Nicole's Report on the 2006 Legislative Session

District 19 Residents, Neighbors and Friends,

I am deeply honored by your generosity and support.

This year saw huge changes in the House of Representatives. I worked hard to successfully stop legislation that would have shifted $90 million in personal property taxes onto families and small businesses. I worked for months to try to secure funding for public transportation and successfully drafted House Bill 260 to create sentencing and treatment alternatives to prison for people addicted to meth, alcohol and other drugs. Finally I drafted and passed into law legislation offering clinically trained mental health and substance abuse specialist counselors to address teen suicide, depression, violence, drug addiction and other urgent treatment/prevention issues in Idaho High Schools & Jr. Highs.

Thank you. With your support, I have, over the past three years, been able to change attitudes and make a difference in the Idaho legislature. Every day I am amazed by the changes I can make to legislation and the opportunities I have to shape other legislators’ perceptions of key issues. Some progress is glacial. But I am good at holding on tight to the successes, keeping my colleagues accountable, and learning to build on every bit of progress I see.

Now I must ask you a favor. Last election, in 2006, I drained my campaign funds working hard to elect great new members of the House of Representatives including Sue Chew, Phylis King & Les Bock. I also worked to oppose the anti-gay marriage amendment.

2008 is a Presidential Election year. It is the year I am most likely to face a re-election opponent and it is important that I work now to show strength by raising funds to deter credible candidates from choosing to run against me in the next election.

By raising funds now I will be able to focus on field campaigning and voter turnout for other races and I will be less likely to compete with the essential 2008 re-election fund raising for our 5 new Ada County Democratic State Representatives. (I encourage you to send them funds when they ask as well.) Together this year we created the strongest Democratic Caucus in over a decade. With the growing conservatism in the House, we have plans not only to hold onto our new seats but to grow the House and Senate yet again with hard working progressive voices in 2008! Please help me make this happen by giving generously now and by helping with election campaigns statewide in 2008.

Please call me with questions you have about the issues or to discuss any ideas or concerns. My personal cell phone number is 208-724-0468.