All 2010 Idaho Opinions
Lame duck session may be last chance for wilderness bills New Mexico U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, chair of the Senate Energy Committee, is preparing a public lands omnibus bill that will bundle about 60 pieces of legislation, some that designate areas of New Mexico and Oregon as wilderness, with the intent to get the bill passed during the lame duck session of Congress. It may be the last chance for new wilderness designations for a very long time. It's unlikely that Montana Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act(NREPA) and America's Red Rock Act will make it into the omnibus bill.
U.S. Senate should pass funding bill for Land and Water Conservation Fund Before the end of the 111th Session of Congress, the U.S. Senate should follow the lead of the U.S. House and pass the legislation that secures long-term funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Idahoans need a dose of fiscal reality Recent polls indicate that Idahoans are somewhat schizophrenic when it comes to financial issues, with a large majority opposing cuts to education and Medicaid, and a similar majority opposing tax increases, but the reality is Idaho's expenses are outpacing revenue and something's got to give.
Court decision should jumpstart Wyoming wolf negotiations Wolf management in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming is teetering over the same legal abyss as snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park, and if Wyoming officials want to avoid the legal morass of opposing court opinions, endless, expensive studies and years of uncertainty, they should use U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson's decision as a starting point to sit down and negotiate with federal officials to find a reasonable wolf-management plan.
Idaho voter turnout for mid-term election was pathetic The Idaho Secretary of State's office said that less than 40 percent of voting-age Idahoans actually went to the polls on Nov. 2, and the 688,617 Idahoans who found something else to do on that day other than their civic duty should find something else to do other than complain about the government for which they did not vote.
Wyoming lawmakers made the right call on wolf negotiations Wyoming doesn't trust the federal government on wolves, an understandable position given the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's abandonment of the state's dual-status plan a couple of years ago after first endorsing it, but state lawmakers voted Friday to rise above the distrust and agreed to continue talks with Idaho, Montana and the federal government, a better option than years of wrangling in federal court.
Wyoming lawmakers made the right call on wolf negotiations Wyoming doesn't trust the federal government on wolves, an understandable position given the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's abandonment of the state's dual-status plan a couple of years ago after first endorsing it, but state lawmakers voted Friday to rise above the distrust and agreed to continue talks with Idaho, Montana and the federal government, a better option than years of wrangling in federal court.
Idaho doesn't need to be in the self-storage business The decision of the State Land Board - Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, Controller Donna Jones, Secretary of State Ben Ysursa and public schools chief Tom Luna - in August to buy a 5-acre storage facility in Boise pulled $2.7-million of assessed property off the tax rolls, money that would have gone to schools and puts the state in direct competition with private enterprise, a considerable change in policy that surely deserves more public input.
Idaho's Mount Heyburn needs a better name Idaho's Sen. Weldon Heyburn was a vocal, early critic of the U.S. Forest Service and sought to abolish the agency right after it was created, which makes one wonder why Mount Heyburn in Idaho, one of the U.S. Forest Service's most esteemed places, carries his name. A guest column written for High Country News' The Range blog by John Freemuth, a professor of political science and public policy at Boise State University.
Idaho governor's wolf tantrum simple politicking It's no coincidence that Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter tossed wolf management to the federal government two weeks before Election Day, but his politically savvy sulk does not serve the ranchers, who have nowhere to turn should they lose livestock to wolves; handcuffs sportsmen and women who subsidize wolf management with their fees; and even does a disservice to the wild-eyed wolf-haters, who may take it upon themselves to "manage" wolves and face federal charges for doing so. While Otter may see himself as a winner for this stance, no race or contest was ever won by a quitter.
Idaho, Wyoming, Montana legislators could find solution to wolf dilemma Never mind that Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is beginning to sound more and more like Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal when it comes to dealing with wolves and the federal government, because state legislators from Idaho, Wyoming and Montana are putting their heads together and are working on a solution that may even win the approval of their states' top executives.
Montana senators' bill best solution to wolf issue Legislation proposed by Montana's U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester that ties the removal of wolves from the federal Endangered Species Act to states having management plans in place that are approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - and gives that agency the authority to approve plans based on political boundaries - is the only workable solution to the wolf issue. A column by Ben Lamb, a wildlife conservationist living in Helena, Mont.
Idaho Legislature must step into affordable-housing fray The ability of low-income Idahoans to find affordable housing has been shackled by recent state court decisions that have ruled mandates for affordable housing in subdivisions are illegal, a situation legislators must remedy when they return to Boise in January.
USFS continues to impose illegal recreation fees Despite federal court decisions to the contrary, the U.S. Forest Service continues to charge recreation fees in places it deems high-impact areas despite the lack of amenities required for such fees under the ill-advised Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), legislation that was tacked onto a must-pass budget bill and one that Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester have sponsored legislation to repeal.
Beetle-killed forests are less fire prone than healthy ones Land managers need to calm down and get real about how beetle-killed forests will burn as there is now scientific evidence that standing dead trees with very little needle litter are less likely to burn than healthy trees. A column by Bill Gabbert, who been involved in wildland fire for more than 30 years, having worked in suppression, prevention, prescribed fire, management and with the International Association of Wildland Fire.
Idaho doesn't need an Arizona-like illegal immigration law Idaho has pressing budget problems, aging infrastructure and a host of other issues for legislators to handle when they come back to Boise, Passing an immigration law based on Arizona's will only add to the state's burden, and lawmakers would be better off focusing on state business.
Idaho governor picking a fight on wolves with the wrong guy On Thursday, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter backed off a bit from his Oct. 7 deadline for the federal government to respond to the state's conditions for its continued management of wolves in the state, but Otter shouldn't be going after the federal government on this issue, since it's Wyoming's fault wolves in Idaho and Montana are back on the endangered species list.
Decisions Idaho makes now on water will have high impact in the future Areas of Idaho will face water shortages in the future, whether due to hotter, drier weather or demand from a growing population, and the folks Idahoans vote for in November will be the ones making decisions that will affect the state's water situation for decades to come.
Idaho taxpayers deserve to know how much their hired workers earn As Idahoans prepare to fill in their ballots, it's a good time to review just how much the folks they elect - and even those just employed by the state - earn, and the Twin Falls Times-News offers a quick look at some state workers' salaries courtesy of the Idaho Freedom Foundation's state employee salary database.
Idaho senator's bill to increase truckload size needs careful review Heavy trucks have been getting a lot of attention in Idaho and Montana these days, as has the condition of Idaho's highways and the burden heavy trucks place upon them, which makes Idaho U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo's timing on a bill to give states the authority to approve heavier truckloads a little questionable. Both federal and state lawmakers - who would ultimately approve heavier trucks - need to consider not only the bill's cost-savings to trucking companies but also the impact heavier trucks would have on the environment, human life and tax dollars.
