November 13, 2007 -Western Legislative Academy - I spent most of last week in Colorado Springs attending the Western Legislative Academy put on by the Council of State Governments West. This bipartisan organization is comprised of the state legislatures of the thirteen western states and sponsors with meetings designed to facilitate an across the aisle approach to governmental problem solving. It included both hands on consensus building activities and classroom sessions covering everything from dealing with media to negotiating resolutions of political impasses. It was extremely well done, and provided an opportunity to mingle with other legislators facing common issues in their home states; best of all it gave me a chance to beg, borrow and steal time tested solutions that have been used elsewhere. I know it will make me much more effective in this coming session.
October 17,2007 - Interim Tax Committee - The committee wrapped up its work this last week. Only time and the deliberations of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, will tell if the end result will be enduring. Perhaps most significant was the committee's unanimous adoption of a document entitled Principles for Evaluating Tax Deductions, Credits and Exemptions in the State of Idaho. Eight principles were identified with several consisting of multiple bullet points illustrating the principle involved. Co-chairman Dennis Lake who is also the Chairman of the House Revenue and Tax Committee stated that he intended to make use of these principles in performing such evaluations. Additionally the committee prioritized Income and sales tax credits, deductions, and exemptions for scrutiny at the upcoming session. No action was taken in the property tax arena. Stay posted to see what, if anything actually takes place in the 2008 session.
September 25, 2007 - McCall Field Trip -
I spent most of yesterday, the 24th, in the McCall area viewing a private forest preserve created by the Dr. Herald Nokes family East of Mcall adjoining Little Payette Lake. I first met Dr. Nokes in the early '80s when living in McCall. He was one of the founding members of the McCall Memorial Hospital Foundation as was I. His early education was at the University of Idaho in forestry management, an interest which is still with him after retiring as a longtime family practitioner in the McCall area. The long term viability of the approximately 1600 acre forestlands parcel acquired by his father was assured with the transfer of a conservation easement to the University of Idaho which will manage it for educational and research purposes.
A number of legislators, including myself, were hosted by the Payette Land Trust and its members who are supporting legislation designed to provide transferable tax credits to ranch, farm and forest land owners willing to create similar easements on their properties. The long term goal is to preserve such lands in their present state, eliminating the prospect of their future development for residential and commercial purposes, thus creating long term open spaces compatible with native wildlife populations, while still permitting their historical use for ranching, farming or forestry purposes. The legislation has the backing of an unusual coalition of interests, including the Nature Conservancy, the Idaho Farm Bureau, the Idaho Cattle Association, the Idaho Conservation League, and many other resource and outdoor enthusiast groups. It appears Idaho is rather unique in being able to form such coalitions among interest groups that are frequently at loggerheads elsewhere.
August 14,2007 - Interim Tax Committee - Our initial three meetings were held on August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd as scheduled. Except for a few procudural motion the threed days were taken up wholly be information from a variety of staff members and tax interest groups. The primary objective of the committee is to review the existing exemptions, credits and deductions available under either the income, sales, or property tax programs. The committee by an 8-6 vote declined to impose a 2/3 threshold on any recommendations they may adopt. A later motion to exclude from review the original 17 sales tax exemptions adopted in 1965 when the sales tax began failed on a 6 - 6 tie vote, two members being absent that particular day. In effect everything is on the table for evaluation with no sacred cows.
The real work beings in October when the final three meetings are held, now re-scheduled for October 1st, 2nd and 3rd to accomodate one of the co-chairs' scheduling conflicts. My best guess is that little change will result save for some minor housekeeping issues involving exemptions that have experienced little or no use since their adoption, such as the "corporate headquarters" one. However, one never knows until the motions are made and the votes counted. I am getting better at the latter issue, predicting both votes right on the money. It is starting to appear that a coalition of House Democrats and moderate Republicans from the Senate may have a major impact on what is ultimately recommended. Stay tuned as it could get quite interesting.
I was notified since the last posting that I have been selected to attend a program at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business from July 16th to the 19th. It is billed as an Emerging Political Leaders Program and includes representatives from all fifty states. Best of all is is paid for by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation save for incidentals and the like which I will cover myself. I've talked to Idaho legislators who have attended it in the past and was strongly encouraged to apply. I'll let you know how it went on my return.
July 28, 2007 - Montecello - The highlight of the trip to the University of Virginia, hands down, was the visit to Mr. Jefferson's Montecello. During the course of the tour it became increasingly clear, at least to me, the Jefferson was truly an engineer. Only an engineer would have included so many gadgets in, around, and under his home. moving food, wine from the cellar, opening and closing doors and keeping track of time and dates. If alive today I'm sure he would have his i-phone already.
