This morning the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee heard from representative of the Idaho Hispanic Commission who talked about the demographics of Idaho’s Hispanic population. In addition, Dr. Priscilla Salant from the University of Idaho presented a paper entitled “Community Level Impacts of Idaho’s Changing Dairy Industry.”
Our overall population has a much larger percentage of “baby boomers” in its population than those between 20 and 45 years old. If we exclude all migrant workers, the question is how this relatively smaller percentage of nonmigrant workers can provide the social security benefits for this large group of baby boomer starting to retire. Overall, the theme of the presentation is that the dairy industries’ employment of Hispanic workers does not negatively impact south central Idaho. The increase of Hispanic works closely parallels the growth of the dairy industry there.
We have several bills introduced this year to deal with immigration issues. If American does not have employable workers, investment capital will find workers somewhere else in the world and that country will enjoy the benefits of the capital invested there.
This morning there was a vigorous debate about wolves on the Senate Floor during the confirmation of Tony McDermott of Sagle to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. Livestock producers are frustrated because entire wolf packs are not depopulated when they are depredating on sheep or cattle. Instead, one or two are depopulated, then a couple more and so on. In the last 48 hours the Department of Fish and Game has adopted a policy of removing entire depredating packs west of Highway 55. In the Yellowstone Park area, the issue is more complicated because of the issue of “genetic exchange.” Should Idaho have an area there devoid of wolves, the wolf advocates could argue in court that there is no genetic exchange and state management of wolves might be threatened because of lawsuits. McDermott’s reappointment to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission passed 24-10.
This afternoon Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna presented his budget report to the Senate Education Committee. His plan calls for spending $52.8 million from the Public Schools Endowment fund, the fund from which the Land Board allocated earnings to the Public School Income Fund.
It’s only the fourth week and more economic news will be forthcoming before the budgets are set. January figures are under estimate and if February figures follow suit budgets would be lower.