Idaho roads can' t bear the current weight limit for trucks Idaho U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo is pitching his bill to increase weight limits on trucks on Idaho and other states' highways as one that's good for the environment, but that should be fairly low on Idaho's list of concerns, given the dismal state of its roads and bridges now.
Court's ruling on wolves' status in Idaho, Montana just another step Federal District Court Judge Donald Molloy followed the law when he returned wolves in Idaho and Montana to federal protection, and if those states want to regain management authority again, their best bet would be to get all stakeholders, including Wyoming, in a room and stay there until a compromise is hammered out.
Decision could reinstate shoot, shovel, shut-up wolf policy in Idaho The federal district court decision that put wolves in Idaho and Montana back under federal protection is a major step backwards and will no doubt promote digging in on positions at either extreme of the wolf debate. A column by Rocky Barker.
What’s proper government role: That’s the real question Commentator Wayne Hoffman argues that even though Idaho Public Television produces excellent, stylish and substantive local programming, its activity falls outside the scope of the proper role of government.
Wyoming needs to cowboy up and write a wolf plan that works Wyoming's childish refusal to write a wolf-management plan the federal government can live with is directly responsible for last week's court ruling that returned wolves in Idaho and Montana to the endangered species list, and the governors of those two states should sit down with Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal and show him how to write a wolf plan that meets federal approval.
Legislation would require congressional approval of national monuments The National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act, S. 472, would require congressional ratification of presidential designation of national monuments. A column by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, who is co-sponsoring the legislation along with his colleague, Sen. Jim Risch.
El Paso Corp.'s deal with Idaho-based group dries up pipeline support Ranchers are angry about El Paso Corp.'s deal with Idaho-based Western Watersheds Project and the Oregon Natural Desert Association that puts $20 million in trust to protect sagebrush habitat across the region and wildlife refuges in Oregon because they fear the money will be spent to retire grazing leases; as a result, their support for El Paso Corp.'s Ruby Pipeline that will stretch across hundreds of miles of Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Oregon has dried up. A column by Rocky Barker.
Idaho governor needs to upgrade his business attitude Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's myopic view about technology's role in the state's economy has young entrepreneurs of the new generation of technology start-ups all aTwitter, but a snide gridlock will serve neither the state nor the high-tech companies.
Idaho needs institutional changes to attract new business Idaho has some of the lowest electricity costs in the nation, and wages are lower in the Gem State than in neighboring states, both factors which should have businesses breaking down the door to build here, but that's not happening because the state's schools are suffering from a lack of funding, its roads are below par, and business taxes are too high.
Idaho senator needs to get back in touch with his 'green' streak Idaho U.S. Sen. Jim Risch knows how collaboration works given that he was able to put together a management plan for the state's federal roadless forest lands during his seven-month tenure as the state's governor four years ago, which makes his decision not to support U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's Boulder-White Cloud wilderness bill all the more incomprehensible; Sen. Risch needs to take a look back and remember why collaboration works.
Simpson addresses Idaho governor's concerns about CIEDRA U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson said he realizes that Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter won't support Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act and, at best, can only hope Otter doesn't put out the call to kill the bill, but in a letter to Otter, he tried to allay the governor's concerns. Rocky Barker's Letters from the West blog.
What happens if Yucca Mountain never opens? Under a 1995 agreement between Idaho and the U.S. Department of Energy, the Idaho National Laboratory will continue to store spent nuclear fuel until 2035, when it then must be shipped out of state. However, at present there is no place for the radioactive waste to go, and Idaho should keep the federal government's feet to the fire on finding a final disposal site for the waste.
Copying Arizona won't fix the immigration problem Idaho is one of 18 states considering an immigration law similar to the one passed by Arizona's legislature earlier this year. However, Idaho doesn't need that kind of law, and the governor and state legislators mustn't bow to public pressure and pass such an unnecessary measure.
If you're not upset by militia scheme, you ought to be Even though the Idaho Republican Party decided against adopting a resolution supporting the creation of a state militia parallel to the National Guard at its state convention on Saturday, the fact that the measure made it out of committee and to the full floor is troubling enough.
Idaho senator hosts meetings on wilderness bill this week U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo will hold a series of meetings this week on the Boulder-White Cloud wilderness legislation to address concerns raised by Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter about the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act. A column by Rocky Barker.
U.S. Senate needs to approve Cobell settlement It's been 14 years since Elouise Cobell filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of a half a million Native Americans alleging mismanagement of tribal assets by the federal government, and more than six months since a $3.4-billion settlement was reached, and the U.S. Senate needs to act now and approve that settlement.
School districts have tough challenge The legislature granted local school districts a lot of leeway in deciding how they'll make ends meet with reduced revenues, and now we're starting to see how districts are handling the challenge.
From Lincoln and Twain to Obama and Ward You can empathize with former Republican congressional candidate Vaughn Ward. If he wasn't done in before it arrived, a video showing him stealing lines from President Barack Obama's 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address devastated Ward's prospects in the recent primary election.
Blue Dog Democrat Minnick is, well, a Democrat Voters in Idaho's 1st Congressional District may assume they face a choice between a Republican and a Democratic incumbent who votes like one. But on many low-profile issues, Rep. Walt Minnick has voted with the Democrats.
Idaho cuts spending, then ratchets up real costs The state has given up trying to pay for outpatient care for about 2,000 recovering substance abusers who don't have private insurance, don't qualify for public insurance and can't get help any other way. Unfortunately, it won't be long before the rest of us are paying for these Idahoans in some other way.
Even GOP thinks legislators cut too much Republican voters say Idaho lawmakers reduced the public school budget too deeply. So why did a GOP-dominated Legislature proceed with the cuts?
Simpson's Boulder-White Cloud wilderness bill has Idaho's support U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson has spent more than a decade crafting his Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act to protect 332,775 acres of land in the Boulder-White Clouds roadless area as wilderness, and now that the state's entire congressional delegation has signed on to the bill in support, perhaps this will be the year the legislation gets what it deserves.
Idaho's RINO herd thins out yet again Over time, GOP moderates have lost ground at the Idaho legislature, ceding first the doctrinaire House and then the more pragmatic Senate. Latah county's Gary Schroeder is the latest victim.
States stuck between a rock and a pothole Every time we purchase a vehicle that gets good gas mileage, it means we aren't paying as much of a gas tax. That's nice on our pocketbooks but not so great for our roads.
Supreme Court election — An unseemly campaign to silence court criticisms The right candidate won. But it was the wrong campaign - reflecting poorly on the Idaho Supreme Court and newly re-elected Justice Roger Burdick.
Daring to win Cheers to state Rep. Raul Labrador for clinching the GOP nomination for Idaho's 1st Congressional District over reserve Marine officer Vaughn Ward. Jeers to Washington's U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for refusing to commit to a political solution to the Snake River salmon issue.
Right saves mainstream GOP from itself Mainstream Republicans - stung and stunned by Vaughn Ward's breathtaking journey to unelectability - should grudgingly thank their conservative friends.
