The House State Affairs Committee killed SB 1447 today, the bill that would have required retired public employees to go on medicare if they were medicare eligible. I fought this bill in the Senate and was pleased to see it die.
Both bodies passed a personal property tax compromise bill that provides for the first $100,000 of personal business property to be exempt from property taxes. This will remove this tax for 88% of Idaho's businesses. It will kick in when state revenues increase 5% or more in one year but will then be in effect into perpetuity. Businesses would only be eligible for $100,000 of personal property tax relief per county.
The Senate passed a primary election bill that provided for a "call for" ballot. For persons registered as party members, they would vote in their party primaries. All other people would call for either a Democrat or Republican ballot. It would be a matter of public record which ballot they used. In addition, the bill provided that if a party chose to do so, and paid the expense, they could choose their candidates any way they wanted. For example, party bosses in Boise could choose who would be allowed to run in Latah County.
I opposed this bill because I believe that the election system, both primary and general, belong to the people. I also believe that the people represented by elected officials should choose the candidates. I cannot support a system that disenfranchises citizens from participating in our election system. For example, would reporters vote in this "call for" ballot system? Would public employees who might be subject to scrutiny because of political affiliation? I believe that a secret ballot is the cornerstone of democracy. If we want big money to run government, just start having candidates chosen by party heads in Boise!!
Three Senators retired from the Senate this year. Senator Mel Richardson R-Idaho Falls, after 16 years in the Senate and 4 in the house, Senator Mike Burkett, D-Boise, having served a total of 10 years in the Senate, and Senator David Langhorst, D-Boise, with 4 years service in the Senate and 2 in the House.
I have a day or so of "paper work" to organize and then I will be heading home.
It has indeed been a pleasure for me to communicate with each and every one of you this year.
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