LEGISLATIVE NEWS Week 4, 2007 by Representative Wendy Jaquet

The pace is picking up around the capitol.  It may be because an agreement on the capitol wings was reached by the Governor and the Republican leadership.  The agreement provides for single level wings and the Governor gave up office space on the first floor for legislative use.  It may also be that the new legislators, nineteen, have figured out the routine and are off and running!  At any rate, it is getting more hectic. 

 

This week I've been working on taking the sales tax off groceries, on a voluntary school consolidation bill with the Senate Pro Tem and on a resolution about climate change.  There are four bills addressing the sales tax on groceries issue:

 

1. Legislation presented by myself on behalf of the Democratic caucus proposes to eliminate the grocery tax credit and reduce the sales tax on food by 50% with the idea that the remaining 3% will be eliminated next year if financially feasible.  Five states right now have partial reductions on sales tax on food.

 

2. Legislation sponsored by Representatives Clark and Hart proposes to eliminate the sales tax on food over four years at 1.5 % per year.  It phases out the current grocery tax credit.

 

3. Legislation sponsored by several Republican Representatives and Senators proposes to increase its "food Tax Credit" from $35 to $70 for those aged 65 and over and from $20 to $50 for other Idahoans.  Taxpayers can donate their credit to help low income Idahoans with their home energy costs.

 

4. The Governor's bill which limits the grocery credit on income taxes to low income individuals and families.  The full $90 credit is available to Idaho residents with taxable income of $1,000 or less and is phased-down to $0 at taxable income levels over $26,000.  The current credit of $20 for all Idahoans is repealed.

 

This last weekend Senator Stennett and Representative Pence and I visited with folks at Pizza and Politics in Mountain Home, Twin Falls, Gooding and Hailey.  No one favored the credit.  People want to see the reduction daily at the cash register, not once a year on their income taxes.  They also resent the shift of school funding from property taxes to sales taxes. They don't think they should be paying for sales tax on food, a necessity, and many did not see a significant decrease in their property taxes.  The statewide average property tax decrease was 12.8% for owner occupied homes vs. a 20.8% decrease for utilities and a 31.3% decrease for commercial properties.  The Democrats' proposal will provide a  $200 reduction in sales taxes on groceries
 for a family of four. 

 

Part of my job as leader is to give the minority perspective to various groups.  This last week I spoke to the bankers, the Capstone youth of Cornerstone Institute, and to the insurance and financial advisors.  This next week I'll be talking to the credit union association and the county elected officials.  Representatives from Delta Kappa Gamma, a teacher society, will be visiting this week and I'll be attending a dinner with the Mining Association.  Carol Waller and Julie Oxarango-Ingram came for Chamber day and I attended a City Club meeting to hear a presentation on the proposed state Air Quality Plan.

 

Clint, Donna and I can be heard on KECH radio Thursday mornings at 8:00 a.m.  I'm planning to travel north for Pizza and Politics the weekend of February 23.  Hope to see you in Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene, Kellogg, St Maries, Moscow or Lewiston. 

 

Please be sure to check in with your concerns:
800/626-0471
wjaquet@house.idaho.gov

 

Have a great week!

 

Rep. Wendy Jaquet
House of Representatives
House Democratic Leader
Work: (208) 332-1133
Home: (208) 726-3100
Work Fax: (208) 334-5397
Home Fax: (208) 726-0674