Longest session fails to fix budget, strains institution (Cig tax to maintain essential services)

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[chance33_98]

Longest session fails to fix budget, strains institution 05/03/2003

Associated Press

BOISE - This year's record-length legislative session ended Saturday, though lawmakers failed to fix the budget.

Continued erosion of an already weak economy could guarantee that lawmakers will be called in to special session late this summer.

Lawmakers covered quite a few issues, however, during the 118-day session. Among them, legislators restricted labor union financing of political activity and regulated payday loan operations.

Legislators also kept the state's death penalty law from being thrown out by the courts. They furthered state management of wolves and imposed new regulations on field burning. They expanded subsidized health insurance coverage to the working poor.

Lawmakers also raised the cigarette and sales taxes and approved a two $2 billion general tax budget that would maintain essential services for another year.

[Enterprise]

Well at LEAST the legislature can do is to set aside one week to "Honor the smokers week." After all, they DO contribute a LOT, voluntarily, in taxes.

[Mears]

The cigarette tax will help with essential services? Say it isn't so.

As a smoker I have been demonized enough,and taxed enough,and now they want people like me to help maintain essential services.

Just what "essential services" are they talking about?.The only ones I would care about is maintenance of the infrastucture and state police.

[jocko12]

CUT SPENDING FOOLS!!!!