VanderSloot won Supreme Court race One of Idaho's richest men, Frank VanderSloot, fronted much of the money for Supreme Court Justice Roger Burdick's recent campaign against John Bradbury, continuing a decade of interference in judicial elections.
Dissatisfaction reigns in Idaho's primary election The most far-reaching result of Tuesday's election may turn out to be the defeat of moderates State Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls, Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, and Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, by conservatives. It may signal more trouble for public schools, higher education, Health and Welfare and corrections.
The GOP agenda gets mixed grades, from the GOP With its agenda, the 2010 Legislature set the tone for the 2010 elections. Republican lawmakers played to their base by railing against the federal government and voting to join a lawsuit over health care reform. But another part of the agenda - deep cuts to public schools - may not play so well with voters.
Principles yes, partisanship no For every pronouncement that Democratic incumbents are in big, big trouble come Nov. 2, there is an offsetting one that suggests many Republicans engaged in such bloodletting during the primary campaign, vulnerabilities were brutally exposed.
State watchdog safeguards its image first Idaho's Department of Environmental Quality canceled its appearance at the Idaho Conservation League's annual Wild Idaho conference after the ICL criticized the agency for suspending much of its program to track baseline levels of pollution in the state's rivers and lakes.
It isn't November - but it's still a big day at polls If recent history is a guide, only about a quarter of Idaho's registered voters will show up for today's primaries. Here is a recap of the Statesman's endorsements.
How can you run government if you don't understand it? Vaughn Ward's government teacher at Jerome High would be disappointed. The Republican 1st Congressional District candidate told a debate audience in north Idaho last week that Puerto Rico is a foreign country. For that lack of basic geography and history, Ward should get after-school detention.
Search today. Expect to pay tomorrow. Money isn't the only factor - and it's far from the most important one - in finding the right person to fill Lewis-Clark State College President Dene Thomas' post.
Neither visionary, nor leader, Ward follows What a congressional candidate says tells you how he'll vote.
How he conducts his congressional campaign tells how he'll manage. Based on the campaign so far, the signs are not promising for First Congressional District GOP hopeful Vaughn Ward.
This time, the establishment has it right 2nd District Judge John Bradbury's allegation that retired judges are double-dipping at the public till has drawn return fire from the state's judicial and political establishment, and rightfully so.
Otter picks righteous fight with feds this time Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's frequent spats with federal agencies are often misguided. But his latest fight - over a Salmon-Challis National Forest official's decision to deny an Idaho Public Television request to film in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area - is spot on.
An Otter rumor that's unlikely to go away For the bulk of an hourlong debate Tuesday night, Rex Rammell and Sharon Ullman took turns beating up no-show Gov. Butch Otter.
Minimizing impact on students The public education budget isn't good enough, but we have to do the best we can with what we have, writes Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.
Deferential Supreme Court got meager gains Does Idaho Supreme Court Justice Roger Burdick simply not understand the school finance issues at the heart of his dispute with the man opposing him for re-election?
Speak out or pay up Washington state is forging ahead with its insistence that Idaho cities meet a more difficult standard of wastewater discharge than do Washington dischargers.
Palin knows all because she reads minds Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says President Barack Obama is in favor of banning guns and gutting the Second Amendment, but the Brady gun control advocacy group gives the President failing marks for his actions so far on gun control.
Two low-key races, two clear choices In races to fill the U.S. Senate seat, incumbent Mike Crapo deserves the nod in the GOP primary, and Tom Sullivan is an easy pick in the Democratic primary.
Government ignores real needs with handouts While some important educational institutions in Southeast Idaho are struggling to maintain a semblance of their former selves amid the national recession, other government-run entities are blessed with more federal financial assistance than what seems necessary.
If voters raise school taxes, why can't state? How is it that Idaho property owners are willing to do for themselves what their state legislators are not - raise taxes to support schools?
Clean boats are best way to protect Idaho lakes Hopes of averting what could be a disastrous invasion of invasive species lie mainly with boaters who have a personal stake in the program's success.
Idaho flunks Humphrey's moral test When Idaho balances its budget on the backs of its most vulnerable citizens, as it now has after the recent cuts to the Aged, Blind and Disabled program, then it has cut spending too deeply.
The man who wasn't there won debate Still relative unknowns even after their TV debate, Republican congressional hopefuls Vaughn Ward and state Rep. Raul Labrador have no choice but to continue tearing each other down before their May 25 GOP primary. The ultimate winner could be the Democratic incumbent, Walt Minnick.
Why Ward’s campaign fumbles truly matter Vaughn Ward, the choice of many mainstream Republicans in the 1st Congressional District, remains an unknown with no political resume and no voting record. Voters have few ways to take their measure of Ward other than from the campaign he runs.
Even the lawyers are unsure about judge contest About all the recent Idaho State Bar survey about the candidates for Idaho's Supreme Court, incumbent Justice Roger Burdick and his challenger 2nd District Judge John Bradbury, tells us is that lawyers don't know much more about the candidates than the rest of us.
Candidate Ward needs to address deception Half of the information on congressional candidate Vaughn Ward's website was plagiarized from other candidates' websites. The candidate needs to take responsibility for the plagiarism and apologize for the deception.
Flopped flip Jeers to Republican congressional candidate Vaughn Ward for his shifting positions on repealing the 17th Amendment to the Constitution (which enabled direct election of U.S. Senators).
Cheers to the AARP of Idaho for drawing attention to Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter's decision to opt out of offering a high-risk insurance pool.
A Ward clarification? No, this was a flip-flop 1st Congressional District candidate Vaughn Ward has flip-flopped on repealing the 17th Amendment - and thus returning the election of U.S. senators to state legislatures.
Peddling booze and false hope The state should end its hypocrisy over regulating some forms of personal behavior while profiting from others by privatizing state liquor stores and ending the state lottery.
Once a crisis passes, it's easy to be brilliant If an Idaho Republican acts sanely in the middle of a financial crisis, it's certain a pair of right-wing challengers will force him to defend the obvious on statewide television. Such is the case with 2nd District Congressman Mike Simpson and his vote for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Politician Luna becomes educator Luna If the Idaho Republican Party is vulnerable anywhere in 2010, it's the choice to shrink public school budgets. Nor is state schools Superintendent Tom Luna going to give his fellow Republicans in the Legislature or Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter much political cover on that point.
Congressman Feelgood serves up candy When it comes to closing the enormous $1.3 trillion federal budget deficit, it's easy to target congressional earmarks and corporate bailouts. But the real federal budget problem is a long-term imbalance between spending and revenue.
Idaho's No. 2 leader merits a shot at 4 years Four of the past eight Idaho lieutenant governors have become governors, so the stakes are high for Brad Little in the election season ahead.
Burdick's qualifications for Idaho Supreme Court overcome a defensive campaign Roger Burdick, an experienced and proven legal thinker, deserves another six-year Idaho Supreme Court term.
