Idaho legislators hold town hall sessions
Sunday, January 7, 2007 7:23 AM PST
Julie Engel
Argus Observer
Fruitland
The Idaho District No. 9 legislators were in Payette County Thursday to discuss the upcoming legislative session and address concerns from area residents.
Idaho State Sen. Monty Pearce, Rep. Clete Edmunson and Speaker of the House Lawerence Denney arrived at Fruitland City Hall a little after 7 p.m. following a stint in New Plymouth. They shook hands with some, gave hugs to others and then took their seats.Water was one issue the legislators discussed. Pearce said it is important for the state to keep and control its water resources, and it is possible lawmakers will have to debate fees to own and use a domestic well. Many legislators are waiting on an Idaho Supreme Court decision on who holds the rights to water when it begins to run dry, and Denney said the western side of the state needs to protect the water it has.
Another issue for Pearce was the Idaho Department of Education's desire to boost math and science credits in high schools across the state. The problem with the proposal, Pearce said, is that the increase will deplete elective courses, which is the opposite result most people he's talked to want to see happen.
“I do think eliminating some electives would not be positive,” Pearce said.
Another issue is test scores begin to dwindle at fourth grade, and Pearce said it would make more sense to bolster math training in the elementary and middle school grades. If more math and science credits are required without proper preparation in lower grades, Pearce said it could mean a tough road for students and cause more of them to drop out of school.
Although Denney said it would be difficult to convince other state legislators that Payette and Washington counties need a special sales tax, he also said they would see a couple proposals for the grocery tax.
One proposal is to remove one cent off the tax for the next six years, Denney said, and the other is to make the grocery tax credit more.
“To get anything passed we need 36 votes, and we have two,” Denney said.
