Will be attending the the 'Rock of Honor" ground breaking ceremony this morning at 11:00 am at Kleiner Park (Fairview & Eagle). Gather at the construction trailer at the north end of Venture St. (north of WalMart n. of Mtn. West Bank). This memorial 'rock' plans to honor the fallen soldiers from Meridian, come down and join us!
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Comment from last night's Town Hall: "You sure do have an exciting life"... (referring to our little attempted home intrusion the last day of the session) made me reflect. Life should be lived as an adventure that excites you to see what it will bring next... always being prepared for both the good and bad things that adventure will throw at you.
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Meeting this morning with ISP to discuss how to better fund enforcement of liquor laws and then prep for our District 20/14 Town hall meeting tonight at 7:00PM at River Valley Elementary on Eagle Road just north of Fairview... hope to see many of you there!
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Busy day started with a visit to ISP, the Meridian Chamber and then to the ESGR (Employers Supporting Guard and Reserve) awards luncheon. We shared a lot of info regarding the Wyakin Warrior Foundation and our relationship with the Guard and Reserve equal to Active duty wounded. Finished the evening with the Meridian FD working on their strategic plan...
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Passed my STAR training, good class and had fun riding the supplied bikes through the various courses. Finished early Sunday eve to rush home for a fine dinner with family and friends... wearing helmet hair. But hey, "Bikers" don't care about that huh? ;-)
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Our hearts and prayers go out to Larry's family... how sad
www.idahostatesman.com/2011/04/24/1622114/workers-....html
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Taking the Idaho STAR motorcycle training course this weekend. Started last night and goes through Sunday... don't plan on buying a bike, but wanted to better understand the training and issues...
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The 1st bill the YMCA HS students had yesterday was an anti-texting while driving bill... but, as much as they agreed it was a bad activity they couldn't find a way to make it work and didn't pass the bill from committee (been there, done that). Here is a link to a campaign in Meridian that will continue to bring visibility to this dangerous behavior: www.stopdeadlytexting.com/wordpress
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The link for access to the "official" CJSC pictures of his visit to Boise on April 3 & 4: www.flickr.com/photos/thejointstaff
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Had a good time with the YMCA high school kids doing their week in the Legislature (like Boys and Girls State, but co-ed). They ran a number of bills through their own committees today to be heard on their respective House and Senate floors later this week.
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Looking forward to mentoring some YMCA students in the Capital today, then on to our Wyakin Warrior Foundation meeting this evening...
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Trying to live stream the Meridian City Council meeting and it's very frustrating! Not enough bandwidth provided to get the audio and vid to come in constantly. I have tried to keep a distance between City business and State business, I respect our Mayor and City Council members and believe they will make good decisions without the requested influence by elected state officials. It's hard to bite my tongue sometimes... but proper in this instance in my opinion.
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Been off the grid a few days trying to catch up on things. Good meeting this afternoon in the Gov's office regarding H343 (Wolf Emergency Declaration bill). There are some issues with the bill, but nothing we can't fix next session. Good bill, should pass... ;-)
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Made a run to the shop in Marsing today to exchange "toys" for the year, then off to the Ada County GOP Exec. Board meeting. Was asked to speak at a class for a BSU prof teaching poli-sci about our legislative process and my experiences. I do enjoy being back in the classroom!
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A day of meetings regarding the Wyakin Warrior Foundation, transportation and tobacco taxes. The session might be over but the work on these Idaho issues continue!
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Got lots of yard work caught up today, loaded the winter "fun stuff" (ice fishing shanty, snow machines...) up in the truck to take out to the shop in Marsing so I can bring back the summer fun things (boat and camper)... It's hard work living in Idaho!
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Took care of the bank, Post Office, Tax Commission and cleaned my desk at the Capital. Had a really good meeting at BSU planning a new Veteran's Service Center to consolidate services for our 3000 vets going to BSU and CWI...
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Bank, Post Office, Tax Commission trips today... lots to catch up on!
