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Senator Nuxoll's weekly legislative report
Week 8: Mar 2-6, 2015 
Recent press reports have elaborated about my lack of participation with a recent Hindu prayer offered in the Idaho Senate chambers. I wanted to offer an explanation in my own terms: I opposed the prayer because I believe America is a Christian nation and has been blessed as a result. Evidence of America's Christian foundation is clear. It can be found in the many Biblical scriptures etched in stone on historic American monuments, and by the fact that our entire legal system was based on the 10 Commandments. So, although I support an individual's Constitutional right to worship as they choose, it is my opinion that alternative faiths should not be elevated beyond our traditional Faith of Christianity in a building symbolizing American leadership, such as the state capitol. Thank you for your understanding. JFAC: the Medicaid budget for 2016 is set for $2.1 billion, of which $1.33 billion is federal money. What if the federal government failed? What would happen to our people so dependent on the government? The Health and Welfare Dept who administers Medicaid also budgeted $3.23 million to set up eligibility for the state health exchange. I voted against both budgets. JFAC passed a bill brought by the Idaho Freedom Foundation to require state agencies to identify federal funding and also the potential impact of having those funds reduced and the agencies plan if there is a reduction. North Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center: In December 2014 Eastern Idaho opened the doors of its first crisis center. Even though I suggested that we wait for one year to see how well the center functions, the vote was to start funding for one hopefully in Coeur d’Alene. “Add the Words” protest interrupted the Senate on Tuesday. They had to be escorted out by police for their disturbance. HCR3, providing for a task force to study student data collection on elementary, secondary, and post secondary schools, was approved by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. The recommendations were 1. Simplifying and minimizing collection of student data, 2. Protecting student privacy, and 3. Cost/benefit of declining federal funds. S1121, a bill about immunizations, passed the Health and Welfare committee. It permits the Immunization Reminder Information system (IRIS) established in 1999 to share data with the Idaho health data exchange. I voted against it because it requires parents to opt out of reporting immunizations rather than opting in to report. Many parents do not want this information shared and the doctors forget to tell the parents that their information is being put into a data system. HB108, Pharmacy bill, would allow the prescription and possession of opioid antagonists, (naloxone hydrochloride or similar drugs) which are used to reverse a drug overdose. It has saved many lives already. HB177 makes illegal the use of a tanning bed by a minor under 14, and requires written informed consent of a minor’s parent. It also makes it a misdemeanor to facilitate use of a tanning device. I voted against this bill because it makes the state the parent in making these decisions, besides making it a misdemeanor for the behavior. Water adjudication for northern Idaho is a serious issue since it deals with retaining water rights for citizens which the Indians are claiming. Last year a Senate Combined Resoltuion mandated any water adjudication processes be vetted by the legislatures. We will have a meeting with Clive Strong from the AG’s office and Norm Semanko, the attorney hired by the water groups. Presidential Primary - The Senate voted to approve SB 1066 to allow all political parties to use an early presidential primary on already-existing election date on the second Tuesday in March. All other candidates for state or federal office are unaffected and will continue to use the May primary election date. SCR 102 asks for an independent evaluation of LHTAC, a transportation council created to assist Idaho’s local highway districts to utilize available resources for road construction. I support this resolution because many construction companies have complained of the ethics of the committee. The House Education Committee introduced a bill that was the subject of part of Governor Otter’s Education Budget Proposal to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC). The bill would increase pay for new teachers from $31,750 to $37,000 gradually over five years. Next year, new teachers would make $32,200, a 1.4 percent increase. Experienced teachers who have taught for at least eight years and have an advanced degree would also see greater increases, making as much as $57,750 after meeting performance benchmarks. ~ Senator Nuxoll |
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