I want to represent citizens and small businesses, not large corporations.

As a citizen, what would you classify as your top 2 or 3 issues the state legislature should address?

As a small businessperson, what would you classify as your top 2 or 3 issues for the legislature to address?

I want to hear from you.

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Education is a critical service the state must offer its children

I am a strong supporter of public education.

Accountability for learning rests not just on the teacher, but on the student and the parents as well. I support all forms of education, but I think for the protection of the student, accountability requires assessment for all types of education. In today’s world, education is going to be the gateway to success.

Our state’s financial crisis must be addressed in a fair manner

During tough financial times, we must reexamine our tax structure to ensure it is fair to ALL our citizens. There are changes that can be made to help solve the financial crisis and yet ensure fairness.

Examine the SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS

Nearly $2 billion is lost due to exemptions. Many are valid and should remain, some were for special interests that should expire but haven’t. It has been studied several times by special committees and recommendations for change have been made. But they have not even been considered by the legislature as a whole and are just put in somebody’s drawer to be ignored. Out of state catalog sales should be taxed as well. My opponent is content with these exemptions, and of course he should, since he gets the majority of his campaign funding from special interest or corporate groups.

Cracking down on tax evaders. We need to make sure those who owe state taxes actually pay them. No more special deals for the Tax Commissioners’ friends.

Education funding

The crisis in funding for education is partially due to the elimination of the 0.3 % property tax dedicated to education (saving an out-of-state $1million dollar vacation homeowner $3000) and instead replacing it with a 20% increase in our sales tax to 6%. That $3000 property tax saving would require an additional $50,000 worth of purchases over and above what the owner would normally have spent to make up that difference! Seemed like a good deal at the time, but it turns out we just had the tax shift put onto our citizens at the benefit of many wealthy out of staters. Corporations also did well on this because many have sales tax exemptions.

Bob Nonini, in a recent mailing, took credit for a 20% property tax reduction, but he neglected to say he also voted for the 20% sales tax increase as well. He was good to corporations and out of state vacation homeowners, but not so good to average Idaho citizens.

Legislation should be developed in a bi-partisan manner. As a member of The Common Interest, I have found that the sharing of facts and ideas about issues created consensus building and resulted in conclusions that took into account all sides of the issue. Our current political climate in Boise seems to do just the opposite. When I talk with friends who are Republicans about state issues, more often than not, we come up with suggestions that blend ideas from both the Democrat and the Republican stances. I am saddened that our elected officials seem to lack that skill.

When I am elected, I promise to consider ideas and suggestions from all points of view. That doesn’t mean I will necessarily abandon my positions, but I will be amenable to ideas that have merit.

Above all, I will take the position that the impact on Citizens will be considered on any bill. And that I will place the concerns of the Citizens above the wants of Special Interest groups.

Thank you for your consideration, and I ask you for your vote on November 2nd. DAVID LARSEN State Representative, District 5, Seat A