The conference itself was excellent, especially the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas, experiences and thoughts with legislators from throughout the country. Talking to Democrats who operate as part of a majority in their House or Senate was an extraordinary experience - some day? Also of interest - two of the five faculty members were from Idaho. Pat Werhane nee' Hogue hailed originally from Twin Falls - I knew her father slightly since he was a good friend of my father; Jared Harris from Idaho Falls recently joined the UVA faculty after receiving his Doctrate from the University of Minnesota. It made the program almost like old home week. It felt great to get back and I feel definitely energized from the experience with lots of new ideas and resource to look to for help.
July 10th, 2007 - Utah Transit Authority - I spent yesterday in Salt Lake City as part of a group visiting the Utah Transit Authority. They are the state agency charged with coordinating the public transit activities in Utah, essentially along the Wasatch front. Their efforts are very similar to what our Treasure Valley Regional Transit authority is attempting to implement with a mix of bus transit, light rail, and commuter rail in the future. We met at length with the manager of operations and heard an in-depth recap of how they got where they are today starting back in the late '60's .
Much of it sounded very familiar with a lot of naysayers at the outset eventually converting to true believers as gridlock on their interstate corridor grew worse and worse. The program is funded through local option sales taxes varying between 1/4 and 3/4 percent, depending on which county is involved; currently their are four counties up and running with two more coming on board over the next six years as construction extends East and West from the primary North-South corridor.
We also heard from the Salt Lake City Chamber President, Lane Beattie, who was the president of the Utah Senate during much of the evolution of the program; his insights were extremely useful since they faced almost the identical obstacles in the legislature that we experienced this last session. Since attendees from Idaho included members of both parties from the Treasure Valley, in addition to Valley Transit, Compass, and other stakeholders, I am hopeful that the odds of passing a public transit bill are looking up.
June 23, 2007- Interim Tax Committee - The joint House/Senate Interim Tax commission meeeting schedule has finally been set. The meetings are all in Boise at the J.R. Williams Bldg. in the main floor conference rooms. The dates are August 1,2,and 3rd, plus October 8, 9 and 10. All meetings are open to the public and will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Though billed as a review of tax exemptions, it is possible they will broaden out to include overrall tax policy considerations. Drop by if you get a chance. I'll post my take on them after each group of sessions.
I attended a subcommittee meeting of the State Tax Commission's Personal Property committee. With the expectation being that the majority party will make another run at eliminating the business personal property tax, the rules defining whether or not business property is real or personal are being closely scrutinized, particularly in the utility and operating property arena. Tagging property as being in the real property side of the divide could mean huge tax savings if the bill is successful this next go around. Unfortunately it is a $100 million item that will have to be made up from somewhere else; if past experience is an indicator, it will likely come from an increase in the property tax burden on residential properties, since that is the sole mechanism for local governments to raise revenues outside self funded enterprise activities such as water, sewer and the like. I attempted to amend it so as to fiscally protect local governments, and their taxpayers, last time; I may have to dust the amendment off and get it ready for the upcoming session.
The Boise Metro Chamber put on a review of highway and road funding here in the Treasure Valley earlier this week. The Garvee Connecting Idaho program is proceeding, though slowly; the Orchard St. to Isaac's Canyon portion, which includes the sound wall along the North side of I 84, is still on track with construction of the wall scheduled for 2008. My biggest concerns are the rapidly escalating costs of construction and the rapidly shrinking Federal Highway funds. Hopefully, by starting these projects sooner rather than later, we will get them accomplished before the fiscal crunch hits. Stay tuned.
May 23, 2007- Community College - Great news this morning with the successful passage of the Community College measure. I've spent the last several weeks talking to a variety of community groups in support of the measure and am extremely pleased with its passage. Whoever organized the absentee ballot approach deserves a medal. Thanks to everyone who supported it; to those who didn't, I believe with the passage of time your outlook will change.
I received news this last week that I have been selected to serve on the interirm tax committee. Its official charter is to re-examine the criteria by which various activities and programs receive special tax treatment, whether be credits or exemptions. I'm hopeful the committee may broaden its agenda, since I believe our overall tax structure is in need of a thorough review. If you have any thoughts in this area be sure to let me know. The committee meeting agenda has not been set as yet, but as soon as it is, I will post it on this page; hopefully some of you will be able to attend. Again, thaks for the opportunity to serve.
