Eye on Boise: New survey says Idahoans optimistic, but concerned about health care

Jan. 15--Idahoans think the state is generally on the right track, according to the latest Idaho Policy Survey, published Friday by Boise State University. "They're also optimistic about the future," said BSU political science Professor Justin Vaughn. "This was true from last year when we did this study, it's even more so this year."

The survey, which interviewed 1,000 Idahoans across the state in December, found that 61.7 percent believe the state is on the right track -- up 4.7 percent from last year's figure. "That's a statistically significant, outside-the-margin-of-errors movement," Vaughn said.

The survey also had some significant findings about Idaho's health coverage gap and funding for roads. An even bigger percentage -- 70.8 percent -- want action to close the gap, which consists of 78,000 residents who make too much to qualify for the state's limited Medicaid program, but too little to be eligible for subsidized insurance through the state's Your Health Idaho insurance exchange. Only 22 percent dissented.

And asked how important they believe it is for Idaho to address health care issues, on a scale from 1 to 10, 70.5 percent of respondents chose 8, 9 or 10. That's up from 59.3 percent last year. "The rise of concern about the state doing something on health care policy in particular was noteworthy," Vaughn said.

Vaughn said another striking finding from the survey was that while most methods of funding road improvements were highly unpopular -- including raising gas taxes or registration fees and tapping the state general fund -- 71.7 percent favored reauthorizing the two-year "surplus eliminator" bill that lawmakers enacted in 2015, with just 21.5 percent preferring to let it expire. That measure split any unexpected year-end surplus 50-50 between road and bridge projects and state savings accounts; it's now expired, unless lawmakers decide to continue it.

This year's survey, conducted by Boise State University's School of Public Service, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The survey found education the top issue that respondents believe need to be addressed, something that's been consistent in BSU's surveys over the years; that was followed by the economy and health care. On taxes, it found that 65.3 percent of respondents said Idaho's taxes are about right, while 22.6 percent said they're too high and 9.1 percent thought they were too low.

"Policy makers and citizens alike can view the results of this survey as the most accurate snapshot available about how Idahoans feel about the important policy issues of the moment," Vaughn said. "Because of the large size of the survey and its representativeness across the entire state, we can be confident when we see public support for action on some issues such as health care and education while we also see the public generally satisfied with other issues, such as size of the state budget and the amount of tax revenue the state takes in."

Coach is top-paid state employee

The annual "Rainbow Report" from State Controller Brandon Woolf about Idaho's state workforce is out, and once again, it shows that the highest-paid state employee is Boise State University's head football coach. Coach Bryan Harsin's salary of $1.1 million is among those of 338 state employees who pull down salaries higher than that of Gov. Butch Otter, who makes $124,436 a year. The report includes total salaries -- not just those that come from state funds.

Here are the rest of the top five highest-paid state employees in Idaho: 2. BSU head basketball Coach Leon Rice, $650,000; 3. BSU President Bob Kustra, $396,562; 4. Idaho State University President Arthur Vailas, $381,521; and 5. University of Idaho President Chuck Staben, $374,005.

Most of those on the list of those who earn more than the governor are top administrators, deans, coaches or faculty at Idaho's public universities; or physicians with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, but there are others. Among them: Bob Maynard, chief investment officer for the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho, $303,326; Idaho Transportation Department Director Brian Ness, $191,776; and Idaho State Insurance Fund Executive Connie Barnett, $190,008.

Feds, the EPA and primacy...

When the House Environment Committee met on Thursday, Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, who had been on that panel before she was stripped of all her committee assignments that morning, was sitting in the audience, agency rule book open on her lap, following the proceedings. A concern she often expresses was stated instead by Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, an ally who's on the panel.

Nate said he was concerned about proposed rule changes from the state Department of Environmental Quality that include incorporating by reference a series of federal regulations regarding the federal Clean Air Act and air quality. "The whole incorporation by reference process is one that has bothered me for a long time," Nate said. He noted that Idaho state law requires Idaho's environmental regulations to be no more stringent than those of the federal government, but they also have to be as stringent. "That tells me we are going to do whatever the federal government tells us to do on this issue," he said. "So in essence, the federal government is controlling our laws." He asked the DEQ's Air Quality Division administrator, Tiffany Floyd, "Can you tell us where the constitutional authority is for the federal government to set laws for Idaho's environmental quality?"

She responded, "It's through the Clean Air Act that those requirements exist for EPA to follow all those national requirements ... and if it's not EPA doing that, and ensuring that the Clean Air Act is met, then a state can be granted primacy to implement it for their own state. That is what we are doing here. That is the underlying requirement."

Committee Chairman Dell Raybould, R-Rexburg, said, "We've gone through this in other years, time and time again. If we do not conform with these rules, then Idaho DEQ has no authority to administer any of them, and it would be left strictly up to the EPA to come in and administer these rules and take the authority away from our department. ... I guess you're caught in a mousetrap here, but at least we have our own people to work with rather than someone from Washington, D.C., to make it more feasible and convenient for Idaho citizens."

The committee then voted 12-1 to approve the rule, with only Nate dissenting.

December revenues beat forecast

Idaho's state tax revenues in December came in 5.4 percent, or $16.3 million, above forecasts, and 13.5 percent above the previous December. That puts general fund revenues for the fiscal year to date at 1 percent over the revised forecast and 7.8 percent above this point last year. The Legislative Budget Office reports that with the December numbers counted in, the estimated ending balance at the end of the 2017 fiscal year June 30 is now at $130.8 million. That's $83.7 million higher than lawmakers anticipated when they adjourned their 2016 legislative session last spring.

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