I have spent a large amount of time working on state employee compensation and have had moments of both frustration and great exhilaration. At this moment HB416 (the bill that changes coverage for both active and retired employee health-care benefits) has been placed in the committee chair's drawer and will probably not see the light of day. This bill would be devastating to employees because it would cut their retirement benefits significantly and is unacceptable. Please be assured that I am actively involved with many state employees, legislators and state officials regarding the problems with not only this bill but the total compensation package for state employees. We have 47,000 active state employees and 4,600 retirees. The time I am spending on this is time well spent.

The bill (S1260) making dog fighting illegal, which so many of you have contacted me about, passed the committee and as of today is still on the Senate's 3rd reading calendar. Keep up the pressure. You can contact all legislators at 332-1000 and leave a message supporting this bill.

The competing bills regarding compensation for teachers (S1290 and S1310) are still in the Senate Education Committee. Please contact the members of the committee with your thoughts ASAP.

 I am also watching the human rights in employment bill (S1323), which would protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation. This bill is still in the committee chairman's drawer. Please call the members of this committee and encourage them to vote YES!

Another bill I know you are interested in is H439, in which any resident individual who is required to and has filed an Idaho income tax return is allowed a credit against taxes due for each personal exemption for which a deduction is permitted by the IRS. There will be many bills to address the removal of the food tax and we will see what happens.

Thanks for your letters and emails (apasley-stuart@house.idaho.gov). I enjoy hearing from you and thanks, too, for your kind words. Please stay in touch.