Public should elect senators Both leading GOP candidates for the 1st Congressional District seat have said they believe the 17th Amendment to the Constitution should be repealed, a move that would take the selection of U.S. senators out of the hands of voters and give it to politicians in the Statehouse.
If not courts, who enforces constitution? If any case signals what's ailing the Idaho Supreme Court, it's the court's lame handling of the public school construction lawsuit.
Otter, Allred the class of crowded gubernatorial field Odds are that Republican Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and Democrat Keith Allred will win their respective primary elections on May 25. If so, it's the best matchup for governor since former Lt. Gov. Phil Batt, a Republican, took on Democratic Attorney General Larry EchoHawk in 1994.
Sans repository, nuclear power loses steam To hear a pair of scientists tell it, forgoing a national repository for radioactive waste shouldn't get in the way of building more nuclear reactors in this country.
Well, there's always the fall election ... Just three years ago, a pair of moderate Republicans represented Boise's District 17. Unfortunately for the GOP - and for voters - the district's Republican Senate primary features a pair of strident ideologues.
Newcomers Toryanski, Ferch deserve a nod Republicans in Boise's District 18 can nominate two former legislators: Senate candidate Dean Sorensen and House candidate Julie Ellsworth. But we endorse two newcomers in the May 25 primary: Mitch Toryanski for the Senate and Gregory Ferch for the House.
Cheers & Jeers Jeers to the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry for its smear campaign against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred. Cheers to the late Reed Hansen, a former Republican legislator from Idaho Falls who worked with Democrats in order to improve people's lives.
Be honest about why you’re not debating Gov. Otter has the right to decline the invitation to debate on Idaho Public Television, but he should be forthright about why. And it seems far-fetched to believe that it's out of fairness to a few fringe candidates.
Crapo's unsure? Jeers to U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo for avoiding straight answers on a candidate survey. Cheers to Crapo and Sen. James Risch for joining a strategy to pass Congressman Mike Simpson's Boulder-White Clouds wilderness package in the US Senate.
Crapo, Sullivan deserve U.S. Senate nominations In his 17 years on Capitol Hill, Mike Crapo has become a player; he deserves renomination to be the GOP candidate for the United States Senate in the fall. On the Democratic side, only one of the candidates - Tetonia small business owner Tom Sullivan - actually lives in the state.
Two Emmett reps are the clear choices Emmett's two House members are a study in political contrasts. Carlos Bilbao, a retired Boeing manager, is a moderate Republican in a hard-line House caucus. Steven Thayn, a teacher and farmer, is conservative but not the rigid ideologue that he appeared to be when first elected in 2006.
Current version of Idaho wilderness bill just might pass This year's version of the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act cuts out the most contentious federal land swaps opposed by environmental groups, giving the bill a fighting chance in Congress.
Money may cloud our lawmakers’ judgment No matter how many good reasons U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo has to oppose regulatory reform, some, maybe even many, won't believe him because of the campaign contributions he's taken from banking and financial institutions.
Forum-shy incumbents do disservice to democracy Idaho voters may be feeling like Goldilocks after hearing the explanations some candidates have given for participating or not participating in an upcoming series of televised debates.
Mining companies need to pay their fair share The 1872 General Mining Law needs to be reformed to make sure mining companies pay their fair share and to protect the West's waters and lands, and New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman's bill would do just that - if it can survive in a year in which Nevada U.S. Sen. Harry Reid is running for re-election. A guest column by Alan Bernholtz, who served as mayor of Crested Butte, Colo., from 2005-2009.
Idaho must not follow Arizona down path of angry immigration law Because the federal government has failed to rewrite the nation's immigration policy, angry Arizona residents and legislators have passed an unwieldy law that will surely be fine-tuned one traffic stop at a time - a situation one hopes won't be replicated in Idaho.
Life in the real world When Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter recently got sick, he went to the hospital. Many people don't have that option, writes Boise Weekly editor Rachael Daigle.
Cheers & Jeers Cheers to Idaho Public Television and the taxpayers who fund it for continuing the three-decades-long tradition of broadcasting statewide political debates. Jeers to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter for skipping the debate.
Good signs for local economy With all the news lately about government budget cuts, layoffs and recessions, it's important to be aware that there are positive economic signs - in the Treasure Valley as well as nationally.
Ward misfired JEERS to Republican congressional candidate Vaughn Ward for a series of campaign mis-steps and mis-statements. CHEERS to Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa for backing Washington State's defense of its public records law.
An Arizona-style immigration law in Idaho would be a mistake If state Sen. Mike Jorgenson has his way, Idaho will soon treat illegal immigrants - or anyone suspected of being an illegal alien - just like Arizona does.
Rex Rammell, reluctant revolutionary? Rex Rammell says he doesn't advocate civil war. But he also says that, if need be, he would mobilize Idahoans to take up arms against the federal government.
Arizona's bad example It is an alarming prospect for those who value freedom: An authority figure, with the full weight of law behind him, demands your identification. Based on what? A hunch? The presumption of innocence no longer applies.
Coach Pete deserves contract extension The Boise State University football coach's $8 million dollar contract extension has some higher ed supporters screaming for a penalty flag.
Wall Street covers Crapo's bills if not his vote With votes on financial regulatory reform now occurring in the U.S. Senate, it's not yet time to say whether U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo is pursuing Idaho's interests or those of the financial contributors to his campaign fund. But that day is not far off.
There aren't enough good guys watching the bad guys Due to layoffs and furloughs of Department of Correction personnel, more than half of inmates at state prisons aren't being continuously supervised. Hopefully, that won't result in more inmate escapes or violence amongst prisoners.
Back to Iraq — Idaho's 116th gets the call once again It's been almost six years since Idaho's citizen-soldiers deployed to train in advance of their 10-month mission in Northern Iraq in 2004-05. But it's worth remembering what a significant event that was for our state.
Elected to make tough decisions Voters can't have it both ways. You cannot choose people to manage your city and its resources and then, when they do something you don't like, demand that they put that one issue up to a public vote. You elect them to make the hard decisions, and if they don't, you fire them in the next election.
Removing archaic words is sensible One of the less contentious issues the Idaho Legislature dealt with this past session was removing a series of words from Idaho code that a growing number of people would find offensive. Included in that list were words such as "retarded," "lunatic," "idiot" and "handicapped."
The dropout rate: Here is the key statistic: One is one too many The way we measure and quantify the dropout rate is important - but not as important as what we do to encourage kids to stay in school. By any yardstick, even a low dropout rate is unacceptably high.
The dropout rate: Here is the key statistic: One is one too many When political leaders grade Idaho's schools, they have long taken comfort in one point: The state's graduation rate is among the highest in the nation.
What good is grammar if a student can't write? When the Legislature cut education funding this year, the State Department of Education decided to axe the writing and math assessments. Doing so will save the state some money, but at the expense of a valuable learning and assessment tool.
