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Statement of Issues I care about.
I’d like to see government run like a business. That means during
these tough economic times, government has to limp along with
the rest of us. We can’t burden people with more taxes. I’d like
to see a statewide economy that is stable and diverse, with new
industries locating here and offering high paying jobs. To attract
those businesses, we need to offer better training to create a
skilled workforce. We need to reward excellent teachers and we
need to strategically address transportation issues, here locally,
and statewide, rather than attempting to do everything when the
resources aren’t there. I want Idaho to become energy independent.
We can generate huge state revenues as an energy exporter rather
than continue our dependence on outside energy sources. To do
that we have to invest in all forms of alternative energy, wind,
solar, biomass and safe nuclear power. Idaho needs to use and
develop its resources
With budgets tightening, we will need more scrutiny on state spending.
We must look at strategic reserves not just to hold bureaucracies
“harmless” in the midst of recession – but we must use these resources
to make strategic investment in our people, and in our economic
health.
The primary challenge today is our local economy. That means diversifying
our local economy, so that we can attract new investments and
industries. In an economic downturn like we are now experiencing,
the fact that Idaho has only two major industries, high tech and
agriculture, means that jobs are at risk and the alternatives
for our workforce are very limited. We need to attract new business
to Idaho. At the heart of that strategy, we must make investments
in three areas:
• Education
• Transportation
• Energy Independence
In addition, we ought to pay close attention to families who may
need greater short-term help.
We have real problems and we need real solutions.
EDUCATION:
Our workforce is our most valuable asset. Highly skilled workers
produce wealth and prosperity for themselves as well as the community.
Our goal should be working toward excellence; money is merely
a means to achieving the goal. Superior teachers with proven student
performance should be rewarded.
Even in a shrinking economy and difficult times, we can’t afford
to cut education. In fact, we need to invest in good teachers.
I would support a bonus plan that is fairly administered and not
based solely on standardized tests. We also need to lift the cap
on charter schools so that parents and students have more choice
in education and we develop competition for excellence.
TRANSPORTATION:
Especially in this economic environment, serious scrutiny should
be made of existing ACHD and ITD projects. We need to focus shrinking
dollars on those projects which will best improve Idaho’s economic
position. The GARVEE/I-84 improvements seem to meet that criteria.
In addition, we should take a look at using some of the state
surplus to make one-time investment in roads which have a good
chance of economic pay-off. As the campaign progresses, we will
be offering more specifics. I have reviewed the ITD study for
Statewide Transportation Improvement for 2008-2012. There are
a huge number of projects covering 2,200 miles of roads and 343
bridges. But one thing that stands out is the statement that maintaining
a road is 1/6th the cost of rebuilding it. We need to identify
areas where a prudent investment in maintenance now will lengthen
the life of the road and forestall a much larger investment in
reconstruction. If necessary, we should use some of the state’s
reserves to make that investment this next year.
The state should also take steps to help Garden City build the
bridge over the river to complete the Green Belt. This could help
encourage bike traffic – relieving congestion and improving air
quality.
There are also local projects we could undertake without great
expense, such as improving local bus transportation and providing
shuttle service to the elderly and handicapped. We need to make
our alternate transportation much more user friendly and accessible.
This won’t cost much but brings a huge return for our community.
We should also consider converting the center turn lanes on Chinden
and State Street into rush hour reversible express corridors to
reduce congestion on those state highways. The cost would be minimal
and it would provide immediate relief to commuters, reduce waste
in fuel expense and improve air quality. In non-rush hour times,
the center lane would revert to use as a turn lane.
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE:
The state is exporting an immense of capital each year – some
$2.5 billion in purchasing energy from neighboring states like
Wyoming. That is capital which ought to stay in Idaho to build
infrastructure and create jobs.
The governor’s export initiative is good – but we need to develop
new commodities, like energy, to export.
That means creating a welcoming environment for private investment
in natural gas, wind energy and the INL’s exciting research into
hydrogen production – used to produce liquid fuels.
HEALTH CARE:
My opponent supports an expansion of CHIP to 200% of poverty.
At first, I was inclined to oppose such a move. But research indicates
we could cover about 2800 more kids at a cost to the state of
about $1.7 million. That seems like a good deal, and may help
families dealing with the economic downturn.
However, this does almost nothing to deal with the huge problem
of health care – rising costs, growing numbers of people without
insurance, fewer doctors.
We need to expand community health centers as an alternative to
excessive use of the emergency room for non-emergency medical
needs.
We need to develop medical training in Idaho. A medical school
here would yield huge benefits to this state and would be a very
wise investment.
At the core of our health care crisis in Idaho is the lack of
competition in health insurance.
We need more private insurance carriers in Idaho – able to offer
different packages to small businesses and individuals.
Health Care reform is really part of an economic development strategy:
Lifting some of the pressure on small business owners and individual
families.
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