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MT Judge rejects a Wolf settlement with 10 of 14 enviro groups, but we had Sen Simpson working for us to get them delisted in Congress. We should know more next week: www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/us/11budget.html
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Spent some quality time with my son, JD today. We went out in the desert and "plinked" at all kinds of things... ended the day with a good dinner and a fire in the pit on the patio. Nice to relax.
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Up early with that anxious feeling that I need to be doing something... part of session decompression I guess. Head out to the desert this afternoon with JD in the Rubicon... mountain roads still blocked with snow, but I need to get out!
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Here's an uncut vid of what happened done by KBOI: www.kboi2.com/news/local/119510724.html?tab=video
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Thanks to all the kind words regarding our little situation here last night. The weekend is now time to relax...
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Well, that was interesting. Just caught a guy trying to break into our house, I held him until the local police arrived...
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The Idaho House of Representatives has adjourned Sine Die with a balanced budget, it's never easy, but no one ever said it's supposed to be
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We are at what looks like the end of the "End of session scrum"... a couple issues left and I think we are all looking forward to Sine Die
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Sat with the Speaker this evening in his office watching the Senate debate on House Bill H343 many of us co-sponsored to allow the Gov to also have emergency powers to protect Idaho's wildlife from Wolf depredation. The bill passed and will now be headed to the Gov's office for signature...
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Our House Pages did a great skit today (their last day) imitating some of the more humorous floor antics this session. Now on to ATV, Water Rights, Election and Education bills to get this session finished...
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Left the house this morning with out my smart phone... already stumbling through the day, it sadly does become part of you...
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[Resent 2011-04-06 15:53:48 from scottbedke] House approves ball allowing the Governor to declair a disaster for wolves « www.idahoreporter.com: www.idahoreporter.com/2011/house-approves-call-for...olves
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We voted today on a bill that would extend the sales tax exemption for wind power. The most interesting vote was by the Democratic Caucus all voting for the extension of the exemption that could be worth ~$70m. I don't understand that logic when they were just last week forcing the reading of bills until they got a hearing on some tax increase bills... wouldn't it be better to remove this exemption?
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The Idaho income tax reduction bill is now on the web: legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/H0349.htm
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Printed my Income Tax reduction bill this morning in Ways and Means. Trying to reduce income taxes for business to stimulate economic recovery and jobs...
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Busy day: Honored to sit next to Adm Mullen for breakfast this morning, then we printed a bill to replace bridges in the Senate, pass a resolution recognizing the Capt and crew of the USS Boise for their Battle E award in committee, then attended the final town hall that Adm held at BSU. Came back to the Capital where we passed the H&W budget and some other appropriations... whirlwind to say the least
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We printed a bill in the Senate this morning that targets the replacement of bridges in the State. Meridian interchange is #5 on that list!
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Great breakfast meeting this morning with Adm Mullen and the Mayors of SW Idaho. He very well articulated the issues of transition of warriors back to civilian life and what's needed to help them... he truly "gets it"!
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We had a great meal with Adm Mullen and the families of the deployed at BSU tonight. The Chairman spent an hour with Idaho's Gold Star families and then answered questions from the families of Idaho's deployed. He stayed for pictures and discussions much later than expected. What a well spoken man, looking forward to sitting with him for breakfast with 30 selected leaders from our state...
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Had a great visit last night with the JCS Staff, nice to sit around the campfire and relax. This morning, Jeff Bacon did a great job in todays paper (below) describing the needs of our wounded vets coming home. Now off to have dinner with CJCS and the families of the deployed... and a few surprises!
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Finished the debate and the House voted to pass S1184 on the House floor, now we are all headed to various committees to try to get some final bills printed and out on the floors for consideration...
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Quote of the day during our floor debate on S1184 (3rd bill of Idaho's education reform): Cattle rancher Rep. Jim Guthrie (R) from Dist. 29: "Where America plans it's income on $1.20/lb sales of calves (and borrowing when those prices don't exist), Idaho plans for $.60/lb and uses any revenue above that to invest in our future".
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Great debate, both pro and con regarding S1184 which is the 3rd bill of Idaho's Education reform package...
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We are at it again, reading a 24 page bill out loud on the floor... it's time to get to the debate of these bills!
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