Starving state government? That's the taxpayers' call What’s $250 million, give or take? Well, let’s see: It’s roughly what the state of Idaho will spend on higher education next year — including for community colleges. And it’s 71 percent more than the budget for the Idaho Department of Correction.
There's no federal dirt in Tea Party's anger Tea Party rallies around the West drew hundreds, and in some cities, thousands of protesters angry at federal spending and health care reform. But the Tea Party of today is no Sagebrush Rebellion staged against President Clinton's federal land policies.
Distracted legislators ignore distracted drivers Before he began campaigning for Congress full time, state Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, helped kill the radical idea that anyone who text-messages on a cell phone ought to do so when he's not behind the wheel of an automobile.
Idaho is losing the folks who keep state government running The Legislature adjourned on March 29, leaving administrators of state agencies to deal with the fallout from the sweeping budget cuts it mandated. Not so fast, ladies and gentlemen.
Budget cuts have grown painful State and local entities in one of the reddest of red states have always been lean. But two years ago, budgets started getting leaner. And now, there’s little or no fat to cut for many public bodies.
Giving up raises makes good election year politics Being a member of Congress is a pretty cushy job. You get a $174,000 paycheck, loads of perks, fabulous government-sponsored health insurance and (well, for a few years at least) job security.
As school field trips dwindle, Herrett must think outside the box Big yellow school buses keep the Herrett Center for Arts and Science in the black. But in the wake of historic cuts in state funding for education, many school districts are eliminating or reducing field trips. That’s a problem for the College of Southern Idaho’s museum and planetarium because students on school-sponsored outings comprise about half of its visitors.
Vaughn Ward opens the door, blames the messenger Yes, it does matter where Vaughn Ward's wife works. It is not the campaign issue. But it is a campaign issue.
Ward lives off the government. So what? Republican congressional candidate Vaughn Ward is a hypocrite.
He bashes government while he draws an income from it.
None of that should disqualify Ward from representing Idaho in Congress.
Allegiant Air gives Twin Falls travelers a choice CHEERS: To Allegiant Air, for its plans to become the second scheduled commercial carrier at Joslin Field, Magic Valley Regional Airport.
Who will fly to the rescue of 'angel investors'? The government should not discourage investment, even under the well-intended premise of financial regulatory reform. However, language in the bill could clip the wings of so-called "angel investors," people who put up money for startup companies.
Who will fly to the rescue of 'angel investors'? Investors with smarts and guts - and, it goes without saying, bucks - will help pull Idaho out of a stubborn recession.
The government should not discourage investment, even under the well-intended premise of financial regulatory reform.
Cheers & Jeers Cheers to the folks who showed up for the Idaho Falls Tea Party rally. Jeers to the Idaho Democratic Party, which will compete for just more than half of the state's 105 legislative seats.
Have your say on local school bond levies (see poll at right) The Idaho Legislature cut the state's public education budget by 7.5 percent this year. If there ever was a time school districts could make a valid case for needing money, this is it. If you want to help offset that lack of state funding, this is your chance.
Access denied Jeers to Idaho Freedom Foundation Executive Director Wayne Hoffman for refusing to say where his organization gets its money. Cheers to Idaho Conservation League Program Director Justin Hayes for leading the fight to limit how much mercury gold miners can pump into the atmosphere.
Idahoans need another option for pain control Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, recently announced plans to introduce medical marijuana legislation during next year's session, provided he's re-elected to an eighth term in November.
Wolf groups, pro and con, aren't that far apart on ideals The federal agencies that deal with wolf issues should sit down with the pro- and anti-wolf groups and broker an agreement. Contains letters exchanged by the Defenders of Wildlife and Western Wildlife Conservancy and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Twelve years, no debates: Crapo ducks out Sen. Mike Crapo declined to meet his sole GOP opponent, Weiser real estate agent Claude "Skip" Davis, in an Idaho Public Television debate scheduled for May 16.
Should Idaho legalize medical marijuana? The Press-Tribune editorial board presents the best arguments on both sides.
Pssst. Can you run for Idaho Legislature? True, incumbents usually prevail in their re-election campaigns. But when they have opposition, they are compelled to explain their records and voters are empowered.
Idaho voters should have more choices for president U.S. Magistrate Ronald Bush ruled that Idaho's election laws are unconstitutional and unfairly biased against would-be independent presidential candidates.
Apathy takes a holiday for 2010 Idaho elections Whether you like their politics or loathe them, Idaho's Tea Parties have transformed thousands of apathetic Idahoans into involved citizens.
An advocate for openness The Spokane Spokesman-Review's Statehouse reporter - Betsy Russell - is a passionate, proven - and persuasive - advocate for the public's right to know.
Otter isn’t showing real, true leadership Gov. Butch Otter could not have been happy to arrive at his office last week and find Mike Moyle sitting in his chair with his feet up on the desk.
UI, WSU good values for out-of-state students The University of Idaho and Washington State University exist primarily to serve the students of their respective states, but students from anywhere can benefit from the great educations they offer.
Why businesses relocate in Utah instead of Idaho Politically, Idaho and Utah are two peas in a pod - conservative, pro-business, entrepreneurial. Yet given a choice, businesses relocating or expanding look to the Beehive State more often than to Idaho. How come?
In Idaho, 'conscience' trumps moral judgment Allowing the state of Idaho to interfere with a dying patient's final wishes was a mistake.
'Fun' not over yet for state legislators State lawmakers faced an uphill battle in January as legislative sessions opened in Boise and Olympia and budgets were about to be assaulted from every angle.
Idaho's schools are hurting, and teachers can't fix that Idaho’s 115 school districts will be working with $128.5 million less in state money next school year, but many parents and most patrons won’t notice much change. Classes will still be taught. School lunches will be served. Buses will continue to run morning and afternoon. Football games will still be played on Friday nights.
Otter can sip, swallow or chug-a-lug tea Idaho Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter wants the Tea Party people to go for him. But just how far is Otter prepared to go for the Tea Party?
Legalizing medical marijuana means legalizing all marijuana If the polls are correct, the voters of California are about 6 1/2 months away from legalizing marijuana. That will be a mere formality. Pot is already as easy to find as cigarettes in the Golden State.
Minnick is a puzzling tea party favorite In trying to emphasize its political independence - making Rep. Walt Minnick its lone Democratic pick - the Tea Party Express really helped Minnick cement his image as an independent in a conservative congressional district.
Tea partiers' rhetoric just plain taxing Funny how the tea party folks decided to get together Thursday in Friendship Square - you know, a public, taxpayer-funded city park.
Who's watching mortgage lenders? In Idaho, very few Jeers to the Legislature for providing the Idaho Department of Finance with only enough money to employ five examiners to monitor 751 lenders. Cheers to Justin Hayes of the Idaho Conservation League for forcing Nevada to make its mercury emissions reduction program mandatory.
