Legislative report - Sen. Tim Corder

Week Two

First, I need some help. My political treasurer has retired and my efforts to find a replacement have thus far failed. If you would be interested in helping out with that task or simply organizing events or helping me in any way please let me know.

I mentioned last week that changing the election cycle of one of the houses of the legislature would systemically change the nature of the legislature and potentially produce positive results in setting long term priorities. Even without such an event of that magnitude significant change in the legislative process is on its way. Most legislators worked at their desks on their respective floors while at the annex. Before the capitol remodel many legislators worked from the floor because what office space was available was very unhandy. The remodel provides all legislators office space and while they are in proximity to one another there will certainly be more isolation than in the past. Committee meetings may be audio streamed to the internet at the discretion of the chairmen. I am told that some meeting rooms have the potential for video streaming as well. Sometimes, debate and comments are relative to the size of the audience; especially on election years.

I am once again hearing concerns about certain consequences of Open Court curriculums from elementary teachers. The concerns expressed have to do with subjects other than reading. I would like to hear from more teachers about your individual experiences. I have spent several hours in the first grade with Ms. Lisa Stover and my Katie. My observations leave me impressed with the amount of time provided for individual thought and exploration. Self discipline, setting goals, imagination and accomplishments are part of each day's tasks. The children have not been unreasonably rushed through subject area after subject area without drawing some conclusions before moving on. Katie's vocabulary is impressive and her reading skills are superb. There is a dramatic difference between what I have seen in class and what I hear from Katie as opposed to what I am hearing from other grades and teachers. There are hundreds of reasons we need to get this right so please help me understand. Also, I would like to hear from math teachers about the math assessment. Is it helpful and if so how much help is it? How do you use it? Complete the statement: the assessment would be worth the cost if ... While you are enduring this extemporaneous exam here is a final question. With regard to the education system as a whole: If you could have two wishes, what would those two things be?

The final question is as important for parents and grandparents as it is for teachers. When it comes right down to voting on what programs go and what programs stay and how much education will be cut; I will need to understand what your priorities are. I believe it will be a useful exercise for all of us to make a mental list of state spending priorities. An example: I have received email from folks upset because the duties of the Department of Parks and Recreation might be transferred to another agency. They would prefer the savings come from anywhere else. We all have a desire for the other person to pay taxes to keep the programs we use intact. Consider the impact of the food tax credit. 2009 cost an additional 22 million dollars and 2010 will add an additional 15 million to the tab. These amounts are in addition to the 75 million that would have been returned to citizens without the changes in 2008. Philosophically I agree that necessities of life should not be taxed. I voted to remove all the tax on food in 2006 in a bill that was lost on the floor of the senate. That 2006 bill found other ways to pay for itself by broadening the tax base. I voted against the 2008 bill because it forced legislatures of the future to make decisions without choices using 2008 realities, i.e. give everyone a $10 tax credit or keep 37 million in the schools. Because the Governor and the legislature must take affirmative action to prevent the additional tax credit it is unlikely to be halted in an election year.

Another example: the University of Idaho, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The University is Idaho's land grant institution. Land grant universities are a product of the 1930's. They were established to be research institutions with a mission to solve problems of the present while creating opportunities for the future. They provide solutions that encourage self-reliance, ingenuity and increased production for homeowner and professional agriculturalists alike. The University system is at the heart of our communities through 4-H and other outreach programs. Land Grant universities started with a grant of land from the federal government. Then the government got out and let the system grow with the will and wisdom of states and local governments. By the way: there are only two counties in the state that do not have a University extension office or agent and Boise County is one of those.

Research success and validity is directly related to its academic and intellectual integrity. In other words; the public should own the research process and control the results for the benefit of everyone. Absent public dollars, private industry steps in with money to keep alive the institution. With private money comes private control and that valuable research integrity is diminished. Our research facilities, located throughout the state, have been on a resource diet for some time -- so severe, some stations are dying. This resource crisis should have promoted an evaluation of the current research system and resulted in a 22 century look and feel for the College research system that would revitalize all research and be more efficient.

I was part of a committee that tried to do just that. The national Livestock Center was a part of that new look and feel that would lead us into the 22 century well ahead of the competition in agriculture, environmental, and technological improvements. The Center is not just about livestock; though it would lead the nation and perhaps the world in dairy research that includes energy and environmental advancements. The Center could have become the nucleus for all research stations around the state. The 9.4 million needed and obligated in 2008 has been taken for other purposes -- we will think about tomorrow on another day when we are not in a hurry.

The severity of this budget crisis will result in deep cuts. Stay tuned. As always.