Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week in Boise I had a meeting with the Governor's Office and representatives of the Idaho Department of Corrections to discuss the foreign nationals in our state prisons. As I have mentioned previously, the state of Idaho holds 475 foreigners in our jails at a cost of $10 million a year. These convicts serve time at taxpayers' expense and are then deported.
If the ultimate result is deportation, I believe we should consider this option earlier, not later. The result of the meeting was the tentative identification of at least 175 prisoners who the state may be able to deport, saving the state $4 million per year. Of course, this appears to be good news and I will continue to update you on this issue.
As you will all know, I am a passionate supporter in the enforcement of our immigration laws and my efforts have made progress but have been met with resistance from a variety of directions. I am pleased to inform readers that I had another meeting this week with Senator Curt McKenzie, the chairman of Senate State Affairs. Senator McKenzie has been a supporter of legislation in past to help enforce effective immigration policy and I believe he will be again. We discussed ideas at length for how to bring new legislation in the next session, so I am optimistic we can pass a law in this important area.
Please click below to read my latest editorial on the subject, which appeared in the Idaho Business Review.
In the Senate we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a House bill which takes into account Governor Otter's desire to raise revenue to help maintain Idaho's roads. I use the word anxiously as most other work of real note and merit has been completed here in Boise and it is nearing time when we should adjourn.
What are your views on the raising of fees on fuel? I would like to learn them and will be sending a survey out regarding this shortly. Please take a few moments to respond when the email survey arrives; it is important to the work I do on your behalf.
As always, please continue to contact me with your thoughts and comments.
Sincerely yours,
Mike Jorgenson
mnjorgen@senate.idaho.gov
Please visit my website for further information:
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