>>> COMING UP, A BUDGET SURPLUS, A HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE, OIL AND GAS DRILLING LEGISLATION, AND AN ELECTION YEAR.

JOIN ME AND A PANEL OF POLITICAL REPORTERS AS WE PREVIEW THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WHAT SHOULD LAWMAKERS TACKLE AND WHAT SHOULD THEY SHOVEL?

THAT'S "DIALOGUE," NEXT.

STAY TUNED.

>>> WELCOME TO "DIALOGUE."

I'M MARCIA FRANKLIN.

>>> LAWMAKERS WILL BE BACK IN TOWN ON MONDAY FOR THE SECOND SESSIOOF THE 61st IDAHO LEGISLATURE.

THEY'LL BE IN THE CAPITAL CITY FOR ABOUT 90 DAYS, GIVE OR TAKE, USUALLY GIVE.

AND RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF THEM WILL BE IDAHO'S POLITICAL REPORTERS, SOME OF THE BEST OF WHOMRE WITH ME TODAY TO PREVIEW THE SESSION.

FIRST A BIG WELCOME TO GREG HAHN, THE NEW FULL-TIME HOST OF OUR OWN "IDAHO REPORTS."

OF COURSE YOU DID FILL IN LAST YEAR, SO YOU'RE NOT COMPLETELY NEW TO THIS.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> ALSO JOINING US IS BETSY RUSSELL, BOISE CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW" AND THE OUR AUTHOR OF THE BLOG "EYE ON BOISE."

WELCOME.

>> THANK.

>> JOHN MILLER IS PART OF OUR ROUND TABLE TODAY, DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH, HE COVERS THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

AND CLARK CORBIN IS WITH US.

HE REPORTS ON EASTERN IDAHO ISSUES FOR "THE POST REGISTER" IN IDAHO FALLS.

IN THE INTEREST OF FAIR DISCLOSURE I SULD SAY CLARK IS ALSO A RENTER IN MY HOUSE THIS SESSION.

WELCOME TO BOISE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WHAT ISSUES CONCERN YOU THE MOST?

WHAT TOPICS DO YOU THINK LAWMAKERS SHOULD AVOID?

GIVE US A CALL, TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-973-9800.

FIRST, YOU CAN DO MUCH WITHOUT MONEY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THE REVENUES ARE LOOKING.

WE'RE HEARING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A SLIGHT BUDGET SURPLUS ACTUALLY, AND THATOMES FROM HAVING PROJECTED RELATIVELY LOW.

>> WE'RE HEARING CONFLICTING THINGS.

THE GOVERNOR TRIED TO PUT A DAMPER ON EVERYTHING AND SAY, THINGS DON'T LOOK SO GOOD, BE CAREFUL.

BUT THERE CLEARLY IS GOING TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET SURPLUS BECAUSE THEY BDGED SO CONSERVATIVELY LAST YEAR.

EVEN THOUGH THE REVENUES HAVE TALL LEN -- FALLEN BELOW THE FORECAST, THEY BUDGETED AWAY FROM THE FORECAST.

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THEY WANT TO USE THE EXTRA MONEY TO REFILL RAINY DAY ACCOUNTS, MAKE UP CUTS, GIVE TAX RELIEF, OR DO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> WHAT ARE WE TALKING IN THE ORDER OF?

>> DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, IT COULD BE $130 MILLION SURPLUS, IT COULD BE $77 MILLION, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH YOU TAKE OFF THE TABLE BASED ON THE DEMANDS WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT.

>> WHAT DO THE REST OF YOU THINK?

>> THE GOVERNOR IS INTERESTED IN RESTORING FUNDS TO THE PLACES THAT WERE CUT LAST.

WHEN WE MET WITH HIM TODAY HE MENTIONED PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION WAS STILL HIS PRIORITY, HE WAS STILL GOING TO HOLD TO THAT STANCE, THAT WAS THE LAST PROGRAM THAT WAS CUT, AND HE WANTED TO RESTORE THOSE DOLLARS FIRST.

>> HE WAS ALSO TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL TAX RELIEF, NOT LARGE NUMBERS, BUT INSTEAD OF JUST DROPPING THE CORPORATE RATE, DROPPING THE INDIVIDUAL TAX RATE DOWN TO WHERE THE CORPORATE RATE IS.

SO IT'S ON THE ORDER OF 7.8%-7.6%.

>> THAT GETS BOTH -- I DID A LITTLE LOOKING AROUND, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY KIDS YOU HAVE AND WHETHER YOU OWN YOUR HOUSE, YOU MAKE ABOUT $40,000 YOU'RE PAYING AT THE TOP RATE AT THE TAIL END OF YOUR TAXES.

SO IT WILL AFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT ALSO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO DON'T ALL PAY A CORPORATE TAX.

A LOT OF THEM COLLECT -- IT BECOMES THEIR PERSONAL INCOME.

HE'S THINKING THAT WOULD BE A GOOD BROADWAY TO GET THIS OUT TO PEOPLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT CIGARETTE TAX?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE RAISING THE CIGARETTE TAX A PRIORITY.

THEY SAY THAT'S THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO DISCOURAGE IN PARTICULAR YOUNG SMOKERS FROM TAKING UP WHAT THEY VIEW AS A DEADLY HABIT.

I DON'T THINK THE LAST TIME I LOOKED THE MAKEUP OF THE HOUSE HAS CHANGED PARTICULARLY.

AND THE NOTION OF GETTING A TAX INCREASE ON I THINK WHAT WILL BE FRAMED AS SMALL BUSINESSES IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

YOU'LL REMEMBER THE LAST YEAR WE SPENT A COUPLE DAYS READING BILLS, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET A HEARING.

>> READING THEM OUT LOUD, WHICH IS A TACTIC -- >> IT WAS A STALL TACTIC BY THE DEMOCRATS.

IT WAS SOMEWHAT FRUSTRATING FOR THE REPUBLICANS, BUT THEY STUCK TO THEIR GUNS AND IT ENDED WITHOUT A HEARING ON THE CIGARETTE TAX.

>> HOWEVER IT'S NOT ONLY THE DEMOCRATS PUSHING FOR THIS POTENTIAL SPONSOR IS A REPUBLICAN, THE HOUSE TACT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN.

I DOE THINK IT'S NECESSARY JUST COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

WE EVEN HEARD SPEAKER DENNY TALK ABOUT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE TALKED ABOUT THIS SESSION.

TODAY AT THE A.P.

LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW.

I THINK ONE THING KIND OF THE GROUND HE STAKED OUT IS IF WE'RE GOING TO RAISE OUR CIGARETTE TAX, WHICH IS MUCH LOWER THAN MOST STATES, WE SHOULD ALSO ADDRESS INTERNET AND TRIBAL RESERVATION SALES WHICH IS A PET ISSUE OF HIS.

AND ON THOSE GROUNDS WE COULD SEE THIS COME UP.

>> YOU'LL REMEMBER LAST YEAR THERE WAS BRIEFLY A BILL, I THINK LONG-STANDING INTRODUCED IT LAST YEAR TO ADDRESS THE RESERVATION SALES ISSUE.

IT WAS -- IT GOT A HEARING THAT TRIBES HANDED I THINK UNIVERSALLY TO CLEAR THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TRIBES AND THE STATE OVER THE APPROPRIATE REMEDY FOR THAT.

>> TWO WAYS OF DEALING WITH IT.

YOU TRY FORCE THEM TO DO SOMETHING OR CUT A DEAL, AND YOU HEARD THEM, THE TWO SIDES TODAY.

>> YOU'VE MENTIONED ASSOCIATED PRESS LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW WAS VERY GOOD, AND THE EMPHASIS FROM THE GOVERNOR WHO SPOKE, FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, AND THEN FROM A SPECIAL PANEL WAS ON HEALTH CARE, HEALTH INSURANCE, EXCUSE ME, EXCHANGE.

LET'S VISIT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

BASICALLY AS PART OF -- I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE AMUSING, THEY WERE TRYING NOT TO CALL IT BARACK OBAMACARE, PART OF THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT, THERE ARE MANDATED FEDERAL EXCHANGE OR STATE EXCHANGES THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE SELECT WHAT INSURANCE TO BUY IF AND WHEN THE MANDATE GOES INTO EFFECT.

AND RIGHT NOW THERE IS AN R.S., WHICH IS DRAFT LEGISLATION, READY TO GO, READY TO GO TO THE HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE FRIDAY, AND THEN -- >> THE ISSUE IS GOING TO -- IT'S AN OLD REPUBLICAN IDEA.

I REMEMBER WHEN NEWT GINGRICH CAME TO TALK IN BOISE A FEW YEARS BACK, HE SAID YOU CAN GO -- YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO FIX YOUR CAR BY CALLING AROUND, YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO GET YOUR HAIRCUT, BUT IT'S NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND OUT HOW TO BUY HEALTH CARE USING THE SAME PRINCIPLES, AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T EXPRESS -- THE MARKET DOESN'T SUPPORT IT THE SAME.

THIS IS A CONCEPT TO LET PEOPLE SHOP AROUND, IN A REAL EASY-TO-USE FASHION.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT HALF OF THEM KEEP SAYING.

>> BUT SOME OF THEM -- .

>> THE OTHER SIDE ARE SAYING, NO, SOME PEOPLE -- I THINK WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS AT SOME POINT THE FIGHT IN THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO GET BEYOND WHETHER THIS IS OBAMA FORCING THEM TO DO SOMETHING AND GET TO THE QUESTION OF, DOES THE HEALTH EXCHANGE IN IDAHO MAKE SENSE?

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOTTEN TO THAT POINT YET.

>> THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY LAID OUT HIS GROUND THAT HE'S IN FAVOR OF SETTING UP AN EXCHANGE AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN IN FAVOR OF IT, AND EVEN IF THE NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM WERE OVERTURNED, IDAHO STILL COULD GO FORWARD WITH ITS EXCHANGE.

HE ALSO RAISED SOME REAL DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF IDAHO DOESN'T DO THAT.

ONE OF THEM BEING THAT IDAHO'S MEDICAID MATCHING RATE FROM THE FEDS COULD DROP BY AS MUCH AS 300 MILLION A YEAR IF WE DON'T PLAY ALONG.

>> IT DOES CEMENT INTERESTING HE WAS SO RESISTANT TO THIS, AND WE'RE A PARTY TO A LAWSUIT ABOUT IT, AND YET WE MAY BE TAKING THIS MONEY AND SETTING UP THE EXCHANGE AND GOING DOWN -- >> I THINK PEOPLE ARE -- THE BIGGEST -- THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE SAID, THE LAWSUIT IS LARGELY ABOUT CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MANDATE EVERYBODY TO HAVE INSURANCE?

AND THAT'S THE THING THAT REALLY BOTHERS MOST PEOPLE.

HE TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY, THE ADDED BUREAUCRACY AND ALL THAT.

A LOT OF THE BUSINESS LEADERS, THEY'RE SAYING TAKE ALL THAT OTHER STUFF OUT OF IT AND JUST THINK, SHOULD IDAHO SET UP THIS WAY TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE BETTER CHOICES ABOUT INSURANCE, AND IF SO, SHOULDN'T WE USE THIS MONEY THEY'RE READY TO GIVE US FOR FREE, AND THEN THAT'S THEIR ARGUMENT, AND THEY'RE RUNNING AGAINST -- >> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHANCES ARE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LAWMAKERS WILL DO?

CERTAINLY BUSINESS LIKE YOU SAID, IS FOR IT.

>> THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS CLEARLY BEHIND THAT.

THAT MATTERS A LOT IN THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE.

THOSE WHO ARE RESISTING THIS ARE RESISTING IT ON IDEOLOGICAL GROUNDS.

SO WE'RE SEEING A BATTLE BETWEEN IDEOLOGY AND PRAGMATISM, WHAT MAKES SENSE, OR WHAT CAN YOU JUST NOT STOMACH.

>> THE PROBLEM FOR SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS THAT OPPOSE THIS IS THAT THE STATE HAS SUED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYING WE DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS CONSTITUTIONAL, SO SEVERAL REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID Y. WOULD WE GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT PORTIONS OF THIS FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM IF WE'RE OPPOSED TO IT, IF WE FILE A SUIT AGAINST IT AND WE'RE ON RECORD AS SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BE AGAINST IT?

SO THE BIG DEBATE THAT'S ALREADY BEING SET UP THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS WHETHER OR NOT TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING IT AND ACCEPT THE 20.3 MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY THAT'S BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> REAL BRIEFLY, IS NULLIFICATION A DEAD SUBJECT?

>> I DID SPEAK WITH REPRESENTATIVE BARBERI REI, AND HE TOLD ME HE'S BEING ENCOURAGED TO BRING THE LEGISLATION AGAIN, BUT HE'S LEANING TOWARD WAITING FOR THE SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON THE HEALTH CARE MANDATE BEFORE HE GOES FORWARD.

>> I THOUGHT SENATOR HILL, THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM MAY HAVE TELEGRAPHED TODAY WHEN HE SAID THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT THIS PARTICULAR BODY HAS SERVED AFTER THE ELECTION, I THINK WE KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER, AND I THINK WE KNOW WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL ACCEPT IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION.

I THINK HE WAS PERHAPS TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT LEGISLATION IN THE PAST LIKE NULLIFICATION, WHICH HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL, OCCUPIED A GREAT DEAL OF TIME, MAY NOT FLY IN PARTICULAR IN THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

>> WE HEARD FROM BOTH PARTIES TODAY AND THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT COOPERATION.

THEY TALK ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PLAYING SO MANY POLITICAL GAMES, BUT WITH IT BEING AN ELECTION YEAR, WITH EVERY ONE OF THE 105 SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR, A CLOSED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, IT COULD BE INTERESTING.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY STAY -- >> -- MINORITY LEADERS AS MUCH SAID, ELECTION YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO SEE PROBABLY EVERY SOCIAL ISSUE COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS PRESSURE FROM A GROUP OF FOLKS TO HAVE LITMUS TEST IDEAS.

YOU'RE WITH US OR AGAINST US, AND THIS IS A PERFECT GOOD ONE.

FROM REPRESENTATIVE'S STANDPOINT IT'S HARD FOR HIM TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T DO THE HEALTH EXCHANGE WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE LAWSUIT, BUT -- .

>> I THINK HE'S COMING FROM IT FROM A CONSISTENT -- >> DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT SEE OTHER HOT BUTTON ISSUES COME OUT OF -- >> WHAT I HEARD TODAY WAS A LOT OF THE C WORD.

COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION.

WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR WAS ANOTHER C WORD, WHICH WAS COMPROMISE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE SYMBOLISM IS THERE, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A SESSION THAT'S PAR FOR THE COURSE.

THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF SYMBOLISM, POLITICS, AND -- >> I DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE A LOT WORSE THAN NORMAL.

[LAUGHTER] WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR ONE OF OUR POLITICAL REPORTERS OR AN OPINION ABOUT WHAT LAWMAKERS SHOULD TAKE UP THIS SESSION?

WE DO HAVE A PHONE CALL, LET'S TALK TO JULIE, YOU'RE IN BLANCHARD, IDAHO.

>> Caller: HELLO.

>> GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT.

>> Caller: I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THIS BUDGET SURPLUS.

I WAS THINKING WHY THE -- SOME OF THE MONEY WOULD NOT BE RETURNED TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEIR BUDGET WERE CUT TO THE BONE, THEY ARE CUT TO THE BONE.

THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WANTED TO GO FOR ONLINE CLASSES, AND LOTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EDUCATORS WERE TOTALLY AGAINST THAT.

AND IDAHO HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST TEACHER PAY IN THE NATION, SO WOULD THERE BE ANY TALK OR HOPE OF RETURNING SOME OF THAT MONEY TO THE SCHOOLS?

>> LET'S GET AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

THANKS FOR CALLING IN.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THE GOVERNOR DID SUGGEST -- >> HE MENTIONED IT TODAY.

I THINK HE -- IT CAME IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION, IT WASN'T SOMETHING HE LAID OUT DURING HIS PREPARED REMARKS, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE MENTIONED.

HE SAID FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION, K-12 EDUCATION, WAS THE LAST AREA OF CUTS, AND HIS PRIORITY WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST AREA.

I THINK HE SAID WITHIN OUR MEANS, WITH THE REVENUE AVAILABLE, TO START RESTORING SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SAYING THIS EVER SINCE IDAHO STARTED CUTTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT HE WOULD RESTORE IT AS SOON AS HE COULD, AS SOON AS THE ECONOMY ALLOWED.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING TODAY WAS THAT HE DID NOT BRING IT UP AT ALL DURING HIS PREPARED REMARKS.

IT WAS ONLY WHEN A REPORTER ASKED HIM ABOUT IT HE SAID, I HAVEN'T GONE AWAY FROM MY PLEDGE, THAT'S STILL WHAT I WANT TO DO.

HE ALSO SAID STUDENTS COME FIRST, WE'LL BE FULLY FUNDED IN MY BUDGET.

>> AND HE SAID WHEN IT COMES UP, IF IT COMES UP ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, THE REFERENDUM, HE WILL WORK HARD TO -- >> AGAINST THE REF RECENT DO YOU MEAN OVERTURN IT.

>> ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAMPAIGN AGAINST THAT IS BY PUTTING A BUNCH OF MONEY BACK IN EDUCATION.

YOU STARTED TO SAY IT'S NOT -- THIS WASN'T ABOUT CUTTING MONEY, THIS WAS ABOUT CHANGING THE WAY WE DO THINGS.

AND I THINK THERE CAN BE SOME POLITICAL MANEUVERING.

>> BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THE STUDENTS CALLED FOR SHIFTING MONEY, FROM SALARIES, TO TECHNOLOGY, AND ONLINE LEARNING.

IF THEY PUT IN MORE MONEY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THE SHIFT, I GUESS AS GREG WAS SAYING, IT TAKES AWAY SOME OF THE STING.

>> WHAT MIGHT WE SEE REGARDING STUDENTS COME FIRST IN THIS SESSION?

SO MUCH ACRIMONY LAST YEAR.

DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE A REPEAT OF THAT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE SOME SMALL FINE TUNING THINGS BROUGHT FORWARD WITH REGARD TO THE LEGISLATION, BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD THERE MAY BE SOME RELUCTANCE TO CHANGE IT WITH THE REFERENDUM HANGING OUT THERE.

IN SOME WAYS IF THEY WERE TO MARION COUNTY BIG CHANGES, THAT WOULD DEPRIVE PEOPLE ON VOTING WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED.

AND THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED PETITIONS TO GET THAT ON THE BALLOT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IS FRONT AND CENTER, AND THAT'S JOBS.

JOB CREATION.

GREG, I KNOW THAT ON IDAHO REPORTS, WHICH BEGINS ON FRIDAY, THE 13th.

>> WE'LL PLUG IT A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH.

GREAT DAY TO START THE PROGRAM.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING -- YOU HAVE SEVERAL PIECES THAT WITH WILL LOOK AT DISCUSSIONS YOU'VE HAD WITH BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> EXACTLY.

WE SET OUT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS TO JUST TRY TO TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RUN A BUSINESS IN THIS ECONOMY.

THE PROS AND CONS OF BEING IN IDAHO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE, AND THE GUYS WHO RUN WATER WORKS, THEY MAKE FLY REELS, THEY MAKE IT ALL HERE, AND SOME PEOPLE WHO MAKE TELEPHONE POLE -- THE LIGHT POLES THAT ARE ALL SOLAR AND THEY'RE DOING REALLY WELL AND THEY COME UP -- THEY TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT LEGISLATORS TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT BUSINESSES WANT.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU FINDING?

>> MOSTLY IT'S STABILITY.

NOBODY SAYS -- THIS BREAK OR THAT BREAK WOULD HELP US, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MONTH TO MONTH.

SO THEY'RE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THE HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE.

>> JOHN, YOU'VE WRITTEN AN ARTICLE ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED I-GOAM, WHICH THE GOVERNOR WILL EXPLAIN MORE TO THE STATE IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON JANUARY 9th.

>> RIGHT.

I GOT AHOLD OF SOME DOCUMENTS THAT OUTLINED -- I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD PERSPECTIVELY SAY ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WOULD INCLUDE POTENTIALLY A FUND TO INVEST IN START-UP COMPANIES.

A STRATEGY TO LURE TOP RESEARCHERS TO IDAHO UNIVERSITIES, TO 'CUSS ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS INCLUDING MATERIAL SCIENCES AND BIOTECH AND COMPUTER SCIENCES, THINGS WHERE IDAHO ALREADY HAS A FOUNDATION.

IDAHO TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP HAVE LONG RAISED CONCERNS THAT IDAHO'S NOT INVESTING ENOUGH IN ITS TECHNOLOGY ECONOMY, AND SO I THINK THEY'VE BROUGHT THIS TO THE GOVERNOR AND I THINK IT'S BEEN IN NEGOTIATION.

PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR PERHAPS WOULD LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS ABLE OR WILLING TO GIVE, AND ULTIMATELY I THINK IT'S BEEN UP UNTIL THE LAST WEEK A WORK IN PROGRESS.

IT'S MODELED AFTER A PROGRAM IN UTAH STARTED IN I THINK 2006, UTAH'S PROGRAM HAS BEEN PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN IT THE STAKED IN 2006 THE ECONOMY WAS A TOUCH DIFFERENT.

>> THEY RESEARCH PARKS?

>> THEY BUILT A COUPLE FACILITIES AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, THEY HAD I THINK A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE -- IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, I THINK THE STATE SO FAR HAS INVESTED $75 MILLION IN THE U-STAR PROGRAM.

