North Idaho Adjudication - Joyce sponsored several bills to narrow the focus, to slow it down and to stop the adjudication altogether. Of those bills, ones that passed the legislature and were signed into law included, reducing the fees to where they were in the Snake River Basin Adjudication and asking the court to defer domestic and stock water right users. If the courts don’t find that they can defer those rights, it will not proceed. If it does, you will have the ability to determine for yourself if adjudicating your rights is in your best interest or not.
Sales tax on groceries: Even though Joyce supports the removal of sales tax on groceries, the reality is as a state we could not do it all in one fell swoop. So, she co-sponsored legislation to increase the income tax credit for sales tax on groceries. The bill which passed the legislature and was signed by Governor Otter will increased the credit to $30 per person for most Idahoans and $50 for seniors and low income residents. Even if you don’t have enough income to file a tax return you will be eligible for the credit. The credit will increase in $10 increments annually until all residents are at $100 per person. It is Joyce’s hope that within a few short years we will be able to just remove the tax from groceries.
Personal Propert Tax: Personal Property tax has to be the most hated of all taxes. You earn the money, pay income tax on it, then buy a piece of equipment or office furniture and pay sales tax on the purchase, then year after year pay personal property tax on it. This past session, the legislature exempted the first $100,000 in personal property from tax. The state will make up the difference to the counties so local services won’t suffer from the loss. This move will help small businesses in our area stay in business. As you know, without business our communities would become ghost towns.
Monitoring of violent sexual predators: The legislature made another step in the process toward full implementation of Jessica’s law by mandating electronic monitoring of violent sexual predators placed on probation or parole. Joyce feels very strongly that our children are our most precious asset and must be protected.
Below are Joyce’s answers to the questions asked and printed in the St. Maries Gazette Record this month:
Why did you decide to run for office?
When I was asked to run for the senate, I felt it would be one more way I could give back to our community and to the state I love. My current assignments, my seniority in the senate and my experience are valuable assets to our district. I feel it is my responsibility to continue the good work I have begun on your behalf.
What do you hope to accomplish in the next legislative session?
As has been my practice the past 4 years, I work on issues important to my district. My appointment by senate leadership to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee gives our district a distinct advantage. I have made good progress in promoting the issues of northern Idaho and hope to continue that work.
What is the biggest difference between you and your opponents?
Experience and strong working relationships with state leaders: senate leadership, the governor, the constitutional officers, state agency heads and our federal delegation. I have a proven record of effectiveness as a state senator.
If you could change the tax structure in Idaho, how would you do it? Or would you leave it as it is?
I have co-sponsored property tax reform legislation the past few sessions and will continue to push for reform. Folks should not have to worry about property taxes rising so high they are taxed out of their homes.
What do you think are the three most important issues facing Idaho today?
1. The downturn in the economy nationally, statewide and in our local area is a critical issue. If we continue to see declines in revenue, our state agencies will be forced to institute holdbacks, which in turn could harm our poorest citizens and hinder all of us.
2. As Governor Otter has said, we have a tremendous backlog of road projects. Finding a funding solution will require teamwork between local officials, state elected officials and the Governor. Anyone who travels in or out of St. Maries knows just how desperately needed improvements are for the safety of our citizens, but until we secure a funding source we will not see any projects in our area.
3. Water or more accurately the lack of water in the eastern and southern portions of Idaho will continue to be a major issue facing the legislature.
What is your opinion on wolves?
The introduction of Canadian Grey Wolves has been detrimental to our wildlife population and to the ecosystem. I was opposed to the introduction and if we are stuck with them, support Idaho’s management of the species and a hunting season on them.
There was considerable discussion in the last legislative session about the transportation department. Do you think taxpayers are getting their money’s worth from the agency? Why or why not?
The folks who work for ITD do a great job. I appreciate every one of those drivers who spent countless hours plowing snow this past winter. Whether our taxpayers are getting their money’s worth is one of the most important questions the legislature addressed this year and as a result I voted to fund a performance evaluation study of ITD to assure your tax dollars are being spent wisely.
Gov. Otter pushed to increase registration fees for vehicles last session. Did you agree with the governor’s proposal? Why or why not?
The impact a major increase in registration would have had on our senior citizens and low income residents was unacceptable to me. There may need to be a fee increase to raise the money needed to help address all of our state’s growing transportation needs, but it would have to be a much smaller increase before I could support it. There will need to be a multi-pronged approach to the funding shortfall.
For years the legislature has debated whether to regulate small day care facilities. What is your opinion?
Our children must be protected from molesters and abuse. The state already regulates childcare facilities with 7 or more children but has no say in those with less. Working parents shouldn’t have to worry about safety issues when they leave their children in a daycare setting. The bills I have co-sponsored the past few years have specifically exempted “family” members and rightly so. I don’t feel it is necessary to regulate grandma, but at the rate we pay for child care, we should have some measure of comfort that our children won’t be harmed while we are at work.
