The Republican view of education includes three false assumptions.  

1. Idahoans will not support replacing funds cut from education.  

2. "Bad teachers" are responsible for "the failure of our educational system".

3. Computers and teachers are interchangeable in promoting educational performance.

Are you outraged?

Remind legislators of their constitutional duty to education.

The Idaho Legislature just stole our teachers' voices and passed another unfunded mandate onto our already struggling school districts.

Are you outraged?

Contact your legislators and let them know education is a team sport.

JFAC has proposed cuts to our school budgets but have raised road and prison budgets. They must realize that if we cut education we will need good roads to transport all of those new prisoners to bigger jails.

Are you outraged?

Let legislators know that there were other solutions.

Tax cheats; an uneven tax structure and "sweetheart deals" handed out by the tax commission have robbed our children of their future.  Idahoans aren't all treated equally in our tax laws.

Are you outraged?

Demand your legislators discuss solutions for our shrinking tax base.

Now is the time to enhance revenue in a way that is shared by all. There are many revenue enhancement bills that have been proposed by legislators on both sides of the aisle. These bills are sitting in the bottom of a drawer somewhere or have already been rejected. Below is a short list of ideas that have been proposed.

•   Stop "sweetheart deals" at the tax commission

•   Fully fund tax commission to collect more outstanding taxes - $2.4 million to hire more auditors could result in $67 million

•   $1.50 increase in fee for those found guilty of breaking a law -$386,800 towards Police Academy costs

•   Furlough for the Grocery Tax Credit for two years - $60 million

•   Remove tax exemption for dyed fuels - $3.5 million towards ITD budget

•   A surcharge for taxable income over $50,000 per year

•   Internet Sales Tax law that would allow us to be at the table as the nation discusses how to best charge and collect these

•   Tobacco retail sellers fee -$200,000

•   Remove sales tax from grocery items, eliminate grocery tax credit, and 7% sales tax which ends after 2 years -$98.9 million

•   Reduce sales tax to 5% and extend sales tax to 9 service categories - $371 million

•   Increase tobacco tax by $1.25 - $51.5 million towards Medicaid for smoking related illness and tobacco cessation

•   Increase tax on beer and/or wine - $26 million

•   Requiring an amount of 0 or greater on the current internet sales tax line on State Tax Returns

•   Temporarily adding three new upper income tax brackets at $50,000, $100,000 & $250,000 for single filers - $58 million

Are you outraged by the lack of commitment to our children? Please start writing and calling your legislators to demand they find additional revenue to add to our education budget.

_______________________________________

Deborah Silver

Hayes & Silver CPAs

2188 Addison Ave. East

Twin Falls, ID 83301

phone 208-736-3711; fax 208-733-9386 

Confidentiality Notice:  This communication is intended only for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain privileged and confidential information.  If you are not the intended recipient, then any use, dissemination or copying of the communication is prohibited.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure:

Any tax advice included in this written or electronic communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by a taxpayer, for the purpose of either (i) avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by any governmental taxing authority or agency or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed herein.