The Legislature influences many important issues, and legislators want to make a difference on all of them. Although as a first-term legislator I will spend time learning and developing relationships in Boise, I also will focus on legislation that will help north Idaho. Even as a first-term legislature, I will not be shy, and I will fight hard for north Idaho. I might not know every legislator's name, but you can bet that they will know mine and what north Idahoans think is important. I will not roll over for Boise lobbyists and I will not sell out north Idaho to outside interests nor to Boise big business. I've been getting things done in North Idaho, and I can get things done in Boise.

It's time for tax reform. Although we all agree that we must fund schools, roads, many public services, the correctional system, and health care, no one wants to be taxed unfairly, and no one wants their money spent foolishly.

It's time for fair taxes. North Idaho homeowners are paying more than their fair share, and I will support legislation that offers property tax relief (we should freeze assessments at the purchase price), that shifts the tax burden back to where it should be, and for state-wide funding of safe schools. It's time for developers and business to pay their fair share.

It's time to remove taxes from groceries.

It's time to stop giving big businesses, like a French nuclear waste company, tax breaks at homeowners' expense.

It's time to remove tax exemptions from special interests.

It's time for local options so communities can take responsibility for their actions, rather than being told what to do by the State.

It's time to fund schools fairly and adequately. Education is one of the most important investments the State makes. Our kids deserve the best education we can provide, and Idaho's economy depends on an educated workforce.

It's time for business to pay their share. Education is extremely important to the success of businesses. Business leaders say they need to hire an educated workforce, want good schools for their employees' children, and know that education is an investment in Idaho's economic future. Education is important to business, and business should help fund it. That's one reason why I will support State-funded safe schools, and state funds for maintenance and operation expenses. Local control is important, but local homeowners should not be taxed unfairly. All Idaho's kids should have the same opportunity to attend safe and healthy schools, with modern facilities and well-trained and responsible teachers. We can fund schools fairly, while maintaining local control.

It's time to invest in higher education. Idahoans should be first in line for the new high tech jobs in our State, not priced out of college. Strong universities bring money to the State (my research has brought in millions of Federal dollars to the university for salaries, students, grant administration, and equipment), prepare our students for new types of jobs, and lure business to Idaho. I will support efforts to improve access to higher education here in north Idaho. We need more than a WWW page and a small office.

I believe my experience and success in the educational system will earn the respect of fellow legislators, and will allow me to bring new ideas and creative solutions to educational issues in the Legislature.

It's time for every Idahoan to have access to health care. I'm president of the Board of the Partners in Care clinic. We provide low-cost heath care to the working uninsured in north Idaho. We've helped more than one thousand people, and it has not cost the taxpayers one penny. Instead, we are saving tax dollars by preventing expensive trips to the emergency room that are paid for with tax-supported indigent care funds.

I have been working with health care providers, small and large businesses, and government agencies to develop a program that will provide access to health care for north Idahoans. I have been getting things done to make health care more affordable.

It's time to implement affordable solutions. It's time to help small businesses and the self-employed gain access to affordable health coverage. That's a type of economic deveelopment I'll fight for.

It's time for the Legislature to support fully the children's health insurance program, ear and eye tests for all our kids, Idahoans with disabilities, and seniors. Health care should include dental care, too.

It's time to think of new solutions. Health costs are rising, and the Legislature should begin bold experiments such as importation of prescription medicine and banding together groups of small businesses to lower health care costs.

It's time to ensure that our water remains clean and accessible for us, for our kids, and for our grandchildren. I have spent most of my life working with water, and I understand the needs of north Idaho, and the many aspects that must be balanced to provide safe, clean water that is accessible to everyone.

It's time to try alternatives to dumping thousands of pounds of harsh chemicals into our lakes and rivers. Not everything will work, but it is our due diligence as public servants to try.

It's time to say "NO!" to the Rock Creek mine. I have studied the science (that's what I do for a living), and I will oppose strongly the outside interests and investors who will pollute our streams and lakes, and take the profits home with them. I will not sell out Idaho's water to outsiders.

Photo above: Steve (aided by his wife, Britt) adjusting equipment during a Navy project. Steve works with the manufacturer to design and build the measuring devices, and Steve's team installs the equipment tripods for the Navy.

Legislators listen to the opinions of colleagues who are experts. I like water, and I understand the technical issues about power generation, fish migration, irrigation, and recreation, and when it comes to water, I will earn the respect of members of all parties in the Legislature. I believe I will have influence on water issues from the day I start, and I will be a strong voice for north Idaho. We need a strong voice to bring the Rock Creek mine to the attention of the entire State and to the nation. As my mom taught me, "leave it cleaner than it was when you found it." We must work hard to ensure our water remains clean, that our lakes and rivers are accessible to everyone today and in the future, and to maintain local control.

I will work hard to provide good jobs for those of us who live here. Economic development in north Idaho is different than it is in urban areas, such as Boise. Small businesses and the self-employed are crucial to local employment. I will work for resources located here (not in Boise) to help local small businesses. North Idaho has many hardworking, intelligent people whose success will increase if they can focus on their skills, while they are provided help for things such as business plans, exit strategies, purchase of health care, and accounting.

Photo right: Steve (sunglasses, driving the boat) and his team of engineers and divers on their way to install equipment under water during a Navy project.