Vick seeks District 3 Senate seat

COEUR d'ALENE - Dalton Gardens resident Steve Vick is running for the Senate in District 3, which encompasses northern Kootenai County.

"The primary challenge facing Idaho is the economy, with the current recession and the pain it causes for Idaho families," he said. "What we need to focus on is creating jobs, so that people can provide for themselves and their families."

Vick said the Tax Foundation has conducted studies that show the best way for states to create and maintain jobs is with low, stable tax rates.

"Not only are low, stable taxes good for businesses, they are also good for Idaho families struggling to make ends meet," he said.

He said considering that Idaho has a budget shortfall that is projected to get worse before it gets better, there is going to be tremendous pressure to raise taxes to address the shortfall.

"This is the wrong approach and will only hurt our efforts to create jobs and grow Idaho's economy," Vick said. "If the states around us raise taxes, as Oregon has done and Washington is considering, Idaho can be a refuge for those companies looking for a safe place to invest and do business."

Vick said it is imperative that Idaho elect senators that are committed to not raising taxes. He said he signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising to the people of Idaho that he will oppose and vote against any effort to increase taxes.

Vick believes in limited government, and believes that should include the state's Legislature.

"On this issue, I would propose placing limits on the length of the legislative session, which has gone as long as 118 days in recent history," he said.

Vick said he supports the work being done on current legislation that supports states' rights. This includes House Bill 589 which states that firearms and ammunition manufactured in the state of Idaho using parts manufactured in the state of Idaho will be exempt from federal law or federal regulations and House Bill 39, known as the "Idaho Health Freedom Act," which establishes as state policy that every person in the state of Idaho is and shall continue to be free from government compulsion in the selection of health insurance options.

"For the same reason I oppose S1295, the so called 'Streamlined Sales Tax Project' which is a proposal to tax sales on the Internet," he said. "It is difficult to defend this bill in light of Constitutional provisions regarding interstate commerce. If the politicians in Washington don't agree with the U.S. Constitution, they should attempt to amend it, not ignore it. I believe strong, sovereign states are vital to the survival of our republic, and will do everything I can to defend those rights and our nation."