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Initiative petition gathers have been busy getting signatures
for referendums to be placed on this November's ballot. I hope
many of you will research these initiatives and look beyond the
box at what you may end up with. Let's take a brief look.
I-1053 which re-instates the
two thirds super majority for the legislature to levy fines or
raise taxes. Our law givers suspended the 2/3 rule thru 2013 in
order to be able to do business and try to achieve a balance
state budget. It looks however that some people would rather
see the legislature butting heads, after all how many times do
2/3rds of our law givers agree even on the time of day it is.
I-1082 You will hear plenty
on this item, as it will allow private insurance companies to
control our workers compensation. It will require all
companies to pay a 25% hike in contributing fees - That will
cost jobs- our state currently pays higher benefits to its
injured workers - if this passes those benefits will be
greatly reduced. Private insurance companies will determine
when, if and how little an injured worker will receive -----
there will be no government over site. And to add even more
damage it will remove funding dollars that currently come from
workmen's comp. for safety programs thru WISHA, DOSH. This just
the tip of the problems - stay tuned for more up-dates.
I-1098 Ballot Title- Statement
of Subject: Initiative Measure No. 1098 Concerns
establishing a state taxing only the very rich. This
initiative purports to tax only those individual that earn over
$200,000 or $400,000 for couples. According to petition gathers
it will remove some state property tax and reduce some of the
Business and Occupation taxes. Now all of these sounds really
good to the average Joe and like a god send to many politicians.
In fact it has received the seal of approval of many Labor
Councils. Only consider this the people in this state have
fought against a state income tax ever since sliced bread became
popular, well at any rate a very long time. The deception is
stated in the Subject "establishing a state income tax" that's
the bottom line - now I wonder if this measure passes and the
state does lose some property taxes and B&O taxes , where
OH where will the lost revenue come from or whose pockets. If
this passes this maybe the scenario that probably will follow
will be 1. Those fat cats with deep pockets will file a lawsuit
claiming the law to be unfair and to be discriminatory, 2.
Legislators will want to be fair so they will propose that we
all should share the burden, WHAM BAM THANK YA MAM - done
deal. Consider this fun fact Idaho, Oregon,
California, Colorado all have a state income tax and all have
some type of sales tax and none of them can balance their state
budgets.
I-1100 & I-1105 both issues want
to remove the state from the retail liquor business. According
to backers of this initiative the big winners will be the public
and the only losers will be a few state workers. Let's look
beyond the box ......More liquor stores open more hours,
offering cheaper booze ....this should yield more robberies +
more law enforcement + more court hearings + need for more jail
space + easier access of liquor for underage drinkers + more
substance abuse counselors --- Yes it appears this bill is a
big plus for Joe Q. Taxpayer
I-1107 Roll Back of Taxes that
the legislature passed after it suspended the 2/3 super majority
rule. This will do away with the 2 cent soda tax and sales tax
levied on candy, gum and bottled water - these were taxes
that the legislature put in place to try to achieve a balanced
budget . If this passes it will force law makers to look to
alternate forms of taxes.
The bottom line - whichever way
you vote - BE INFORMED - ask questions , don't take anyone
else's stamp of approval - find out for your self - and don’t
forget to look beyond what's written - Think of the future -
Because some laws live forever.
Yours in solidarity
Gary Drexler
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The recent convention approved platform planks
that would take away the right of Idahoans to vote for their
United States Senator, require Republican candidates for public
office to sign a "loyalty" oath and "order" a candidate for Ada
County Commission who has spent a lifetime in public service to
renounce his candidacy because he has from time to time reached
out to Democrats in working to solve common problems.
Here is a copy of Republican plank on labor:
The Idaho Republican party recognizes the
important contribution to the State's economy from its labor
force, both private and public sector.
The party encourages and supports joint
responsibility of employee and employer in developing and
maintaining a safe and sanitary work environment.
No qualified individual should be denied equal
opportunity for employment. We support the Idaho Human Rights
Commission, which allows for initial in state handling of
employment discrimination. We believe that hiring quotas are
inherently discriminatory and should not be required.
We believe that the Idaho employees are best
served by the creation of a strong economy and favorable job
market. Idaho's Republican governors and Legislature deserve the
credit for these positive conditions.
We encourage the continued development of
education and vocational training to support a well trained
workforce for an expanding economy.
The Idaho Republican Party believes that public
employees should be hired, retained, and promoted based on
individual merit. Furthermore, we believe that public employees
should be fairly and equitably compensated through rates of pay
and benefits comparable to those paid in the private industry
for jobs of like value.
We oppose any effort to repeal the "right to work
law" in Idaho as a violation of the equal opportunity for
employment and the freedom of association guaranteed in the Bill
of Rights.
Here is the Democrats plank on labor:
(A)
We support the working people of
Idaho and acknowledge that they are the driving force of our
economy. All workers have the right to form and join unions,
and to bargain collectively. We support the extension of
bargaining rights with binding arbitration to all employees,
public and private. We support the principles of the Employee
Free Choice Act; and we support repeal of the so-called “right
to work: We oppose any and all laws restricting the rights of
employees to organize.
(B)
We oppose any system of
compensation requiring employees to exchange fair employment
practices for higher pay.
(C)
We will work to increase the
state and federal minimum wage to a livable levels and to
reduce exemptions to minimum wage coverage.
(D)
We support
competitive salaries and benefits levels for state employees.
In
Solidarity, Dale R.
Broadsword,
Vice-President
United Steelworkers, Local 338
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