LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

PUBLIC POLICY BOOKMARK

2007 BOOKMARK

The goal of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce is to advance the commercial, financial, industrial, civic and social interests of our community.  The Chamber recognizes the importance of each of these aspects in creating a balance and quality of life for those in Eastern Idaho.  The entire state of Idaho depends on the strength of each region to contribute to a vigorous economy, quality educational opportunities, and the health and well-being of all Idahoans.  For these reasons, the Chamber supports the following issues and actions:

 

Community College

Create a statewide community college system with state funding including a location in Idaho Falls to serve Eastern Idaho

 

Health and Human Services

  • Prioritize Medicaid reform by increasing reimbursement levels to encourage provider participation
  • Increase Medical Related Educational Opportunities

            - Continue to address the physician and nursing shortage

            - Increase funding to support training at Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC) &

  Idaho State University in Idaho Falls

  • Support the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation budget request and the decision unit for increased general funds of $148,000 to move 50 individuals with disabilities off the statewide waiting list as approved by the State Board of Education
  • Support the proposed rules and minimum standards governing Extended Employment Services administered by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation-IDAPA-47

 

Science, Technology and Energy

  • Promote adequate Department of Energy funding for the Idaho National Laboratory’s cleanup obligation and research and development missions under the National Energy Policy of 2005
  • Support the legislative proposal submitted by the Governor’s Science & Technology Advisory council to include matching grants for higher education and science research, technology investment tax credits, the creation of a Senate Technology Committee and an Idaho Technology Stimulus Fund
  • Ensure nuclear power is included in the state’s energy policy
  • Support the creation of a dedicated fiber-optic broadband system for research at Idaho’s universities and the Idaho National Laboratory

 

Power

Pass legislation that would enable cities to participate as joint owners or power purchasers in joint electrical generation and transmission projects.  This will allow such utilities to meet present and future needs for stable power at a competitive rate

 

Military Affairs

Provide annual funding of $5,000 for perpetual maintenance of the State Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Idaho Falls

 

 

Higher Education – Accessibility and Affordability

  • Increase funding for scholarships that provide opportunities for Idaho students to attend Idaho institutions of higher learning
  • Increase funding for faculty salaries to enable institutions to competitively recruit and retain essential faculty
  • Continue support for delivery of quality, collaborative, post-secondary education in Eastern Idaho with continued funding for University Place in Idaho Falls
  • Fund the Division of Professional-Technical Education’s request for:
    • New occupancy costs for EITC Health Building
    • Instructional equipment & technology

 

K-12 Education – Fund State Mandates

  • Increase the staff allowance ratio from 1.1 to 1.15 to allow school districts to hire instructional staff based on local need and to reduce class size to statutory recommended teacher-student ratios
  • Provide full funding to implement any changes in graduation requirements, to support remediation, and to sustain required programs.
  • Offer competitive compensation to attract and retain teachers and staff

 

Transportation and Infrastructure

  • Promote tourism/employment by working with surrounding states to identify and eliminate legal or regulatory barriers to provide public funded transportation across state lines
  • Support legislation allowing local option taxes and/or dedicate a sustainable state revenue source to fund an integrated regional public transportation system in conjunction with the state highway program
  • Encourage more state highways to be added to the current study involving the increase of truck maximum load limits

 

Agriculture

  • Water issues have a severe economic impact to the Upper Snake River areas.  Support good water management practices such as managed recharge and natural recharge to help restore our Snake River Plain aquifer.  Furthermore, shortage of the aquifer is primarily due to a normal drought cycle
  • Biological opinions on river management of the Upper Snake River should be kept separate from biological opinions of the Lower Snake River and Columbia River
  • Support of the proposed rules for the newly adopted noxious weed law, sections 22-2403 and 22-2404

 

Cultural Tourism & the Arts

Support efforts & funding that promote art and culture attractions that will impact economic development and increase tourism