raising the
profile of an issue to get legislators comfortable with the
ideas. Following the defeat of SB-1412 the interim energy committee co-chairs recognized that there was misinformation about school building practices and that more information was needed to facilitate an accurate debate in the legislature. To gather this information the co-chairs and I will request a report regarding energy use for each school building in the state and building practices used in the last five years on new public school buildings. This information will be used by the interim committee on Energy, Environment, and Technology to evaluate further ideas and options for new legislation. In addition, the co-chairs have committed to holding a
hearing with the education community to discuss building processes in our
school districts and to invite input on developing legislation to help our
districts build better buildings and use taxpayer money more
efficiently. I will work diligently with the committee and the
education community to develop legislation for the 2009 legislative
session. Sometimes good legislation takes a few years to pass. I am confident that we can rework this legislation and have it enacted by the 2009 legislature.
That is
French for Special Interest Legislation! Apropos since the Legislature is
considering a huge tax break for a French government supported and
governed company to locate a uranium processing plant in eastern
Remember the property tax cap that the legislature placed on the value of Micron’s property? The plan was to cap their value and provide an incentive to invest in updating their facility. At tha | |
