http://www.canyon-democrats.org Canyon County Democrats Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:46:47 CDT en-us http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1293208 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1293208 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:34:03 CST Dear Voter,nbsp; This week we will vote on Idaho public school budgets. nbsp; So far most Republican law makers have followed Governor Otter's example by refusing to discuss any options besides cutting funding for our local schools next year by 7.5% or $128 million. nbsp; Some extreme factions are proposing even deeper cuts to schools. nbsp; Either way schools now face policies that will : 1. Increase class sizes 2. Eliminate most tutoring for struggling students 3.... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1284819 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1284819 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:40:11 CST Information from a HuffingPost article by Robert L. Borosage http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/size-matters----particula_b_385431.html President Obama's new intuitive--new infrastructure spending.nbsp;weatherizing homes,nbsp;aid to cities, states and the unemployed.nbsp;($200 billion has been recouped from the banks in the TARP program.) "We've lost over 7 million jobs; 15 million are unemployed. States and localities are facing staggering deficits over the next year, with an... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1284268 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1284268 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:39:23 CST Short-term tax increase is better than cutting vital state services - Idaho Statesman (op-ed)nbsp; Dec. 3,nbsp;2009nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;BY JUDY BROWN AND REP. SHIRLEY RINGO Abridged: nbsp;State revenues have not met levelsnbsp;fiscal year 2010. At the end of September, Gov. Butch Otter declared another budget holdback of 4 percent - almost $100 million.Problems with respect to building a budget for fiscal year 2011: Even with holdbacks and cuts, we may be $52 million short ofnbsp;paying fiscal... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1284267 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1284267 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:20:32 CST Study: Job gap grows in Idaho, Washington - Spokesman-ReviewDecember 2, 2009nbsp; by Betsy Z. RussellExcerpts only:The Northwest Job Gap study sponsored bynbsp;the Northwest Confederation of Community Organizations (Since these 2008 figures were gathered, unemployment has nearly doubled.) Living wage in Idaho for a single adult--$12.41 per hour (43% ofnbsp; openings fell short) Adult with one child--$21.90 per hour Two adults with one child--$26.98 per hournbsp; (89% of job openings... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283965 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283965 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:55:16 CST Excerpts and interpretation of "Leaders of the Pack," Newsweek, Nov. 30, 2009 Predictions: Nations will fail to adopt a climate treaty at Copenhagen Nations, states, and companies will continue to work toward controlling emissions The 2010 treaty will be a better treaty than the one being considered now. Greenhouse-Gas Emissions (in million metric tons of CO2): 2007nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; China--8,106; U.S.--6,087;nbsp; EU--4,641;nbsp; India--1,963.nbsp; As part of a proposed cap-and-trade... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283952 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283952 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:19:42 CST Excerpts from:Commuter rail: Once a gamble, TRAX ingrained in Wasatch Front's future - The Salt Lake Tribune (Nov. 30, 2009)nbsp; by María VillaseñorSalt Lake City's TRAX is now 10 years old; numerous protests and fervent opposition to TRAX persisted right up to the Dec. 4, 1999, opening.nbsp;Original 17-mile route--In the decade since, that single north-south line has expanded to include lines to the University of Utah and a downtown inter-modal hub, which links TRAX to the commuter rail,... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283949 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283949 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:01:13 CST Gov. Otter has started a website to take citizen comments:nbsp; http://efficiency.idaho.gov/ BY DAN POPKEYnbsp; (ID Statesman, Nov. 30)Gov. Butch Otter's summons for ideas to streamline government has produced 217 online submissions since his efficiency.idaho.gov Web site went live Nov. 13. Among them are traditional ideas, including spending and tax cuts, tax increases, prison reform and school consolidation.Some of the more novel ideas:CLOSE DEATH ROWRichard Hensley of Lewiston calls for... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283945 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283945 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:39:13 CST From www.healthreform.gov Health Insurance Reform and Idaho: The Case for Change The health care status quo is not an option for our states. If we do nothing, by 2019 the number of uninsured people will grow by more than 30 percent in 29 states and by at least 10 percent in every state. The amount of uncompensated care provided will more than double in 45 states. Businesses in 27 states will see their premiums more than double. And fewer people will have coverage through an employer.1 The... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283944 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283944 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:34:33 CST Economic statistics released in fall 2009 nbsp; Median income (half of householdsnbsp;above, and halfnbsp; below; measured in inflation-adjusted 2008 dollars) Dec 1992--$46,603nbsp; Dec. 2000--$52,500nbsp; Dec. 2008--$50,303 By presidential terms (comparison of 8-yr terms): Bush W:nbsp; -4.2% Clinton: +14% Reagan: +8.1% Nixon/Ford: +3.9% nbsp; Poverty Dec 1992--38 million Dec 2000--31.6 million (11.3%)nbsp; living in povertynbsp; (decline of 16.9%) Dec 2008--39.8 million... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283941 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283941 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:03:37 CST Incarceration per 100,000 population (U.S.) 1972 165 1980 200 1990 461 2000 703 nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp;2005nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; 2 million inmates; 5 million on parole or probation; 2.2 million people working in the criminal justice system nbsp; Possible contributing causes (1972 on):nbsp;access to welfare restricted, food stamp program cut back, mentally ill removed en masse, public schools underfunded, progressive tax base... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283937 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283937 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:47:32 CST From a handout from Public Citizen (http://www.citizen.org/) The health care industry spends $1.4 million per day to lobby Congress The health care industry has hired six lobbyists for every member of Congress, including 350 former government officials and former members of Congressnbsp; 50 health care lobbyists are former employees of the Senate Finance Committee and its Chariman, Max Baucus (D-MT) Health care sector contributions to the 23 members of the Senate Finance Committee... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro) http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283935 http://www.canyon-democrats.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1283935 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:37:13 CST To submit letters to the Idaho Press Tribune, e-mail op-ed@idahopress.com Submit 300 words or less Includenbsp;name, address and phone number; expect a phone call to verify Wait 30 days between submissions (there are exceptions) Visit http://action.citizen.org/pickMedia.jsp?letter_KEY=199amp;t=amp;state=IDnbsp;for full guidelines To submit letters to the Idaho Statesman, e-mail editorial@idahostatesman.com Submit 200 words or less Include name, address, and phone number Wait 30... idadem@yahoo.com (Judy Ferro)