There has been a lot of debate and discussion about the cost of the Idaho prison system. What is your opinion on the subject?
One in 34 adult males in Idaho is either on probation, on parole or in prison. The problem is not the prison system, but the number of prisoners. The reasons vary, but a majority can be tied to illegal drugs. Idaho has started to address this problem with the opening of the Office of Drug Policy and the beginning of the Idaho Meth Project. By teaching our citizens both young and old about the harmful long term effects of illegal drugs we can begin to turn the tide. Providing treatment for substance abuse, although costly can save us money in the long run by not having to incarcerate as many individuals.
For years the legislature has wrestled with sales tax exemptions. Do you favor eliminating some of those exemptions? If so, which ones?
We need a consistent process to examine exemptions and a plan in place to revisit each one. I have co-sponsored legislation that would require all exemptions to be justified every 5-10 years. If the legislature had to revisit all of the exemptions on a rotating schedule and the folks who asked for those exemptions had to prove they were still needed it could go a long way in reducing the number of exemptions.
Farmers are exempt from personal property taxes. For other Idaho businesses only the first $70,000 of personal property is exempt from tax. Do you support this system? Why?
The legislature took a major step toward the elimination of personal property taxes this past session when we exempted the first $100,000 of personal property. I don’t feel one segment of business should be treated differently than another and I will continue to push for equal treatment.
One of the largest pieces of the state’s budget goes to the Department of Health & Welfare. Do you think the state does enough for Idaho’s poor? Do you have any specific suggestions how the system could be improved?
As the Vice Chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee this issue has been one I am especially concerned about. For the last few years, Idaho has been working to reform our Medicaid system by tailoring it to the specific needs of the people served. It is our responsibility to care for those less fortunate, but we must guard against going too far. History has proven that those we help get much more from that help, if they learn to help themselves. The old adage - give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for life- comes to mind.
The Idaho Education Association, which represents Idaho public school teachers, says that Idaho teachers are not paid enough. Do you agree or disagree? If you agree, how would you fund pay increases?
Public school teachers perform a valuable service. Teacher pay varies by district and with small rural districts, often the pay isn’t equal to the work performed or the experience of the individual. The problem with teacher pay in my opinion is the pay grid. Once a teacher reaches the top of the grid the ability to qualify for more money is limited and districts who have a lot of teachers at the top of the pay scale find it difficult to fund raises. It isn’t fair for starting teachers to make more or as much as those who have been with a district for a few years and when the legislature sets a minimum salary and doesn’t include enough to move those already on the pay grid, it causes problems. Counties like Benewah with large amounts of non-taxable land complicate the issue. If the federal government would fully fund PILT – payment in lieu of taxes – it would help address some of the funding issues.
Last session the legislature considered a plan to increase teacher salaries in exchange for teacher surrendering their right to a continuing contract. Do you agree with the proposal? Why or why not?
Pay for performance isn’t a bad idea, but the bill proposed last session based the “bonuses” on test scores. Not all children do well on tests and there is much more to the equation than just test results. I felt those who would be most affected by the change had not been consulted and if it were me, I would feel threatened if I had an existing contract and giving it up were made part of the proposal. Based on those things plus the fact revenues were down and the state couldn’t afford the proposal, I voted against it.
Do you support using tax credits for parents who send their children to private schools?
As a policy maker I support finding the best ways to educate our students, this includes current practices and exploring new options.
A 66% majority vote is required for schools to sell bonds to fund the construction of buildings. Do you think that is too high a requirement or adequate? Please explain.
It is a high bar, and one that could probably be lowered to 60% to make it slightly easier to reach while still being a high majority of the voters.
How would you improve public education in Idaho?
As a member of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, I have consistently voted to support innovation and new technology uses in our schools.
Last session, some legislators proposed cutting medical benefits to retired state employees. Do you agree with that effort?
The proposal came from the Department of Administration in an attempt to reduce the unfunded liability shown on the state’s financial records. The feds changed the reporting requirements last year and under the new requirements a state must show any unfunded liability on their financial reports. This change can affect the state’s bond rating and ability to borrow or sell bonds at a good rate. The rates for the state insurance plan increased 29% last year, resulting in a huge increase to our retirees. The state negotiated with insurance companies to develop a group insurance plan for our retirees that would offer equal or better coverage at a savings over the current state plan. There was a lot of misinformation and not enough communication with our retirees and they were opposed to the bill. I voted against it out of respect for their years of service to the state, but I am sure the issue will rise again next session to address the unfunded liability issue. I hope the communication piece takes place before then and the issues and questions are answered.
Who do you support for president of the United States?
I have to admit my first choice is no longer in the running and I have not lent my support to anyone. I will support whichever candidate wins the Republican nomination in the primary.
posted on October 26th, 2008 at 1:44 pm