First session in Senate was hectic but rewarding

“Well, what was it like, this first session in the Idaho Senate?”

That’s usually the question asked by my District 5 friends and family.

Exhausting, interesting and very educational is the best way to describe my first session. Though I’ve been actively involved with the Idaho Legislature for 15 years, my involvement was always from the outside looking in.

The view from the inside is very different. Viewers of the TV show “Millionaire” sit wide-eyed and thoughtless when invited to be contestants. While definitely not thoughtless, I was wide-eyed quite a lot of the time. It is definitely much easier looking in than it is looking out.

By now you realize this is a job: Go to work by 7 a.m., get back home around 8 or 9 p.m., repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, fly home, fly back to Boise, start over. Service on the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee consumed mornings, Senate work on the floor took up the better part of the late morning and early afternoon, and my two other committees lasted well into the late afternoon. Those 45 days passed too quickly. I left frustrated with the lack of time to get done all that I wished to accomplish. Still, I am pleased with the connections I made, the bills I successfully sponsored, the relationships that were forged, and my continued commitment to serve residents of District 5.

In just three months – 15 weeks, or 45 working days, or 540 hours – the Legislature deals with an exceedingly large agenda involving a wide range of items: truck weights, agriculture issues, education, health and welfare, corrections and highways, to name a few. To do the job I was elected to do, I had to be quickly and thoroughly informed of each issue. Still, topics are often broad and the impacts many.

For example, in the Health and Welfare Committee, we reviewed rules dealing with issues that vary from the Silver Valley lead remediation to new septic tank rules. The primary focus during the presentation of these rules was on the lead remediation rules; the committee was unaware of the change in septic tank rules. When folks up north protested the changes, we pulled back these rules. Though the rules may be appropriate, they had not received the proper review.

Issues such as GARVEE (highway bond funding) were as much about control and egos as they were about the projects and the financing of the projects. I learned that it’s naive to believe that all actions taken by some legislators were for the greater good, but to ignore ego-driven sidebar issues could have derailed some of my efforts. So you just learn to deal with them.

I was determined to vote my conscience, and not just what was politically expedient. This gives me the freedom to vigorously debate a colleague on the floor and then share a table with him or her at lunch. For the most part, dignity and integrity underscored interactions and conversations. Our citizen Legislature is expected to understand and accomplish a good deal in a very short amount of time. Your voice in this process is best served by electing citizens who are connected with their communities.

I’ve read various articles grading the success of the 2007 session, and even some legislators expressed disappointed with the session. I prefer to view the session from a more positive light.

“STAR financing legislation will assist with a regional shopping center (anchored by Cabela’s) on the west side of Post Falls. It is a major change in tax policy and probably will be the only way that the needed Interstate 90 interchange could be built.

“A major change in urban renewal law protects homeowners and businesses from an increase in taxes due to urban renewal districts, and at the same time removes one of the major criticisms of urban renewal.

“The state made a major change in policy with regard to substance abuse and mental health. These changes increase the probability of reducing recidivism and take a more effective and humane approach to treating mental health issues, which in turn could reduce our costs for these activities.

“We continued funding to improve Idaho’s highway system through the GARVEE financing mechanism.

“Though many of us were disappointed we were unable to secure tax relief on sales tax for groceries, I’m convinced this will be a high priority in the next session.

Serving in the Legislature was an honor. All that I have learned in my first session will certainly be helpful next year. And speaking of next year, it too will be an interesting session, as all of the work will be conducted in the old Ada County Courthouse. Legislators, lobbyists and staff will be crowded, and citizens will only be able to watch via monitors; there will be no public gallery. Nevertheless, your correspondence, your presence in Boise and your phone calls help me to serve you. Keep it up!