Joyce Broadsword – Idaho Senate District #2 – 2010

Economy: As you are painfully aware, we are in the midst of the “Great Recession” as it has been dubbed by the pundits.  Jobs are few and far between, unemployment is high and recovery is slow.  At the state level, we are tightening the belts of all our state agencies and departments.  The general fund revenue picture reflects the same scenario as your personal budget, revenues are down and we just can’t spend what we don’t have.  The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (this is my 4^th year on the committee) has set a Fiscal Year 2010 revised revenue budget of $2,280,000,000.  This figure reflects a reduction of about $200,000,000 less than the figure we had budgeted for just a year ago.  The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30 so we are just past midway of the year.  The actual revenue numbers have been down in all categories.  The Governor had issued a 4% hold back to all state agencies and departments (K-12 was exempted by using stimulus and rainy day funds). The additional amount will come through an omnibus rescission bill.   The cuts will be on going.  The FY2011 budget will be set at $2,290,000,000.

The good news is the economists predict we have reached the bottom and our state will start to see a slow comeback.  They predict it will be at least 15 years before our construction industry reaches the 2007 levels again.   We can all be a part of the recovery by learning from our experiences and saving more and spending less.   A good lesson for all of us and another is to remember we must work together, supporting our friends and our neighbors.  Idahoan’s independent, can do attitude is what makes our state and nation strong.

Taxes: There are those who feel we should just raise taxes to get us out of the current revenue shortfall.  I for one feel we need to remember there are folks out of work, businesses that have closed and others who are hanging on by a thread and you just can’t get taxes out of people who have no money.  I am not in favor of raising taxes.

Felony Injury to a Child: Many of you will remember a severe child abuse and neglect case that came to light in the St. Maries area last year.  The child spent 5 months in the hospital as a result of her injuries.  The man who was convicted of the crimes, received 10 years in prison – the maximum you can get under current Idaho law for Felony Injury to a Child.  The child lost most of both feet; one kidney, a finger and will likely never grow hair on the top of her head again.  I did not feel the penalty fit the crime, so I have introduced legislation to increase the maximum penalty in aggravated cases to 20 years.  I am hopeful the bill will pass.  I also introduced a companion piece of legislation which will add Felony Injury to a Child to the list of crimes which if a parent is convicted the Department of Health and Welfare will not need to seek reunification between the parent and the injured child.

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 Property 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.