State Senator Nuxoll's weekly legislative report
Editor’s Note: State Senator Sheryl Nuxoll has been sending out a weekly email newsletter to many of her constituents and thought she would like to share it with the Chronicle readers as well.
Week 3: Jan 26-30 2015
Add the words “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” to the Idaho Human Rights Act was defeated by a party line vote in the House State Affairs committee by 13 to 4.
Common Core, SBAC Tests & the Truth by Dr. Peg Luksik was presented at the Capitol.  Peg, who worked under Reagan, argued that Idaho needs to pull out of SBAC testing and remove Common Core completely.  Her presentation can be viewed online at http://idahoptv.org/insession/archive.cfm  (Select Common Core Discussion from the drop down menu.)  FFA high school students were at the capitol this week.   When I asked them about SBAC tests, FFA students explained their disgust for these tests and are hoping to get the old tests back.  
In the Resources and Environment committee water quality and oil rules were reviewed.  Idaho does not currently have any rules for drilling oil or gas.  You can review these rules at this website by selecting the specific committee. http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/agenda.htm
In the Health and Welfare Committee, air quality rules were reviewed. The Department of Environmental Quality has attested to the unhealthy affects of fine particles.  Therefore they have changed rules to align with the EPA to monitor the value of these particles labeled as PM2.5.  It is new EPA regulations like these that are hurting the residents of Shoshone County.  The EPA tested the air quality in Shoshone County and assessed that the levels of harmful particles from wood stoves are excessive which may force residents to stop using their wood burning stoves and find new sources of heat.  This is a direct attack on rural America, and you can be assured that it won’t stop in Shoshone County. 
In JFAC, presentations focused around Idaho schools.  Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sherri Ybarra requested $87.3 million for the public schools budget with $18.7 million for their operational fund.  She also requested a pilot program for a career ladder estimated at $25 million and $8.4 million from lottery monies for facility maintenance and Safe and Drug Free Schools.   
Ken Harvey from Orofino is spearheading legislation to give citizens a vote on annexation in towns less than 8000.  Idaho is one of only 3 states in the union that allows cities to forcibly annex property without a referendum.  If you know anyone who has been affected by city annexation, please contact Ken at kenharvey@suddenlink.net or (208) 827-6147. 
On Friday, the Health and Welfare Committee listened to 30 citizens.  More than half testified about how important Medicaid is for children who have mental disabilities and how Optum (a national health service company Idaho has contracted to provide Medicaid for behavioral health services) has decreased services, limited individual client care and increased bureaucratic paperwork while reducing wages for providers.  A District 7 care provider even provided testimony about the failure (especially in rural areas) of Optum at her clinic.  We need competition with Optum for health benefits because they are not really giving managed care.  Many businesses have complained that their mental health clients are ending up in hospitals due to lack of proper care. 
The Federal Lands Committee gave their final report:  
-Encourage our Congressional Delegation to help the western states with the lands issues; 
-Budget for an accurate, feasible study transferring federal lands to the state; 
-Keep the committee going as it is, or set a committee up under the Department of Lands;
-Pursue working with other states on the issue; 
-Work with counties on jurisdictional rights to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the people, -While pursuing the transfer, continue to obtain more land for the state to manage.
~ Senator Nuxoll

Cottonwood, Idaho 83522
 

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