Crane is yet another example of a GOP culture that treats the state as a personal piggy bank and shows contempt for tax-paying Idahoans.

The Management Report for the Office of the State Treasurer has highlighted several areas where Republican  State Treasurer Ron Crane has failed Idahoans. News that family members of his staff used state paid limousines during trips to New York City and Crane’s failure to track commuting expenses to work are not his only problem areas.

The audit noted that Crane has not used the State reporting system to track expenses for annual rafting trips. Also, Crane’s daily commuting expenses, discovered by reporters in January, have amounted to $8000 in un-authorized spending. And, his office has directed staff-time and $10,000 a year to an annual program not covered in statute, Crane’s non-profit company called the Idaho Women’s Money Conference, Inc.

Despite the troubling audit and a lack of institutional control, Crane is pushing to have new programs added to his purview.

Shelley Landry, Executive Director of the Idaho Democratic Party said, “It’s odd that the Treasurer is trying to grow government and expand his powers at a time when most agencies are being asked to reduce their functions and tighten their belts. While the findings of this report aren’t illegal, they highlight, once again, the culture of arrogance and entitlement that has infected the leadership within the Republican Party. Idahoans must have complete confidence in the elected official in charge of their money. Ron Crane inspires no such confidence.”

Greetings from the Capitol! Last week the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) focused on education in Idaho. Our colleges and universities are struggling to keep up nationally because of drastic cuts in state financial support. They’ve tried to make up for lost funding in myriad ways including numerous tuition increases. The percentage of the college General Education Budget provided by tuition and fees has increased from 19% in 2001 to 41.9% last year. On top of that our colleges have been forced to freeze salaries and cut programs and degrees. In Idaho, we’re losing some of our best teachers to universities in other states and with them goes years of experience and future innovation. Especially in tough economic times, higher education is a great investment in Idaho’s economy.

This return on investment is no more evident than in Idaho’s important agriculture industry. The Agricultural Research & Extension Service (ARES) works with Idaho farmers to increase production and detect and reduce plant diseases, making our state more competitive. Let me give you an example; potato research returns $40 of economic benefit for each dollar invested. Research from these institutions helped Idaho agriculture dramatically increase cash receipts and net income records in 2011. ARES and our dedicated farmers have helped agriculture become Idaho’s largest industry, accounting for 20% of the state’s economic base and 16% of employment. Unfortunately, we lost one of our best wheat researchers, Dr. Bob Zemetra, to Oregon State when we couldn’t offer a competitive salary.

On Thursday, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) gave us an in-depth look at the condition of our state’s roadways. Since the economic downturn they have done a great job stretching limited resources through innovation and restructuring. However, they simply need more funds to maintain and rebuild Idaho’s aging roadways and bridges. In the past they’ve been kept afloat with federal stimulus dollars which are now running out. Today, 13% of our paved roads are deficient. That number will rise to 28% deficiency by 2021 if we maintain our current rate of investment. Also, 574 of our bridges are over 50 years old. Within 10 years that number is set to double. Our roads are the veins of our economy and part of what made us a wealthy nation yet now we are discussing the possibility of paved roads returning to gravel. Our entire country could benefit from refocusing on our infrastructure.

ISU professor Dr. Herb Maschner gave JFAC a presentation on the Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) which included their current programs and future plans. IMNH created Idaho’s first courses in Museum Studies and spearheaded the development of undergraduate and graduate programs at Idaho State. Together IMNH and ISU are using 3D scanning technologies to build virtual museums for use in public education, distance learning and online research. These advancements, combined with new partnerships with the Smithsonian Institution, make the museum a great source of pride for the Pocatello area, an important research facility to Idaho, and worthy of state support.

Friday in the Capitol Auditorium, JFAC will again hear public testimony, a concept that originated last year when many people wanted their voices to be heard regarding education and health and welfare funding. Any topic is on the table. I’m looking forward to listening and learning from people who have concerns.  Please see this link for additional details on participating in JFAC hearings - http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2012/interim/jfac0203_testimony.pdf - As always, it is an honor and a privilege to serve those of you in my district and I welcome any questions or comments you may have. You can contact me via email at dbilyeu@senate.idaho.gov.

Sincerely,

Diane Bilyeu

Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Contact: Representative John Rusche (208) 750-6048 or Senator Edgar Malepeai (208) 251-9517

Idaho Democratic Legislators’ #1 Priority is Job Creation

BOISE – Today Idaho Democratic Legislators presented common sense, proactive policies they believe will help develop the prosperous communities we all desire and deserve.

