The following are the questions from the Idaho Statesman�s online voters� guide and my responses.
What makes you a better choice for voters than your opponent(s)?
In my three terms in the Idaho House of Representatives, I have developed a reputation for responsible, effective and bi-partisan leadership. My House Democratic colleagues elected me their Assistant Minority Leader. Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has said that I have "built a solid reputation as a thoughtful, effective and independent legislative leader." Garden City Mayor John Evans has said that I am "willing to listen, investigate and carefully consider the issues that impact the citizens of Garden City and Boise, and I appreciate that." In working for the people of District 16, I pledge to bring this same level of commitment and leadership to the Idaho Senate.
If elected, what are your top three priorities? How will you accomplish them? Please provide specifics.
- Education and Economic Opportunity. Education is the surest way to promote economic opportunity. I helped pass bills to increase rigor, accountability and teacher pay in our schools, to help high school students earn college credit, and to create good paying jobs.
- The Public Interest: I will continue to fight (i) against pay to play politics, (ii) for governmental transparency and accountability, (iii) to protect our freedoms from government overreach, (iv) against efforts for a state take over of federal land, and (v) against efforts to undermine the environment. I helped pass bills making government compensate citizens for unfounded regulatory actions, reforming and improving the management of endowment lands which support education, providing greater transparency in governmental operations and balancing the state's budget.
- Human Rights: I am a lead co-sponsor of the Add the Words bill.
With Idaho last, or near last, in education and wages, there is much more to do and I will use my proven leadership skills to help make life better for all Idahoans.
For challengers: How have you prepared to run for this office? For incumbents: What have been your contributions to your office this term?
My preparation for the Senate has been my service in the House where I have voiced my intense opposition to the way the state is being run, while working in an effective and bi-partisan manner to pass important legislation. This legislation includes bills to improve education, foster economic growth, manage legal and other challenges created by the aging baby boomer generation, reforming Idaho's Child Protective Act, requiring transparency and fairness in Idaho's tax laws and regulations, implementing recommendations made by the Governor's Education Task Force, making Idaho's probation, parole and prison systems less costly and more effective, modernizing the courts, obtaining more judges for Ada County, bolstering the Boise Airport and surrounding businesses, and using GARVEE funds to improve I-84.
The Legislature increased spending for K-12 schools by 5.1 percent for the 2014-15 school year to $1.3 billion. But accounting for enrollment growth, spending is still more than $100 million behind support in the 2008-2009 school year. What percentage increase will you support should you be elected for the 2015-16 school year?
At least 10 per cent, which is in excess of $100 Million. This would still leave us behind where we were in the 2008-2009 school year because the number of children we must education continues to grow and because of inflation. The Legislature had this money available to it this last session, but the Republican majority chose not appropriate it, instead deciding to just hold on to it. This money belongs to the taxpayers and they should have it for their needs if the state won't use it.
Idaho hasn't raised fuel taxes or motor vehicle registration fees since damaging floods in 1995. A 2010 state study found local and state highways and bridges have $262 million in unmet annual needs for operations, preservation and restoration, and $281 million in unmet annual needs for capacity and safety. Would you support an increase in the 25-cents per gallon gas tax or in registration fees. If so, how much?
I will support limited increases in fuel and registration fees if the following conditions are met:
- Increases are for safety issues, such as bridges which need to be replaced;
- A component of registration fees is based on vehicle value to help take the sting out of the regressive nature of increased gas taxes;
- Transportation is funded exclusively by user fees so that education will not be deprived of necessary general revenue;
- Southwest Idaho's overpayment of state transportation taxes compared to what it gets back from the state, and its under representation on the Transportation Board, are corrected
- Local communities are given the right to build and operate workable and efficient public transportation systems funded by a mix of local and state transportation money.
The Legislature has delayed expanding Medicaid to about 100,000 low-income Idahoans, though a University of Idaho study says taking advantage of federal subsidies would save local and state taxpayers $1.1 billion over 10 years. Would you support expanding Medicaid, or, as lawmakers did in Arkansas, provide a subsidy to purchase private insurance for those 100,000 Idahoans?
I support redesigning and expanding Medicaid. Our current Medicaid and indigent health care costs in Idaho are not sustainable, and they consume precious dollars which could otherwise be used to improve education, reduce taxes and grow the economy. We need the Medicaid program which is best for Idaho. The Arkansas model is one alternative, but there are others as well. Beyond the savings to Idaho taxpayers, the potential economic benefits of Medicaid expansion to Ada County are very substantial. Not only will the health of our population improve, making it more economically productive, the increased number of health care jobs will be a real shot in the arm to our local economy, because it is already the medical center for a large region stretching throughout Southwestern Idaho, Northern Nevada and Eastern Oregon.
The rollout of the Affordable Care Act has fallen short of expectations, though Idaho ranks No. 2 in per capita enrollment. Do you support abolishing the state exchange and ceding the operation to the federal government?
No. The Idaho based health exchange was the right way to go. The Idaho exchange was able to save Idaho consumers money on premiums, and was able to assure that Idaho consumers could obtain health insurance policies from Idaho regulated insurers.
Have you been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, a misdemeanor or felony or had a withheld judgment? If so, what, when and where?
No.
Have you or a company you owned filed bankruptcy? If so, when and where?
No.
