Rep. Elaine Smith Week 2 of Idaho Legislature

Posted on Jan 19, 2012 in Legislative Updates

Monday evening of week 2, I attended the Idaho Jobs Coalition, which is comprised of many organizations.  Dr. Stephen Cooke, recently retired U. of  Idaho Economist, was the main speaker.  He stated, “ Idaho’s economy exhibits the symptoms of a self perpetuating low-skill low-wage trap.”  Idaho’s wages are 48th in the nation.  In 2009, Cooke informed the audience that $34,124 was the annual wage salary in Idaho, which was 24% less or $10,788 less than the national average.  He then determined Idaho had $6.5 billion wage gap.  He thought bad jobs and low wages cause the wage gap with Idaho having an undereducated work force now.  Our state is growing in low skill, low wage sectors.  For Idaho to have a high skill economic growth depends on strategic complement of research and development for industry.  Dr Cooke thought Idaho needs work force development and high skill recruitment infrastructure investment to complement private investment. He stated, “tax cuts are counter productive to economic performance.”  I did not have the opportunity to talk with him about the Governor’s proposed tax relief.

In State Affairs, House bill 380 will be heard Friday, Jan. 20th, to prohibit camping on Capitol Mall properties and other state facilities.  Presently Occupy Boise has tents on the grounds of the Capitol Annex.  It should be a long meeting to hear both sides.

For your information there will be another video franchising bill.  The latest version in a five or six years saga of this issue will now be heard in the Business Committee instead of State Affairs committee.  This issue would cause a huge financial impact to the City of Pocatello and on Channel 11 and 12 public access stations. I will share information after the RS comes forward for a print hearing.

The decision by the Idaho Supreme Court on redistricting has everyone in the Legislature wondering what will the new legislative districts look like.  I am sure the Redistricting Commission when they reconvene next week will make a decision in a prompt way that they did previously.

This week there was a RS, which was sent to be printed to become a bill, to move the primary from May to August in the even-numbered years.  With the redistricting issue unresolved, this may be wise to move the Primary Election time.

My committees are having print hearings on bills and doing rules.  I am on the Environment and Energy committee to review air quality and hazardous waste rules.  Also, I am on the Business committee reviewing rules for the Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, rules for the Department of Finance, and rules for the Department of Insurance.

The Democrats came forward this week with more ethics legislation besides the establishment of an independent ethics commission.  One proposal is the Conflict of Interest Act which would strengthen Idaho’s financial disclosures laws for elected officials and candidates seeking public office.  Another proposal is the Lobbyist Restriction Act which would bar Idaho’s executive officers and  legislators from registering as lobbyists for one year after serving in office.  The third proposal is the Whistleblower Reporting and Protection Act.  Contact Senator Bilyeu for information on that issue.

Please contact me on your ideas and opinions at esmith@house.idaho.gov or 208/332-1031.

Elaine Smith

State Representative – District 30

Tags: