FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Why did you decide to run for office:

In retirement, I’d been letting my legislators know my opinions about upcoming issues, and one of them persuaded me to run. I feel our Democracy works best when citizens take their turns, as they can, to represent us. I like Aristotle’s quote: If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. I feel the current representative isn’t fairly standing up for all of us.

What do you hope to accomplish in the next legislative session: Of greatest concern to me are key issues like:

What is the biggest difference between you and your opponent:

It turns out that I would vote differently on almost everything. Here's my opponent's voting record this session (of 70 legislators):
  1. one of two No votes, against deferring property tax for low-income seniors. I'm for it.

  2. one of ten No votes, against appropriation for Idaho Commission for Libraries. I'm for it.

  3. one of 26 No votes, against allowing the state Department of Environmental Quality to protect air, instead of waiting for the EPA to come in and shut down traffic & industry when the pollution worsens. I'm for it.

  4. one of 39 Yes votes, in favor of allowing a small group of disgruntled voters to call for "budget repeal" votes without identifying services to be reduced. I'm against it.

  5. one of 26 No votes, against encouraging the Dept. of Education to adopt certain nutritional standards for food sold in vending machines in public schools, and urging the Dept. to prohibit the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value. I'm for it.

  6. he's opposed to a resolution designed to expand higher education global coursework disciplines and opportunities. I'm for it.

  7. one of 6 No votes, against a bill to establish a Child Mortality Prevention team. I'm for it.

  8. one of eleven No votes, against adopting a standard of 30% improved energy efficiency for state building projects. I'm for it.

  9. one of 9 No votes, against appropriating $ to the State Board of Ed for Idaho Ed Public Broadcasting System. I'm for it.

  10. one of 21 No votes, against increasing civil penalty authority of State Board of land Commissioners for encroachment violations that cause harm to water quality or fisheries. I'm for it.

  11. one of twelve No votes, against appropriation for Idaho Transportation Department. I'm for it.

  12. one of ten No votes, against transparency under Real Estate Brokerage Representation Act. I'm for it.

  13. one of ten No votes, against requiring a newly elected sheriff to seek training sponsored by the POST Council and the Idaho Sheriff's Association. I'm for it.

  14. one of eleven No votes, against adding Idaho Housing and Finance Association to the list of entities to which school districts may transfer or convey surplus property. I'm for it.

  15. one of seven No votes, against legislation that will require that only reduced ignition propensity cigarettes be sold in the State. I'm for it.

  16. one of 22 No votes, against enhanced penalties for exceeding the posted speed limit in highway work zones. I'm for it.

    17. I would vote the other way on every one of these important issues!

    If you could change the tax structure in Idaho, how would you do it, or would you leave it as it is?:

    Sadly this session shows that Republican legislative leaders are out of touch on issues of importance to Idahoans. They set aside the principles developed by the legislative interim committee on tax exemptions. This year again they catered to special interests at the expense of ordinary Idahoans, nearly shifting over $100 million dollars in big industry taxes onto the sales tax which families pay. I’d start with removal of the sales tax on food at the register.
What do you think are the three most important issues facing Idaho today?:
  1. Education: I believe we need legislation to support more early childhood education in Idaho school districts, smaller class size and more financial and professional support for teachers.
  2. Seniors: The town hall meetings and focus groups we held in St. Maries showed that Benewah seniors want more access to better quality health care and support services. I would work for state funding to improve transportation and make health care more affordable for everyone.
  3. Strong impact fee legislation and more ways for local governments to make growth pay for itself. Without this, we all subsidize the loss of farmlands and open spaces we have loved for decades. We are paying to make developers able to sell land and homes for less than other states sell the same homes for. We are creating huge pressures on schools and roads and our clean air and water and hunting and fishing lands. Developers who reap huge profits should help pay their costs to taxpayers.
What is your opinion on wolves?:

I’m in favor of sustainable diversity. I wouldn’t want to eliminate any of the species that have evolved on our fragile planet; nor would I want any to have an advantage over another, so the balance is upset. It’s the same principle that says we need all kinds of citizens in government, so all our viewpoints are represented, and everyone feels their values and rights are protected.

There was considerable discussion in the last legislative session about the transportation department. Do you think taxpayers are getting their money’s worth from the agency? Why or why not?

ITD have had several directors in the last few years and three governors to serve, so this may have caused some operational problems. They did an internal study and came up with about $50 million in savings over the next few years, so they are trying to be efficient. The legislature approved an independent audit of the department, and the findings will be available next year, so we will know from that report whether or not taxpayers are getting our money’s worth from the agency.

Gov. Otter pushed to increase registration fees for vehicles last session. Did you agree with the governor’s proposal? Why or why not?

