Legislators reflect on tough session
Sen. Shawn Keough, left, sits with Darrell Kerby, who served as interim senator in Keough’s place when she took a leave of absence when her husband, Mike, required open-heart surgery. (Photo by RALPH BARTHOLDT)
SANDPOINT — Cuts to health care, education and the Legislature’s resolve not to raise taxes were topics discussed by local representatives at a Wednesday meeting at the Elks.
About 60 people attended the noon luncheon to hear a wrap up of the latest legislative session by House and Senate members from District 1 and 2.
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest River, said despite raising the vendor fee by $2 for the invasive species sticker, the program, which prevents the spread of invasive species into Idaho from surrounding states as well as from place to place throughout Idaho, remains intact.
“The truth is, if we didn’t find a way to fund this, we will be losers in a significant way,” Anderson said.
Passed in the spring of 2009 the invasive species rule requires boaters to purchase stickers. The money becomes part of the Invasive Species Fund used to fund boat inspections and washing stations that prevent the spread of destructive aquatic plants and animals.
Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, decried the failure by the Legislature to pass a bill that would prohibit sending text messages while driving. He agreed with his colleagues that the bill was not well written and that the issue would be revisited next year.
“I wanted a bill,” Eskridge said. “How many people will get in accidents and lose their lives. It will come around again.”
The latest session was marked by an emergency for Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, who is a vice chair on the finance committee, when her husband required open-heart surgery. She enlisted Bonners Ferry businessman and former mayor Darrell Kerby as an interim senator.
Kerby said his welcome at the Legislature was indicative of Keough’s stature in Boise.
“It wasn’t a red carpet I got,” Kerby said. “It was a golden carpet because of (Keough’s) credibility.”
Although tax receipts are down $40 million, Keough said, the deficit should narrow this month.
“I think it’s too early to say we’re out of this,” Keough said. “I think we still have some white knuckle time ahead of us.”
Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Cocolalla, who represents District 2, and is vice chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, said despite cuts to Health and Welfare that resulted in closing of nine regional offices including one in Bonners Ferry, regional services remained intact.
“It’s hard to close offices,” Broadsword said.
“We still need to be careful with taxpayer money and make sure not to eliminate services and the care (people) need.”
Tight funding for Parks and Recreation will likely prompt the department to become more self sufficient, Anderson said.
Anderson agrees with the plan that will call for increased user fees.
“Parks are going to be self funded and user-fee oriented more than in the past,” he said. “I think it’s a good plan.
“If we use those services, I don’t mind paying for them.”
In all, Eskridge said, this year’s session saw difficult decisions made with efficiency.
“Given the problems with budgets and revenue, I think the Legislature did good,” he said. “Unlike in Washington state we did not have to go into a special session and we didn’t raise taxes.”
Eskridge, a fifth-term house member, and Anderson, in his third term, are unopposed in this year’s primary. Broadsword, in her third term faces off with Dennis Engelhardt, of Sagle, and James Stivers of DeSmet in the primary.
Keough, a seven-term veteran of the Senate is in a contest with Steve Tanner of Bonners Ferry.