Are park volunteers in it for the long haul? The Brother Speed Motorcycle Club might be a well-intentioned group with a passion for helping to preserve Thousand Springs State Park.
Cherry picking Jeers to the Lewis-Clark Tea Party Patriots for cherry picking which parts of the Constitution it follows. Cheers to Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed for touring 25 colleges and universities and urging students to vote and get involved.
Idaho's governor not the only Gem State export to Washington Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter traveled to Spokane to speak at a Tea Party rally on April 15, where he no doubt represented "frugal Idaho" well. Given that businesses are fleeing Idaho to set up shop in "tax-and-spend" Washington, Otter needs to look at what businesses really want and need: a well-educated workforce and a superior transportation system.
Labrador fires campaign manager State Rep. Raul Labrador failed to meet fundraising goals and has let campaign manager Max Hunsacker go.
But Labrador, R-Eagle, says he's still close in the May 25 GOP primary for the 1st District U.S. House seat against front-runner Vaughn Ward.
Some local decisions are just, well, local Big-box retailers routinely leave one location in favor a new and larger building a few miles away.
Too isolated to lead? The Butch Otter of today does not resemble the swashbuckling figure of yesteryear, writes Dan Popkey.
Taxes aren't everything in attracting business Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter will be in Spokane, Wash., today, speaking to a Tax Day Tea Party rally. Maybe he should do a little business recruitment on the side.
Big step up for child care Retiring state Rep. George Sayler spent the better part of eight years putting state licensing on the legislative radar. What he might have lacked in getting enforceable standards enacted, he more than made up for in an informal awareness campaign that extended from Twin Falls to Bonners Ferry.
Teachers will have to share the pain of budget crisis Meridian school administrators are short on money and short on options. Cutting teacher pay is unpleasant, but at this point, it's unavoidable. And it is a scenario that is likely to repeat itself in districts across the state.
Good sign, but times still lean Even though state revenue for March came in $15 million above projections, agencies at all levels of government need to keep spending austere for the time being - and be certain to carefully examine spending priorities as revenues improve.
Idaho seeks gray clouds in a silver lining The preliminary March revenue report showed the state taking in $15 million more than expected, suggesting that large cuts the Legislature made to public schools, higher education, social programs and government in general may have been deeper than necessary.
Luna's timely decision on dialing back testing Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna has done a lot of things right this year, but his decision to pull the plug on two statewide tests may have been his finest hour.
Lewis gets a third term, but nobody's talking Last month, when Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter reappointed Micron Technology Vice President for Legal Affairs Rod Lewis to a third term on the State Board of Education, he did so without explanation.
Symbolism vs. hard work on health reform Sen. Mike Crapo is no grandstander, so it's surprising that Idaho's senior U.S. senator has attached his name to a bill to repeal health care reform.
Idaho colleges no bargain for needy kids No matter which side of the Idaho-Washington border students find themselves, they're going to pay more to attend college. But only in Washington can a good number of the neediest students count on getting support from their legislature.
Cheers & Jeers Jeers to those who, under the cover of darkness, managed to infect Easter Sunday with a recruiting pitch from the Aryan Nations. Cheers to the eastern Idahoans with the guts to speak out about the Aryan Nations' recruitment efforts.
Nixing tests a good way for Idaho to save money Statewide standardized tests not only cost Idaho a lot of money, they aren't necessarily the best way of letting students and their parents know about a student's progress.
When solid citizens leave citizen politics Idahoans pride themselves in having a citizen Legislature, where part-time politicians bring unique perspectives and rich life experiences to the job of governing. But the job may not pay enough to keep good people from leaving - or, from running in the first place.
Don't collect taxes. Starve government instead Not collecting taxes from online retailers may please some GOP members' "starve the beast" philosophy of government, but it's unfair to mom and pop retailers from whom sales taxes are collected.
Idaho lawmakers not always fair with words Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed into law Tuesday a bill that would strike "retarded," "lunatic" and similar words from some 73 state laws. But why wasn't the same concern paid to tribes' efforts to remove the word "squaw" from Idaho's place names?
College fees: Families will pay more, so the state can pay less Fees will rise by more than $400 at all Idaho college campuses this fall, and don't kid yourself. These fees are heading upward, and they aren't coming back down. Not when the economy rebounds. Not ever.
For Allred, a good poll could be a bad poll The last thing Democratic gubernatorial challenger Keith Allred wants in April is a poll that scares the Republican political machinery into hyper-drive.
Idaho places mentally ill in difficult situations The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's 2011 budget for adult mental health care is set at $18.9 million, about $3.4 million less than the 2009 appropriation, putting key services to this group at serious risk.
Health and Welfare's mission impossible Legislators and state policymakers have been telling H&W Director Dick Armstrong and his colleagues that they must make do with much less. Then they remind Health and Welfare of everything it can't cut, all while the queues at its offices are lengthening with the unemployed and the sick.
Want to be a legislator? You probably can't afford it Because of low pay, a lot of Idahoans are not in a position to serve in the Legislature, which leaves the state's citizens with a deliberative body that skews heavily toward age and profession.
Lawmakers draw mixed bag Faced with terrible cuts to important programs including public schools, colleges and universities, health and welfare and many others, lawmakers successfully balanced the budget. It was hard work that deserves an A. However, lawmakers stymied bills that needed to pass and spent a lot of time to "send a message to Washington, D.C.," that won't really make much difference. That takes their mark for the session as a whole down to a B-.
Idaho's budget cutters are just getting started As bad as this year's budget cuts were, the next series will be even worse. It will take even deeper slashes to make the budget work in 2011-2012 - and Idaho's economy may not become sufficiently robust to begin repairing the damage until mid-decade.
Mixed marks for a tough legislative session If there were ever a winter of discontent in the Idaho Legislature, this was it. Idaho's storm-tossed economy produced diminishing returns in tax collections, forcing lawmakers to make the most difficult choices in years. So how did they face up to the challenge?
Simpson hears radio static over wilderness Wilderness opponents are looking to make Rep. Mike Simpson's Boulder-White Clouds proposal into an election issue.
Wolf-hunting season worked, thanks to Fish & Game Cheers to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, for deftly managing Idaho's first wolf-hunting season. Jeers for Idaho's slapdash and inadequate public defender system.
Savoring the wisdom of the original social media In an era of gadgets and gimmicks, it's a pleasure to be reminded of the simple wisdom found in the original social media, the letters to the editor.
Butch Otter, Mike Crapo have big leads, pollster says A new poll gives Republican Gov. Butch Otter a 2-to-1 lead over Democrat Keith Allred in Otter's bid for a second term. The poll by Rasmussen Reports says 60 percent of Idahoans approve of Otter's job performance.
Cheers & Jeers Jeers to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter over a fundraising letter that contains the usual election-year bloviating. Cheers to Idaho House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, who killed a bill that would have exempted Yellowstone Bear World from paying its seasonal employees less than the minimum wage.
