UNDA' THE ROTUNDA; 2003 LEGISLATIVE SESSION; The session that went on and on and on and...

Looking back on 2003, it is hard not to think about money. It was not a year for lavish parties, optimistic outlooks, or large Christmas bonuses. In a word, money was tight. Even the most optimistic among us cannot overlook the millions of jobs lost nationwide, the burgeoning national debt, and the huge budget shortfalls that afflicted nearly every state. In Idaho, the budget gap approached 10 percent, making it one of the most dire fiscal situations to ever face the state. Although the budget crisis dominated the Idaho Legislature's 2003 Session, spending and appropriations compromises were slow to come, and the Legislature didn't adjourn until May 3. This was the latest date ever for an adjournment, and the 118-day long session was the longest session in Idaho history.

According to statistics from the Idaho Legislative Services Office, the state's Economic Outlook Committee predicted about $1.753 billion in revenue for the 2003 fiscal year. However, the original budget called for about $1.967 billion in spending, creating a difference of $214 million. Many strategies were aired for addressing the budget gap, and political rivalries heated up. House and Senate Democrats wanted to rescind the tax cuts of 2001, which would have easily solved the problem. Despite being more numerous than in previous years, they still lacked the political clout to greatly affect the budget debate. Many Democrats, fearing drastic spending cuts, cautiously threw their support behind Governor Dirk Kempthorne's tax proposals. For their part, many House and Senate Republicans said that they flat-out refused to raise taxes, and sought to limit unnecessary spending and waste.

The budget deficit was closed in large part by transferring all of the state's available cash reserves to the General Fund. This totaled about $192.8 million. The Legislature also approved a one-cent sales tax increase to 6 percent and an increased cigarette tax from $.29 to $.57 per package. Both tax increases were temporary, effective only for the period May 1, 2003 through June 30, 2005. Whether they'll remain temporary remains to be seen. Spending reductions of about 3.5 percent in most state agencies saved about $19.5 million.

Although the fiscal debates over-whelmed the news, the Legislature did attend to other matters. Among the top issues of the 2003 Session were:

* Alcohol. Voters or commissioners in each county can now decide whether private retailers could sell dessert wines, which have a higher percentage of alcohol. A 2 percent surcharge on the sale of liquor through the State Liquor Dispensary was passed, with proceeds funding drug courts and Family Court Services.

* Children's Health Insurance. The Idaho Health Insurance Access Card Act expanded health care eligibility for low-income children and provided increased assistance to enable families to purchase commercial insurance.

* Death Penalty Reform. Idaho's death penalty laws were brought into line with a recent Supreme Court ruling that required juries to determine sentencing in capital crimes. In addition, mentally retarded inmates faced with first-degree murder charges were prevented from being executed.

* Driving. Licensed 15-year-olds who have completed a driver's education course, are allowed to drive at night, as long as they are accompanied by an adult over 21.

* Election and Campaign Finance Reform. In accordance with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, passed in the aftermath of the 2000 Presidential Election, the Secretary of State's role in administering federal elections was defined, and what constitutes a "valid vote" was clarified. On initiative and referendum ballots, clear explanations, prepared jointly by the Attorney General and Secretary of State, were required in order to prevent confusion and allow people to better understand the effect of a "yes" or "no" vote. Additionally, people who make independent expenditures of $1,000 or more for any primary or general election must now file a written statement with the Secretary of State. Also within the realm of campaign finance, union members were prohibited from making political contributions to a union through direct paycheck deposits.

* Mayor Coles Scandal. City councils were required to establish and maintain an adequate and reasonable system of internal accounting controls.

* Safety from Predators. Radio and television broadcasters were given civil immunity when airing information about abducted children, the so-called "Amber Alerts." The names, pictures, and addresses of violent sexual predators must be published in local newspapers when they move into an Idaho county. Also made it a felony to use the Internet to entice a child to engage in a sexual act, and guilty parties must register as sex offenders.

* Saving Money. State employees were enabled to collect a bonus of up to $1,000 if they find ways to save taxpayers' money.

* Seat Belts. The fine for not wearing a seat belt was raised from $5 to $10, with an additional fine if any child in the car is not wearing a proper safety restraint.

* Tort Limits. Caps were placed on punitive damages and the current maximum payments for non-economic damages for injuries were lowered, to $250,000.

* Wolves. The process of moving wolf management from the federal to the state level was begun.

Article copyright Bar Bar Inc.