COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – January 11, 2016 – Art Macomber, Republican Candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives for District 4, Seat A (Coeur d’Alene) expressed disappointment with Governor Otter’s “State of the State” speech today.
“While 35% of Idaho’s budgets remain funded by the federal government, Governor Otter requested significant increases to Idaho’s fiscal budget for 2017 without offering alterations to existing spending to pay for the increases,” said Macomber.
“Instead of boldly offering a plan for transition of federal lands to Idaho private ownership, the Governor meekly proposed the Land Board receive an additional $920,000 for initial fire responses. Furthermore, on the medical care social welfare program run through the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange, the governor ignored premium increases of 20% and more, while saying nothing about the sharp rise in deductibles for Idahoans,” said Macomber.
Macomber noted, “the Governor made no call for a lowering of any income tax rates to stimulate business activity, or ridding Idaho of its onerous grocery tax.” “Further, Governor Otter had no plans to reduce the more than 700 different sets of executive branch administrative rules that impede capital investment in business activity for the Idaho economy,” Art stated, “all in all, the Governor’s speech lacks a vision of economic prosperity for Idaho families and their small businesses!”
Macomber is a lawyer whose firm has operated for a decade in Coeur d’Alene. He has clients in Idaho, Washington and Montana. Additionally, he serves on the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee and is a member of the Federalist Society. Macomber and his wife, Leslie, have a daughter attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, and a son who is a student at Lake City High School.