IDAHO'S PROGRAM IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO REACH THAT -- THOSE LEVELS.

>> WE MIGHT -- >> I HAVE RECEIVED ASSURANCES -- >> WE MIGHT SEE GENERAL FUNDS?

>> I HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH INSIDERS LAST WEEK AT THE END OF LAST WEEK AND I CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING PERHAPS KNOWING A LITTLE LESS THAN I KNEW WHEN I WENT INTO IT.

I'M WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH AS MUCH AS ANYBODY.

>> WE'VE HAD A LITTLE GOOD NEWS WITH THE YOGURT COMPANY SAYING IT WILL LOCATE IN TWIN, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME POTENTIALLY BAD NEWS IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY WITH AREVA, AT LEAST POSTPONING ITS PLANT.

>> AND THIS SORT OF -- TO START OFF, PEOPLE ARE WRESTLING AROUND WITH THE LANGUAGE.

ARE WE POSTPONING IT, IS IT ON ?OALD IT APPEARS TO BE SEMANTICS.

BUT THEY WERE HOPING TO BUILD, AND THEY HAVE PLANS TO BUILD AND THEY SAID THERE ARE STILL PLANS TO BUILD AN ENRICHMENT FACILITY JUST OUTSIDE OF IDAHO FALLS.

THEY WERE HOPING TO BREAK GROUND.

IT'S VERY CLOSE TO RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST PART OF 2012.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S ON HOLD FOR RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT HAD BEEN SOMETHING THAT ACROSS EASTERN IDAHO IDAHO FALLS, THAT HAD REALLY BEEN TRUMPETED, ECONOMIC SALVATION, A LOT OF JOBS COMING ONLINE IN 2012, FIRST TEMPORARY BASIS THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY, AND THEN SEVERAL HUNDRED PERMANENT JOBS ONCE IT WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING.

BUT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S AND THE MAYOR OF IDAHO FALLS, THEY DO SAY THEY DO INTEND TO GO FORWARD, THEY DO INTEND TO BUILD IT IN IDAHO FALLS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY I GUESS ABOUT FINANCIAL SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EASTERN IDAHO, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, THERE'S SOME OTHER -- ANOTHER ENERGY ISSUE OUT OF YOUR AREA, THAT HAS TO DO WITH WIND POWER.

>> RIGHT.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ON THE RIDGE JUST OUTSIDE OF IDAHO FALLS IN THE FOOTHILLS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WIND PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME ONLINE, AND THOSE HAVE PROVEN TO BE PRETTY CONTROVERSIAL OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

AND I TALKED TO REPPIVE ERIC SIMPSON FROM IDAHO FALL AND HE SAID ONE OF HIS BIG FOCUSES THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION AIMED AT SORT OF REIGNING IN OR RESTRICTING THE WIND INDUSTRY.

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY BILLS YET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- >> PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT'S AFFECTING THEIR PROPERTY VALUES?

>> PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED IT'S AFFECTED THEIR PROPERTY VALUES, PEOPLE COMPLAIN THEY DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THE SUBSIDIES THAT THE WIND INDUSTRY IS GETTING.

AND PEOPLE HAVE ALSO BEEN TURNED OFF IN THE PAST BY SOME OF THE ENERGY THAT'S BEEN PRODUCED AND IDAHO FALLS HAS BEEN SENT OUT -- SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BRINGING LEGISLATION TO CURTAIL THAT TO REIGN THAT IN.

>> IF I COULD POINT OUT, WE HAD A COUPLE OF SORT OF LONG HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE LAST YEAR ON VERY, VERY SIMILAR LEGISLATION.

IT WAS A CLOSE VOTE FOR ERIC SIMPSON'S BILL LAST YEAR.

THE BILL ULTIMATELY FAILED.

I'M NOT SURE IF THE MAKEUP OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE HAS CHANGED, SO THAT THE VOTE WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT.

IT MAY BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION, BUT WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE.

>> WE DID HEAR AT THE PREVIEW TODAY THAT THERE IS I BELIEVE IT WAS THE GOVERNOR SAID SOME SUBSIDIES GO AWAY, AND SOME SHOULD GO AWAY.

>> I THINK THERE IS A LOSS OF APPETITE FOR IN-- FOR KEEPING LONG-TERM SUBSIDIES OUT FOR THE WIND FARMS.

WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY SHIFT GEARS AND GO AFTER THIS, I'M NOT -- >> MANY OF THE SUBSIDIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST ARE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

LAST YEAR THE STATE ALLOWED A SALES TAX REBATE FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCERS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY INCLUDED THE WIND DEVELOPERS TO EXPIRE WHEN IT FAILED I THINK IT WAS THE LAST VOTE IN THE SENATE BY ONE VOTE.

>> LET'S TAKE A CALL FROM A VIEWER, WENDY IN INDIAN VALLEY.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> Caller: THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL.

WHILE YOU'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, I HAVE SEEN DRAFT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REMOVE COUNTIES' AUTHORITY TO ADOPT ANY KIND OF REGULATION HAVING TO DO WITH OIL AND GAS.

DID YOU HEAR ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT TODAY AND WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT ARE YOU HEARING FOR THAT?

>> WE DID HEAR SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO -- >> I GUESS I WAS CONFUSED BY THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE HE WAS ON BOTH SIDES.

HE SAID THAT OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IS A STATE RESOURCE AND SHOULD BE VIEWED THAT WAY, ON THE OTHER HAND HE DOESN'T WANT TO IGNORE WHAT THE COUNTIES WANT.

AND THAT'S THE VERY ISSUE, IS IT GOING TONIGHT STATE OR THE LOCALS WHO WILL DECIDE?

>> POLITICIAN ON BOTH SIDES.

>> THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DENNY SAID IN HIS VIEW, YOU COULD WORRY THAT IF SOMEBODY COULD -- WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DRILL ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY IT COULD BE CONSIDERED A TAKING.

>> OR THE NATURAL -- OIL AND NATURAL GAS IN IDAHO IS A VERY LIMITED RESOURCE.

AND I THINK THE CONCERN AMONG SOME FOLKS WHO WANT TO SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOME PRETTY ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AREAS IS THAT A LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT TAKES A DISLIKING TO THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY COULD PASS RULE AND REGULATIONS TO COMPLETELY RESTRICT IT.

AND THEY HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A TAKING, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED BOISE COUNTY HAS HAD TROUBLE WAS TAKINGS AND LAWSUITS THAT HAVE ABRUPTED THEM.

>> IT DID SEEM LIKE THE GOVERNOR WAS VERY COGNIZANT OF THE LOCALS, SOME LOCALS' CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, EVEN MADE AN ANALOGY SO, WE DON'T LIKE IT WHEN THE FEDS TELL US WHAT TO DO, SO I DON'T LIKE TELLING THE LOCALS WHAT TO DO.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE LAND BOARDS HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN DESIGNING NEW STATE RULES FOR OIL AND GAS LEASING IN THE STATE, WHICH IS NEW, AND FOR OTHER STATES HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF GREAT REVENUE.

>> I COULDN'T DRILL FOR GAS IN MY NORTH END BOISE BACK YARD WITH MY PROPERTY, SO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THERE AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES OUTSIDE OF, YOU KNOW, A SMALL TOWN OUTSIDE OF FRUITLAND, THERE'S A LINE, I SUPPOSE, THEY HAVE TO DRAW THAT SAYS THIS IS REASONABLE, THIS ISN'T.

>> AS WE START TO WRAP UP, I WANTED TO MENTION SOMETHING INTERESTING TODAY, DISCRIMINATED TALK TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS ON THE OCCUPY ENCAMPMENT, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CAPITOL ON STATE PROPERTY.

HE SAID THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WILL LOOK AT REDEFINING THAT PROPERTY TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT'S PART OF THE CAPITOL MALL AND IF IT'S PART OF THE CAPITOL MALL THAT THERE CAN'T BE -- THERE'S LIMITS ON HOW LONG A RALLY CAN BE EXPHELD THERE'S LIMITS ON HOW LONG ONE CAN CAMP ON STATE PROPERTY.

SO DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE -- I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING, ON THE OTHER HAND LAWMAKERS WERE ASKED ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID WE DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING.

AND THEY'RE KIND OF BENIGN IN OUR VIEW, LOOK AT THEM FROM OUR WINDOW AND WE'RE NOT WOULD THERD BY THEM.

SO YOU HAD TWO SEPARATE RESPONSES THERE.

>> IDAHO IS A CONSERVATIVE PLACE, BUT IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF THE LEGISLATORS UNDERSTAND WHERE THESE GUYS ARE COMING FROM.

BOTH THE TEA PARTY FOLKS AND THE OCCUPY FOLKS, IN THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

BOISE HAS BEEN ONE OF THESE LONG-STANDING OCCUPY MOVEMENTS -- >> BECAUSE IT'S ON STATE GROUNDS.

