Oregonians are acting like grown-ups!

The results of Oregon's special election to actually raise taxes on those people who can most afford to pay them is a breath of fresh air!  Here's a link to a story in the Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/voters_pass_tax_measures_by_bi.html


This shows us that a growing number of people are finally waking up to the fact that you can't have good services provided by your state government unless you're willing to pay for them.  And the truth is, many Americans are willing to pay for them, they just think that others should help shoulder the burden.  For too many years the low and middle income earners in Idaho have been paying far more than their fair share of taxes, and big business, big landowners (farmers), and wealthy people get all the breaks.  


While there's no doubt that Idaho voters are different than Oregon voters, and passing any kind of a tax hike in Idaho could be fatal for legislators in an election year when so many of them are up for re-election, here's hoping they will at least act like grown-ups.  Is it too much to hope that all of our state legislators will do what's best not only for state employees, but for the citizens themselves?  There is a bigger demand for state services now than there ever has been.  More Idahoans are unemployed and need retraining.  Is this the time to keep cutting funds for our colleges and universities?  More unemployed Idahoans than ever are applying for food stamps and other assistance.  Is this the time to cut Health and Welfare?  More young families than ever will rely on state parks for their family's camping vacations.  Is this the time to cut Parks and Rec?  


Here's hoping our own state legislators will realize that they MUST start looking at the revenue side of the budget equation.  We can't meet the needs of Idahoans by spending cuts alone.  We MUST find a way to bring in more money.  Here's for passing Rep. Shirley Ringo's temporary surtax on those Idahoans who make more than $125,000.  Here's for eliminating some of the big tax exemptions given to large companies like Micron.  Do we need to keep giving companies like Micron tax exemptions when they continue to ship jobs overseas and lay off more Idahoans?  


Here's for state legislators who are willing to make the hard decisions even if they do face difficult reelection campaigns.  It would be nice to see more idealism (working for the greater good) rather than more ideology in our state legislature.  

This week in the legislature

Nothing much has happened on our issues in the legislature yet, but I think things will start to bust loose next week.  I've told you about the legislation IPEA is supporting concerning the change in Human Resources to put authority back under the Personnel Commission.  Well, nothing has been introduced on that issue yet, but we're definitely working behind the scenes.  IPEA has a great legislative committee that is lobbying members of the germane committees as I write this.  The same can be said of our efforts to amend Title 18 (bribery statute) so we can conduct a statewide employee recognition program.  

There is a least one thing coming up that I think IPEA will be supporting, although I haven't run this through the legislative committee yet, so I am now speaking for myself. I have heard a rumor that a legislator may introduce a bill to require part time legislators to be treated the same as part time classified state employees when it comes to health insurance.  Remember when Mr. Gwartney upped the premiums that part timers have to pay for insurance?  Well, you should know that state legislators are exempt from that ruling and are considered the same as full time state employees when it comes to health insurance.  Here's an article by Dan Popkey in today's Statesman about this issue:

http://www.idahostatesman.com/1306/story/1051139.html

I am meeting with the legislator who may be proposing this legislation next week. If you will remember when this issue came up previously that the universities, at least BSU, was fighting the change in premiums for part timers as well.  Since that time a deal was struck and now part time faculty at BSU have also been given the same status as the part time legislators.  This leaves only about a hundred BSU classified employees that have been hung out to dry.  I think this is unfair.  I think the only fair way to deal with this issue is to consider all part time employees to be the same, whether they are classified employees, adjunct faculty, or legislators.  Of course, my preference is that they would just eliminate the change Mr. Gwartney put in place last year, but if they are going to increase health insurance premiums for part time employees, they should do it for all of them, or better yet, in my opinion, for none of them.  If they pass legislation that requires them all to be treated the same, I think the issue could go away entirely.  

Call for fairness in taxation

There certainly is a lot of activity at the new and improved statehouse, but none of our issues have surfaced yet.  That doesn't mean we're not working on them, though.  IPEA has been working all summer and fall to get two important pieces of legislation written: One would change the position of "Administrator" of Human Resources to "Director" of Human Resources; one would place that Director under the authority of the Idaho Personnel Commission.  The legislation has been written, and we have a couple of sponsors. We are still assisting the Representative who is carrying the bill to find cosponsors, and we think we may be making progress here.  Why is this important?  There are two main reasons:  This change would increase the professionalism of the management of Human Resources.  This change would also depoliticize the state workforce.  This change would also take Mr. Gwartney, and any of his predecessors in future administrations, out of Human Resource management.  We'll be asking for your support when this bill is introduced.  

We're also concerned about budget cuts.  For some time we have been advocating for our legislators to look at the revenue side of the budget, and now, with the long recession, there is some support for this.  Unfortunately, there isn't enough.  We will support legislator's efforts to do something about the existing tax code so all of us pay our fair share, including the wealthy, large corporations, and the large landowners.  For too long the burden of supporting state services has rested on the low and middle income Idahoans and the small business people.  We think that should change. Did you know that the ceiling for state income tax is about $25,000?  That means, if you make $25,000, you're paying the same amount of state income tax as someone who makes $100,000.   

Here's an installment of Boise Weekly's "Unda' the Rotunda" column about the state legislature from this week.  Now, keep in mind, the Boise Weekly is the city's alternative newspaper, so it doesn't just "lean" left, it is unabashedly left, so keep that in mind if you read some of the other articles.  But, lately, this column has really been right on the mark concerning the state legislature.  

