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Rep. Phylis King Newsletter
Staying in touch with constituents is very important to me. Each year, I schedule forums for informal discussions about legislative concerns or issues you are interested in. However, you don’t have to wait until the forum to contact me. My email is pking@house.idaho.gov. Or call me at the statehouse 332-1080 or at home 344-0202.
I have scheduled three forums this session. All will be held from 7 PM to 8:30 PM
January 26 At Timberline High school in the Library in the front of the building.
February 16 At Maple Grove Elementary School in the library
March 15 at Timberline High School in the cafeteria or in the choir room. Enter from the east entrance.
On Monday Jan 9, the Idaho legislature began the second session of the 61st legislature. This session promises to be interesting—I hope that is an understatement. We will be tackling issues like Idaho Health Care exchanges, ethics and I predict we will pass a bill to make texting while driving illegal.
The Federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be a hot topic this session. It mandates that states either create their own exchanges or if no exchange is in place by Jan 1, 2014, it will default to a federal exchange. An exchange will facilitate where the uninsured and the self insured go to purchase health insurance. The federal government will subsidize the cost of the premium.
Most of the discussion that I have heard in the media is whether to have a state run exchange or default to the Federal Government. I believe we are better off if we have an Idaho exchange that meets the unique interests of Idahoans and uses Idaho employees.
But I think the discussion should really be about the makeup of the exchange board and the direction the legislature gives that board to implement and run the exchange. An explanation of an exchange by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners says: Section 1311(d) gives States the option to establish the Exchange as a governmental agency or nonprofit entity. …. the Exchange must be publicly accountable, transparent, and have technically competent leadership, with the capacity and authority to take all actions necessary to meet federal standards, including the discretion to determine whether health plans offered through the Exchange are “in the interests of qualified individuals and qualified employers” …. The Exchange also must have security procedures that meet the data and privacy standards necessary to receive …..sensitive information needed for enrollment.
Budget/education. I will give the governor credit for making education his top priority although there is not any money for cost of living increases for the employees—only bonuses for some employees on a one time basis. Education really is the investment with the greatest return for state prosperity. I think you will see some changes in his K-12 education budget recommendations as the House and Senate Committees suggest changes to Superintendent Luna’s Students Come First legislation of last year. Since the State Board of Education reduced the number of online courses to two for the 2014 graduates, we might see some funding put back into salaries which were decreased last session for technology.
I am happy to see that the governor wants to put $5 million into higher education for technology. Utah did this in 2006 or 07 except they invested $75 million. They have had some phenomenal results with startups and attracting clean businesses to their state. The governor wants the state to partner with the Center of Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) and the three research schools and the INL and the Department of Commerce to create new businesses and jobs for Idaho. He is also fully supportive of his new Department of Commerce Director and the initiatives that are being undertaken and is recommending more funding. And finally, he wants to fund student growth in the schools as well as pick up some of the occupancy costs of new buildings.
Ethics. I drafted a couple of ethics bills this past fall and both of them seem to have taken on a life of their own. One of the bills creates an independent ethics commission. The speaker liked it but wanted to have his thumb print on it. As a result we will form a work group that will redraft my bill and propose something in a couple of weeks. The commission would probably include 5 to 9 non-partisan citizens who would investigate citizen complaints and refer back to the agencies with their recommendations. .
My other bill is a whistle blowers hotline for state employees to report agency waste or violations of ethics and laws. The Democrats also have bills that require more financial disclosure and another bill to stop the revolving door from legislator to lobbyist or vice versa.
I’m trying to keep this short. Being a legislator is humbling and an honor. It is an important duty that deserves my time, attention and dedication. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns, questions, suggestions, or gripes that you may have.
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