Legislature misses another opportunity for Idaho During the just-completed 2010 session, the Idaho Senate unanimously approved a measure that would help the state capture millions of tax dollars annually from online shoppers, but the House Revenue and Taxation Committee killed the proposal.
Don't look now, but AARP's a political force in Idaho There are 180,000 American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) members in Idaho, and the organization may have found a wedge issue in the "conscience" bill passed by the 2010 Legislature, especially as it relates to "end-of-life" issues.
No fooling: Legislature gets back to work? The Legislature will reconvene April 1 for a one-day special session, voting on a non-binding resolution titled, "The 10 Other Things We Really Dislike About the Federal Government."
A troubling pattern The choices made by Gov. C.L. 'Butch' Otter during the 2010 legislative session will have lasting impacts, writes gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred.
Firing nurses at the height of flu season More and more homeowners who may owe more on a mortgage than their house is worth are appealing their property tax assessments, but with shrinking staff and resources, the Idaho Board of Tax Appeals is having a hard time keeping up.
Budget cuts, fed-bashing, unfinished business On Tuesday, Republican legislative leaders held down the pig that was the 2010 session, while Gov. Butch Otter slathered on the lipstick.
Has Otter lost his groove? Gov. Otter used to be refreshingly unpredictable. From his sympathy for decriminalizing pot in the '70s to casting one of three Republican votes against the Patriot Act in the 2000s, he was daring and principled. Now he sounds disconnected and wimpy.
Clapping for themselves The 2010 legislative session ended appropriately Monday, with lawmakers passing another meaningless memorial telling the federal government to get off our backs.
Legislature dropped ball on texting Despite widespread overall support among legislators, an attempt to make it easier for law enforcement to penalize drivers who text behind the wheel died as the session came to a close.
Otter can talk change but he can't deliver it Idaho Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter has the answer to health care reform angst: Amend the U.S. Constitution. But the reality in Congress and other state legislatures suggests the votes to actually do so are lacking.
Does the GOP want to be the party of no, no, no? GOP-dominated legislature should have spent less time on non-binding memorials over health care and more on economic issues.
From bad to worse next legislative session? The Idaho Legislature quit Monday after one of the most anguished sessions ever, having cut general fund spending 19 percent in two years. Unless the economy starts improving fast, next year could be worse.
If anybody can out-Utah Utah, Idaho can In just one session, state lawmakers have railed at the federal government's health care, gun regulations, law enforcement and abrogation of state's rights. No, that's not Idaho; it's Utah.
Merit pay for the troops, not the generals The legislature's GOP leaders want to give state elected officials a hefty pay raise while mandating furloughs and pay cuts for teachers and state workers.
Idaho AG Wasden steps up on Land Board issue Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden did the right thing Wednesday when he filed a lawsuit asking the Idaho Supreme Court to block a state Land Board policy regarding rents for cabins and vacation homes built on state-owned lots on Payette and Priest lakes.
Devil's still in details of aquifer management Bill to create a small, voluntary fund for farmers and others to chip in to, if they wanted, in order to protect the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer almost killed by House.
When money and ideas are scarce While hunkering down on the budget, Idaho leaders have put critical thinking on hold and are now governing by mantra: state agencies, like families, must live within their means. The soft economy is our enemy. The federal government is our enemy, too.
Idaho should get more for public land leases The state should be collecting the highest return possible from lakeside cabin leases on its endowment lands so it can further invest in Idaho's education program and our future.
If Wasden wins health care suit, Idaho loses Despite claims of health care reform opponents, the newly-enacted laws and policies will most likely cost the state budget less over time, not more.
Our polarized legislators: Why never the twain shall meet Idaho has a rich tradition of lawmakers working across the aisle to get things accomplished, But today, most Idaho legislators don't talk much to those with whom they disagree politically. Ideology - driven by the national divide between Democrats and conservatives - tends to isolate.
The daily dosage of health reform criticism Idaho's US Senators and Representatives follow the national GOP script in their reactions to the health reform bill.
Serious legislation deserves serious consideration Jeers to the Idaho House and Senate for rejecting bicycle safety bills. Cheers to the House for putting the Idaho Education Network in better hands.
Even more legal drama: Idaho vs. Idaho It's bad enough Idaho politicians are suing Uncle Sam over health care. Now they're spending your money suing each other when Attorney General Lawrence Wasden went to the Supreme Court to seek higher leases at 522 cottage sites on Priest and Payette lakes.
Teenage sex age-of-consent bill creates dilemma One shouldn't expect prosecutors to favor a bill that removes a statutory "weapon" from their arsenal, but this is a weapon they shouldn't have in the first place.
All who appreciate Idaho's wildlife should help support it Although there are many Idahoans who enjoy the access to wildlife the state's 32 wildlife management areas offer, only hunters and anglers help pay to maintain those areas, and lawmakers should have approved the bill that would have required folks who hike and boat in those areas buy a $10 conservation permit.
Cheers & Jeers Jeers to three leading Idaho Republicans for their selective outrage concerning the federal deficit. Cheers to Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden for asking the state Supreme Court to set aside a Land Board decision to give sweetheart deals to folks who rent cabin sites on Priest Lake and Payette Lake.
Privacy in Idaho depends on who you are Privacy doesn't seem to matter for those folks who need a little help, such as Idahoans on public assistance or children that need medicine. But hunting and fishing license information must be kept from the public, according to the state Senate.
State should get clear of landlord role at lakes Idaho attorney general Lawrence Wasden is taking legal action aimed at raising the rent for state-owned lots on Priest and Payette lakes.
Majority Leader Mike Moyle could become House speaker by year's end Idaho House Speaker Lawerence Denney's habit of delegating to subordinates has unleashed ambition in the ranks that could cost him his job.
Obama and Democrats did Idaho a favor Health care reform ought to save enough state-funded Catastrophic Health Care Fund dollars to pay for the lawsuit Otter and lawmakers plan to wage to strike it down.
Corder’s livestock management, animal cruelty bills deserved a better fate Bills regulating Idaho's emerging swine and poultry industries and toughening the state's animal cruelty laws were killed by legislative committees this week.
House should bring rape law into 21st century Idaho's overburdened criminal justice system has better things to do than send kids to jail for having sex.
House Speaker Lawerence Denney sticks to his guns by not playing favorites The House Speaker, a Republican from Midvale, applied to the Weiser Ambulance District the same tough-on-taxes mentality that has frustrated advocates of local-option taxation authority across Idaho.
Bulletin: Idaho GOP wins legislative control This just in from NBC News: With no votes cast and no ballots counted, the network forecasts Idaho's Republicans have won control of the state Senate.
Colleges do what they must during hard times Idaho State University has proposed a major restructuring plan to deal with large budget cuts, but many of its faculty are crying foul, leading to a major crisis at the eastern Idaho campus.