Here's this week's column which is about collecting taxes from the "scofflaws".

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/leaving-cash-on-the-table/Content?oid=1445646

Now read this column from two years ago.  Isn't it about time something is done about this stuff?  

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/unda-the-rotunda/Content?oid=935462

Governor's State of the State address

State employees should be concerned after listening to Governor Otter's State of the State speech yesterday.  In fact, all residents of the Great State of Idaho should be concerned.  As the speech progressed, it became increasingly obvious that Governor Otter simply isn't learning the lessons he should be when it comes to the "new normal" in the state's budget.  


Governor Otter explained his philosophy of Idaho government as one that respects its revenue as "the people's money".  Yet he apparently doesn't believe in spending that revenue on services to the very people he is talking about.  It was obvious that this is an election year speech because he still is still unwilling to address the problems around revenue.  I'm not talking about increasing taxes here, I'm just talking about making the existing tax structure fair to ALL of the people of Idaho, and not just wealthy landowners, corporate agribusiness, and big business in general.  Why is Governor Otter apparently unwilling to address these issues?  Because those groups are his biggest campaign donors.  


If this is "the people's money," then let's spend it on the people!  For instance, his suggestion to eliminate Parks and Recreation.  Holdbacks may already cause the closing of some Idaho state parks, and this is a terrible outcome.  Some legislators, and apparently, Governor Otter, believe parks should charge higher fees.  Yet I know that many Idahoans raising families use the parks because a camping vacation is pretty much the only family vacation they can afford.  I know that was definitely my situation when my sons were little boys. Think of all "the people" that this will affect.


Idaho working people have very little recourse when they are fired from a job in this "Right to Work" state, but at least they have the Human Rights Commission as a resource when they are fired for blatantly discriminatory reasons.  "The people" won't have that resource if Governor Otter gets his way.  


And phasing out funding for IPTV?  That's just crazy talk!  IPTV has just expanded its coverage of the legislature to include live coverage of JFAC.  In fact, I watched the Governor's speech by the internet streaming service provided by IPTV.  It's important for "the people" to be able to keep an eye on their legislators. Not to mention all the great programming IPTV provides.  In fact, I watched a program just this week about the history of the Idaho Capitol building.  


In fact, every commission and agency Governor Otter is considering phasing out is important to "the people", and the savings he cites for closing these commissions and agencies could be made up for if the legislature will close the tax loopholes for wealthy Idahoans.  


One last thing bears pointing out concerning the Governor's philosophy of Government.  Governor Otter and many of the Idaho legislators seem to think that the way to bring business to Idaho is by giving corporations tons of tax breaks and incentives.  But that myopic view of the way to entice businesses to Idaho will not serve us well in the end.  Businesses locate to states that have a well-trained and well-educated workforce (how will we get that with cuts to education and universities and community colleges?), and a great quality of life (how will we achieve that with fewer parks?).  Governor Otter, please wake up and smell the coffee.  Your philosophy of Government is out-dated and no longer serves our state well.  

Correction!

Ooops.  I meant "Human Resources", not "Human Relations".  

Legislature opens today

Idaho's legislative session opens today with Governor Otter's State of the State speech at 1:00 pm.  I am encouraging everyone to watch it if you're in a place where it's possible.  You can link to it here: http://www.idahoptv.org/leglive/  I know its difficult for Idaho state employees to keep up on what happens in the legislature, after all, you are at work, but IPEA is determined to give you the information you need to keep up on things.  We have this blog, and I'll try to update it frequently during the session.  You can also follow IPEA on Twitter @idahopublic.   I'll let you know if we need you to shoot off an email to your legislator or make a call.  

The committees to watch are State Affairs and Commerce and Human Relations. This is where most of the legislation concerning state employees comes in.  But this year its also important to keep a close watch on the budget process and tax legislation.  A couple of our legislators are actually proposing tax cuts for corporations.  At IPEA we think this is disastrous.  We think those legislators proposing this are using it as a campaign tactic.  Its important to know that every state elected official is up for reelection this year, so everything they do is worth a second look.  Look at all of these proposals with a critical eye, because there is absolutely no evidence that cutting taxes on corporations will bring more jobs into the state, as they contend.  Look at all the tax breaks and benefits we have given corporations such as Micron in the last several years.  And also take a look at how many workers they have laid off as they have taken more of their work overseas.  You can also take a look at the economies of neighboring states.  Some of those with no income tax at all are in far worse shape than Idaho.  As Dr. Phil would say, "And how's that been working for you?"

At IPEA we believe a far better option is to tighten up our tax revenues.  This means looking at the exemptions we already allow and eliminating some of them.  The middle income worker in Idaho (and this includes nearly all state employees) are already paying far more than their fair share in the current tax structure.  Let's do what we can to make sure big business, including big agribusiness, and wealthy large landowners pay their fair share.  

Its important to pay attention to what happens in your local statehouse, and we're going to do everything we can to help you stay on top of it.  

Getting ready for the session

Next week the 2010 Legislative Session opens and there is every indication it will be a tough one.  We have a proactive agenda this year, and our most important effort will be an attempt to help pass legislation that will remove the authority over the Department of Human Resources from the Governor and Mr. Gwartney.  The legislation, if passed, will change the position of "Human Resources Administrator" to "Human Resources Director".  The new position will report directly to the Personnel Commission which will also have the authority to hire and fire the new Director.  IPEA believes it is important for the state workforce to have a true professional Human Resources specialist at its helm.