Focus Issues

During the 2008 legislative session, accomplishments in which I was directly involved include:

• Enactment of a law to help protect victims of domestic violence by providing address protection;
• Avoiding cuts in Headstart funding;
• Providing leadership in the discussion to block State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna’s iSTARS compensation plan for teachers – work will continue to develop an acceptable plan.

Accomplishments in which I played a supporting role include:

• Increasing support for the needs-based Opportunity Scholarship for post high school education;
• Exempting the first $100,000 for the business personal property tax;
• Providing funding for substance abuse treatment;
• Blocking cuts in retired public employee benefits.

Issues to address in the 2009-2010 Legislative Sessions:

Taxes:

• Enact a law permitting a local option sales tax.
• Remove the sales tax on food.
• Eliminate ineffective and unfair exemptions.
• Level the playing field for businesses by taxing internet sales.
• Improve funding for safe roads and bridges.
• Provide Idaho Earned Income Credit at 10% of federal level.

Education:

• Work with educators on pay and teacher evaluation plans.
• Salary equity for university teachers and researchers.
• Improve financial aid for post-secondary education.
• Benefits for active and retired employees.

Early Childhood:

• Higher standards for childcare providers.
• Require school districts to offer kindergarten.
• Increase focus on pre-kindergarten education.
• Create office of Early Childhood Affairs.

Health:

• Assure access to affordable high quality healthcare.
• Increase community treatment for substance abuse and mental health.