IJOBs 2.0 consists of seven proposals that will grow existing companies and attract new companies, enhance our infrastructure, keep money in Idaho, and ensure that our economic development efforts are productive and accountable.

Representative Brian Cronin said, “The Idaho Legislature must play a critical and active role in returning prosperity to our communities.  We thought so in 2010, when we first proposed our first IJOBs economic development package and today we continue to push for real solutions to our ongoing economic challenges.”

The Idaho Jobs and Opportunity Blueprint consists of:

• Value-Added Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment Act
• Idaho Partnership Bank
• Business Relocation & Finder’s Fee Tax Credit
• Idaho Corporate Accountability and Transparency Act
• Buy Idaho First Contracting Act
• Micro Enterprise Bridge Loan Program
• Rural Broadband Service Memorial

These bills hone in on the aspects of economic development that will impact job creation and business growth in Idaho’s communities. Rep. Cronin closed by saying, “Many of these initiatives focus on the long-term task of breaking out of the low-wage trap Idaho is in. We recognize the shared responsibility we have for creating jobs, an educated workforce, and a modern infrastructure. We look forward to working with our Republican colleagues to move forward the only job creation package currently before the Legislature.”

Idaho House of Representatives

January 25, 2011

Dear Constituent,

As this legislative session is beginning, I wanted to write and let you know about what I am doing this year.

Committee Assignments.  I continue to serve on the Revenue and Taxation Committee; the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee; and the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee.  I also serve as an ad hoc member of the Natural Resources Interim Committee.

Restoring Trust in State Government.  Like you, I value honesty and I expect public officials to put the people they are supposed to serve first. I am partnering with other legislators on bills to establish an independent ethics commission, prohibit state officials from lobbying for a year after leaving government, combating conflicts of interest by requiring disclosure of personal financial information by public officials and adding a whistleblower hotline for state employees to report waste, fraud and abuse.  So far the response from members of both parties has been positive. This important ethics reform will begin to restore the people’s faith and confidence in government.

Jobs and the Economy.  I recognize that we must grow Idaho business and create good paying jobs.  That is why I am partnering with other legislators on the following bills:

·         The Idaho Partnership Bank would work with local lenders to increase the availability of affordable small business loans.

·         Improve Broadband Speed and Access would more effectively link us to the rest of the world and to each other.

·         The Buy Idaho First Contracting Act would leverage the state’s purchasing power to give preference to Idaho goods and services.

·         Promote Value Added Business with tax credits so that more of our raw commodities, including agricultural products, are processed in Idaho.     

·         The Idaho Corporate Accountability and Transparency Act will require public disclosure of jobs tax credit information. Although these tax credits do not cost anything if they don’t create jobs, we owe it to ourselves to know if they are working.

·         The Business Relocation and Finder’s Fee Tax Credit will provide tax credits for jobs created when Idaho businesses recruit new businesses to Idaho.  This not only creates new jobs, it also reduces costs and increases productivity by assembling an industry’s producers, suppliers and service providers in one area.   

·         Promote Job Growth at the Boise Airport by making Idaho competitive with states that do not charge sales tax on jet aircraft maintenance and repair work.  This bill passed the House last year, but died in the Senate.  It’s back this year and may stand a better chance this time.

·         Full Funding for Public Schools and Higher Education remains a top priority because an adequately educated and trained workforce is the only way we can grow our economy.

Education.  Full funding for public schools and higher education remains a top priority.  An adequately educated and trained workforce is the only way we can grow our economy.  I support innovation and I remain a strong supporter of our teachers.  I am opposed to the Luna laws because they impose unfunded mandates and transfer power to state bureaucrats at the expense of parents and elected school boards.

State Owned Businesses.  I have been working with other legislators on a bill to curb state ownership of businesses.  State owned businesses compete with other businesses, but do not pay taxes.  This gives them an unfair competitive advantage, and it reduces revenues for schools and other important public services.  The Natural Resources Interim Committee endorsed our bill with limited changes, and it is now on its way to the House and Senate.

Legislative Information. You can access bills, watch the Legislature live, and obtain contact information for legislators on the Legislature’s website at www.legslature.idaho.gov.  Please contact me with any of your legislative concerns or questions.

Very truly yours,                                                            Representative Grant Burgoyne