Grant on the Issues:

I-Jobs: Creating Good Paying Jobs and Strong Businesses

It is long past time for state government to help businesses create good paying jobs. The I-Jobs plan, and other proposals which I have helped develop will:

• Provide tax credits to businesses creating good paying jobs
• Provide start ups low cost office space and services in vacant state buildings
• Give small businesses the same state market research now given large companies
• Cut red tape for renewable energy projects
• Add a 50% tax credit for venture capital investments in Idaho companies
• Cut business costs by making state employee health insurance available to the private sector
• Cut taxes hindering the creation of aircraft maintenance jobs at the Boise Airport
• Cut the food tax and responsibly reduce other taxes to help the middle class

Our Families
• Quality education pre-K through college
• Protect our neighborhoods
• Preserve our parks and Idaho Public Television
• Protect our freedom to make our own end of life decisions

Outlaw Texting While Driving

Protect Our Air, Water & Outdoor Way of Life

Develop Energy Independence & Alternatives

Responsible Government
• Limit legislative sessions to 90 days
• Legislative term limits

***Guest Opinion, Idaho Statesman - February 26, 2010***
The Statesman recently ran an editorial critical of my proposed constitutional amendment to limit legislative sessions to 90 days (HJR 2). Because our constitution should not be amended without a full and adequate discussion, I thank the Statesman for placing this issue before its readers.

Since the 1970s, legislative sessions have grown from an average of 80 days to 99 days, topping out at 118 days in 2003 and 117 days in 2007. Longer sessions make legislative service harder for those with other obligations. This narrows the range of those who can serve and the perspectives which are represented in the Legislature. HJR 2 will help assure that we have a part-time citizen legislature serving the peoples’ interests.

A session limit will also save money. Last year’s marathon session cost an extra $810,000. This is equivalent to about 15 classroom teachers, or about half of the Public Television budget now up for cuts.

The 90 day limit will also prevent our Legislature from becoming a full-time enterprise. This will help ensure that legislators remain more closely connected to their communities, and that they better understand the needs and problems of their constituents.

For these reasons, Idaho should join the other 39 states with session limits. I believe that the benefits of fostering citizen involvement, and promoting efficient and responsive government, outweigh any concerns that might exist over a session limit.

Representative Grant Burgoyne, District 16-A