Governor Otter's idea of requiring a $150 across-the-board annual vehicle registration fee doesn’t seem fair to me. Whenever a tax is the same for everyone, the poor pay a greater percentage of their resources for it. I feel smaller and older vehicles, which impact our highways less, should pay less.

For years the legislature has debated whether to regulate small day care facilities. What is your opinion?

I would be in favor of state guidelines, to include background checks for child care providers and some sort of certification guidelines, allowing small day care facilities to meet accreditation norms, and allowing parents to choose even facilities which meet only personal standards for their kids.

There has been a lot of debate and discussion about the cost of the Idaho prison system. What is your opinion on that subject?

I support creating treatment focused alternatives to mandatory minimum sentences, to make communities safer, and prisons less costly and crowded.

For years the legislature has wrestled with sales tax exemptions. Do you favor eliminating some of those exemptions? If so, which ones?

We should honor the work of the Interim Property Tax Committee and consider the exemptions that they singled out for review. Essentially, that was not done this year because the majority party, including the current representative, in the Revenue and Tax Committee, would not agree to do so!

Farmers are exempt from personal property taxes. For other Idaho businesses only the first $100,00 of personal property is exempt from the tax. Do you support this system? Why?

Yes it is, or was, a good policy because the state could not afford to phase out all the personal property tax for business. It would have had a $110 to $120 million impact on the state budget and in the end, result in tax shift to other taxpayers, primarily on the property tax of homeowners and sales tax for all of us. The measure that was passed was affordable (about $18 million) and will help small businesses by removing the tax for them. About 88% of all businesses in the state will no longer pay this tax once the legislation goes into effect. The other 12% of businesses would have received over 80% of the relief. The current representative supported the original proposal to get rid of all the tax, including the biggest contribution to state coffers, which comes from huge industry. That windfall would have gone mostly to CEOs and shareholders, at the expense of families and individuals.

One of the largest pieces of the state’s budget goes to the Department of Health & Welfare. Do you think the state does enough for Idaho’s poor? Do you have any specific suggestions how the system could be improved?

I feel the fundamental reason for our government is to equalize opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness where capitalism doesn’t support individuals. It’s my honor to pay taxes, in order that others don’t have to go without food, shelter, medical care, or dignity in our district.

The Idaho Education Association, which represents Idaho public school teachers, says that Idaho teachers are not paid enough. Do you agree or disagree? If you agree, how would you fund pay increases?

I agree. While I don’t feel our teachers’ salaries must equal the higher average in almost every other state, as our quality of life is so much finer than most states can boast, I do feel that higher wages, smaller class size, and better professional support would attract teachers with better qualifications to our schools. I would fund pay increase by making growth pay for itself.

Last session the legislature considered a plan to increase teachers’ salaries in exchange for teacher surrendering their right to a continuing contract. Do you agree with this proposal? Why or why not?

I feel we must all continually earn the continued trust of those we serve, and that teachers who do so must be empowered to work in the context of academic freedom under their guidelines. Accountability must be part of the contract.

Do you support using tax credits for parents who send their children to private schools?

I do not. Just as I believe small unaccredited day care ought to be available to those who choose it, I feel alternatives to the public schooling on which our democracy depends for an informed electorate, must not be funded by taxes collected from all citizens. I support The Idaho Constitution’s Art. IX, 5 which prohibits of public appropriations to support sectarian schools.

A 60% majority vote is required for schools to sell bonds to fund the construction of buildings. Do you think that is too high requirement or adequate? Please explain.

I feel it’s adequate for now. 60% does make it difficult for school districts and other local entities to get things built, but it also protects the property taxpayers. When kids are schooled in unsafe classrooms, we all suffer. But because all voters decide on levies, and only homeowners pay for the bonds, we need more than a simple majority agreement.

How would you improve public education in Idaho?
  1. smaller class size
  2. raising teacher salaries and support systems
  3. optional all-day early childhood schooling
  4. Virtually everyone agrees that an alternative compensation system where selected teachers are paid more based on various factors related to job responsibilities and their students’ performance is desirable and needed. Where the agreement breaks down is on the implementation plans related to accountability issues and the nature of testing and other measures of student growth. $50K is now budgeted to work on the evaluation component and address parents’ need for accountability.

Last session, some legislators proposed cutting medical benefit to retired state employees. Do you agree with that effort?

I do not. I believe in keeping agreements.

Who do you support for president of the United States?

I support the Democratic nominee, and hope that Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama can work together, to combine their abilities to get things done which benefit all our citizens, and inspire us to greater hope for the future of America.

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Committee to elect C.J. Rose for Representative, treasurer Cheryl Halverson