>> THAT HAS MANAGED TO NOT GET PUSHED AROUND.

>> I WONDER IF WE'LL SEE ANY RANKER OVER THAT.

>> IT WAS SURPRISING TO HEAR FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TODAY ABSOLUTELY NO AN TIP THINK TOWARDS THE CAMPOUT, AND TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO AWAY WITNESS.

IT RAISES THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME UGLY SCENES.

>> BEFORE WE END, I WANT TO READ THIS ONE COMMENT WE GOT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, RICK SAYS I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE OPINIONS AS TO WHY LAWMAKERS ALLOW SO HEART TO FLAUNT HIS DISREGARD FOR HIS VALUE AND OUR LAW.

HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT -- HE'S FROM YOUR AREA.

>> I THINK THAT SOME OF THAT WAS BEHIND THE TALK WE HEARD FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FROM BOTH PARTIES ABOUT NEW STRONGER ETHIC LAWS IN THE STATE AND POSSIBLY CREATING AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION TO OVER SEE THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IDAHO DOESN'T HAVE, BUT 41 OTHER STATES DO.

AND REPRESENTATIVE HART IS FACING A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM A LONG ESTABLISHED LOCAL BUSINESS THERE, AS IS REPRESENTATIVE BARBIERI.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF TALK WITH THESE ISSUES ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> IS THAT BECAUSE OF REAPPORTIONMENT?

>> NO, THAT DISTRICT HAS BASICALLY STAYED THE SAME.

AND BOTH THOSE REPRESENTATIVES WERE UNOPPOSED IN THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION.

TYPICALLY DEMOCRATS DON'T RUN THERE.

SO THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS WHERE THAT BATTLE IS SHAPING UP, AND ETSZ IX HAS BEEN RAISED ALREADY AS AN ISSUE.

>> I WOULD ANY ANSWER TO RICK'S QUESTION, A LOT OF LEGISLATOR WAS SAY IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH HART.

YOU RESPECT THE VOTERS OF THAT DISTRICT.

AND THEY VOTE IN A DEMOCRAT OR THEY VOTE IN A REPUBLICAN, AND THEY VOTE IN A LIBERTARIAN, OR A CROOK, OR THEY VOTE IN SOMEBODY WITH -- WHO DOESN'T PAY TAXES, THEY STILL GET THAT CHOICE.

>> WHAT WE HEARD TODAY IS LAWMAKERS SAYING WE DON'T WANT THIS TO REFLOACT US AND THE BODY.

INTERESTING COMMENT THAT MAYBE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION COULD ARISE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH -- >> IT WAS SPEAKER DENNY WHO WAS ENCOURAGING ABOUT THIS AND SAID HE MIGHT COSPONSOR SUCH A MOVE AFTER THE DEMOCRATS SAID THEY WERE INTERESTED IN IT.

AND HE MENTIONED THAT THE PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS POLICING ITS OWN.

HE'S HEARING THIS FROM CONSTITUENTS, AND HE SAID HE'S NOT CONVINCED IT'S TRUE, BUT PERCEPTION MATTERS AND PERCEPTION IS REALITY.

>> WE VON ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE GOING HOME BILL THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE WATER SHORTAGE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AQUIFER, I WANTED TO GET YOUR SENSE OF HOW LONG YOU THINK THIS SESSION MIGHT GO.

THERE'S A LITTLE MORE MONEY TO TALK ABOUT.

IS THAT GOING TO MAKE IT LONGER, SHORTER?

PAST APRIL, INTO APRIL, RATHER?

>> I'M HEARING IT MIGHT BE SHORTER THAN LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR WAS 88 DAYS.

THIS YEAR THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING ON, WE DO HAVE A PRIMARY ELECTION IN MAY.

>> THEY WANT TO GET HOME AND FACE THEIR OPPONENTS.

>> CANDIDATE FILING STARTS FEBRUARY 27th.

SO THE PRESSURE IS GOING TO BE ON THEM TO GET IT DONE AND GET HOME AND CAMPAIGN.

>> TAKE A LOOK.

WATCH THE STATE OF THE STATE AND BUDGET ADDRESS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 9 AND THEN AS WE MENTIONED, IDAHO REPORTS STARTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 13th.

AT 8:00 P.M.

DON'T MISS IT.

THANKS SO MUCH TO MY GUESTS FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANKS TO YOU FOR TUNING IN.

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