Week four; boat safety and Pulaskies
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February 3, 2013 |
Like you, I enjoy the outdoors and all of the
opportunities afforded to us living in such a
beautiful part of the state. We are fortunate to
have so many recreational pursuits to choose
from. With our many lakes and rivers, one of our
most popular activities is boating. Boating is
part of our way of life, but we need to make
sure that it is done in a safe and responsible
manner.
As a result, I plan on introducing a bill to fix
Idaho’s Safe Boating Act after cases in our area
showed the need to hold irresponsible boaters
accountable for their actions.
Part of this effort would be to examine a
boating law deemed “unconstitutionally” vague by
a court, which led to charges of grossly
negligent boating being dropped against two
people last year.
The bill will be printed on Monday, February 3,
and you’ll be able to find it at our legislative
web site,
www.legislature.idaho.gov, by Wednesday
should the Senate Judiciary and Rules agree that
this issue needs a hearing.
I’ll let you know the bill number when it is
assigned. Let me know your thoughts on if you
think this is a good fix that will hold those
boaters accountable who place others, and
themselves, in jeopardy on our waterways.
Helping to improve the economy of our area is
important to me. One of the ways I can help is
by opening doors for our local companies.
At the moment, I have been working on opening
potential markets for a company called P2 which
makes a tool that is an improvement on the
Pulaski – a tool used to fight forest fires.
Since the first of the year I’ve met with the
Idaho Department of Commerce, Idaho Department
of Lands, the Lieutenant Governor and the Fire
Protection Associations to show them the tool
and to encourage them to assist this Idaho based
business to grow.
You may know that the Pulaski has its roots here
in Idaho.
It was invented by Ed Pulaski, who was a
forester for the US Forest Service when the 1910
fires blew up. Mr. Pulaski is credited with
saving many lives during that horrible fire year
and the Pulaski he fashioned remains a key tool
of wild land fire crews.
Mr. Tom Sykes invented and patented an
improvement on the tool and manufacturers it in
the Sandpoint area. He believes that if the P2
catches on with wild land fire fighters that he
can add five to 10 jobs in our area.
I am supporting his efforts. More can be found
on the fire tool at
http://www.p2firetool.com and more about Ed
Pulaski and Idaho’s forest fire history can be
found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Pulaski,
here:
http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Policy/Fire/FamousFires/1910Fires.aspx
and here:
http://www.idahoforests.org/fire.htm
As you know, keeping you informed of what is
happening at the Capitol is one of my top
priorities. I recently sent a questionnaire to
many of the citizens in District 1. As your
State Senator, I want to know what is on your
mind and it is important that I hear directly
from you.
If, for some reason, you did not receive the
survey, send me your mailing address and I will
make sure that you get one. If you received a
survey and have not had a chance to fill it out,
please do so. My email is
shawn@shawnkeough.com.
With week # 4 behind us the pace of bill
introductions is picking up as are debates about
various issues that are on the minds of our
fellow Idahoans. Be sure to follow all the
action at
www.legislature.idaho.gov and stay in touch!
I value your input! |
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