Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, is the minority leader of the Idaho House of Representatives. She represents District 25, which includes Blaine County.
By WENDY JAQUET
Legislative activity is at full steam ahead in Boise.
- Energy: The Energy Interim Committee approved the draft plan on Thursday and the plan will now be sent to the standing committees for hearings. In the House it will be scheduled in the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee and in the Senate the plan will go before the State Affairs Committee. The draft plan can be found on the Legislative Web page www.legislature.idaho.gov.
Two minority reports were submitted as part of the plan, one on siting and one on energy affordability. The lack of a statewide siting authority is a true weakness of the plan. The plan recommends a variation of the Confined Animal Feeding Operation, CAFO, Advisory Committee, a voluntary model. If not a statewide siting authority, the CAFO model needs to be made compulsory. We also believe that the Legislature should explore authorizing the Public Utilities Commission to allow investor-owned utilities the ability to provide for a two-tier pricing system. As energy prices continue to rise, low-income households will have access issues because of affordability.
Vice President Al Gore brought to Boise "Beyond the Inconvenient Truth." His presentation was part of the Frank Church Institute program at Boise State University and the Taco Bell Arena was jammed with some 10,000 people. We will be presenting a resolution to the EET Committee next week, which will encourage the state to accelerate the development of conservation and renewables as well as promote local actions that reduce and minimize the human footprint and educate the public.
- Revenue and taxation: The House supported legislation to increase the window of opportunity for property owners to obtain a date to appeal their property valuation from five to 10 working days. In addition, a task force of assessors is looking at the timelines for all notices dealing with property values.
The House Committee on Revenue and Taxation passed to the floor by a very narrow vote legislation (H7) on the Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administration Act, SSTP. The ultimate goal of this project is to convince Congress or the Supreme Court to require sales/use tax to be collected by remote sellers after a common tax framework is widely adopted. If the full House adopts this, we will be one of 45 states that will be participating in this project. I voted "yes" because I think we need to create an even playing field between the Internet and our main street businesses.
- Education: The House also approved a $17.8 million dollar federal grant, a portion of which was awarded to the Gooding Middle School and the Shoshone School. Called Gaining Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, GEAR UP, the project will assist low-income students to prepare and attend higher education. Half the funding will go directly to students for two- or four-year renewable college scholarships to $16,000. Priority for the scholarships is based on financial need and academic preparation. Also, all students in the school grade will be served in each of the schools—there is no "in" or "out" selection within the school grade. Congratulations to Shoshone and Gooding!
- Corrections: Here is some food for thought. One out of every 36 adult males in Idaho is either incarcerated in the Idaho Department of Corrections or supervised by IDOC for a felony conviction. One out of every 136 adult females in Idaho is either incarcerated or supervised by the IDOC for a felony conviction. Almost 80 percent are in the system because of alcohol and substance abuse, and of that about 20 percent are severely mentally ill. Yearly costs are about $20,000 per inmate. It makes sense that our state is going to need to focus more on prevention and in community services such as treatment. More on this as the Legislature continues.
I enjoy the opportunity to serve you. Please e-mail me (wjaquet@house.idaho.gov) or call me about your concerns, (208) 332-1132.