Luna goes out of his way to turn down pay hike Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna told a House committee he didn't want a pay raise for himself as long as the state's public schools are barely keeping their heads above water.
Otter makes headlines, but Simpson get things done Last week, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed the Idaho Health Freedom Act into law. Meanwhile, the governor's former House colleague - Rep. Mike Simpson - introduced a bill to help lessen the burden of EPA drinking-water regulations on small towns. Most likely, Simpson's bill will be more useful than Otter's bit of political theater.
Idaho needs to be clear, fair with teen sex laws Sen. Brent Hill is pushing a bill that would make it so 18- or 19-year olds who have consensual sex with slightly younger teenagers wouldn't be at risk of being charged with felonies and labeled sex offenders.
Governor digs deep for savings, but ignores audit. Why? An audit says that from January 2007 to September 2009, Idaho spent $6.8 million holding prisoners past their tentative parole dates. The Governor says any potential cost savings from keeping to scheduled release dates don't justify putting children and communities at risk.
Idaho right to fight mandate The Legislature and Gov. Butch Otter gained national attention last week when Idaho became the first state to enact a law opposing the health care overhaul moving through Congress. They are right to take the lead in preserving states' rights.
Come to Idaho and join in our struggle Otter touts low taxes in invitation to Oregon and Washington businesses to move to Idaho. But surveys say businesses care about finding trained and qualified workers more than anything else, and cuts to education budgets may mean there will be fewer of those trained workers than ever in the future.
Republicans already swamp Democrats in 2010 races Prognosticators had predicted more retirements and challengers for this year's elections, but May's primary ballots will include the names of most incumbents', and fewer than expected challengers.
A pay raise disguised as a pay cut? Only in Idaho Jeers for a bill to raise the salaries of state constitutional officers while ordinary state workers see furloughs and pay cuts; Cheers for a bill that would require high school athletes who suffer head injuries to be tested by a doctor or trainer before returning to games.
License to use certain state land wasn't wise If a bill in the Idaho House had passed, you would be required to buy a permit to go hiking, biking and watching critters in a Wildlife Management Area. Fortunately, it didn't pass.
Idaho communities can't wait, hope for recovery, but must plan The report issued this week by the Brookings Institution confirms what Idahoans have known for months: the state isn't rebounding as quickly from this recession as in the past, and communities must work together to bootstrap themselves out of the slump.
Cheers and Jeers Jeers to U.S. Senators Risch and Crapo for supporting a failed effort to ban federal earmarks. Cheers to JFAC for its decision to spend $1.8 million for more auditors to collect unpaid income taxes.
What chutzpah Jeers to the people who lease Idaho's 521 cabin sites at Payette and Priest lakes. The state Land Board hands them a sweet deal and they're threatening to sue.
Governor should veto health care 'conscience' bill Governor Otter should refuse to sign bill that would allow nurses or pharmacists the right to refuse to give care they find morally objectionable.
Earmarks do more harm than good in the long run Earmarks seem like a good way for a member of Congress to send money home where it will do good. In reality, the earmark game is a feeding frenzy at taxpayers' expense.
The Treasure Valley faces a long, uncharted path to recovery The Brookings Institution study released Wednesday is a sobering forecast of the Treasure Valley's, and Idaho's, ability to recover from the current recession indicating that, unlike in previous recessions, the region will not be able to build its way out of this one.
Idaho places symbolism ahead of substance Defending the just-passed Idaho Health Freedom Act in court will be expensive and likely result in a publicly funded lesson in the federal Constitution's supremacy clause.
Time’s just about up to file your candidacy Fed up with the way government is operating? Here's your chance to do something about it: file to run for elective office.
Idaho's budget will claim its silent victims Spend less money on prevention and you'll end up paying more later. That's the theme of this year's string of Idaho budget cuts to mental health programs.
Wolf hunters need to go back to the basics If hunters truly believe wolves are decimating elk herds, they will have to get off their four-wheelers and out of their vehicles if they want to catch up to the elusive creatures and help protect their big-game prey.
Why did Idaho let things get so bad at ICC? Idaho officials should have stepped in to correct the problems at the state's only privately run prison long before the American Civil Liberties Union filed its multimillion-dollar lawsuit over conditions at the prison, but now the state should take immediate action to rectify those problems and reconsider whether Corrections Corporation of America should be allowed to continue to operate in Idaho.
Time to get serious about Net sales taxes The House should pass legislation that would allow Idaho to participate with other states in crafting an agreement to collect sales tax from online vendors.
Getting it right A bill that would exempt Yellowstone Bear World from paying part-time employees minimum wage should get further vetting and discussion before it's acted on by the House.
A bit too cautiously, Idaho targets tax cheats Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter and lawmakers on the budget panel have agreed to spend more money to collect delinquent taxes. Good for them.
School districts' account books online? Not a bad idea As far as most patrons are concerned, school district finance in Idaho is a cipher, so a bill that would require school districts to create searchable databases of their spending is a good idea, even if it has to be put off until next year.
If Parks and Rec cabins pay fair rates, others can Idaho's plucky Parks and Recreation Board has been able to do what the state's top elected officials have not - collect what it's owed for leased cabin sites.
Governor's staff isn't helping further his causes Gov. Butch Otter wants to save one of his favorite projects, a statewide broadband network connecting public schools, universities and businesses. He'd do well to protect the Idaho Education Network from his own staff.
Jon Marvel a dedicated conservationist who is his own worst enemy Jon Marvel's Western Watersheds Project has done the lion's share of reworking the environmental aspect of grazing, but his outspoken, take-no-prisoners way of furthering the agenda has earned him a lot of animosity. A column by Rocky Barker.
Smith's sensible compromise on urban renewal reform Twin Falls Rep. Leon Smith's legislation that gives the public and cities a firmer hand on the reins of urban renewal agencies without gutting their ability to carry out their intended missions deserves serious consideration.
Has Boise become Sacramento-North? Idaho budget writers could always take solace from one fact: No matter how bad the situation got in Boise, it couldn't compare to the headaches in Sacramento. But with its latest Medicaid proposal, JFAC appears to be borrowing the California legislature's bag of budget tricks.
Help needed to keep IdahoPTV running The JFAC vote to keep IdahoPTV funding in place is good news, but individual viewers will have to step up their donations to ensure the long-term viability of the statewide public television network.
Idaho grants exemptions to the sales tax that are worth more than the taxes it collects. Idaho can't pay for the schools and services it wants. The issue of sales tax exemptions is complicated, and change won't be easy. That's why we have to get started.
How much longer can Idaho colleges stay competitive? With the exception of the community colleges, Idaho higher education is drifting. Another round of serious cutbacks for the fiscal year 2012 might produce damage that's irreversible. Making the college system we have more relevant and useful will require intellectual capital, imagination - and a whole lot of money.
Risch got his tax shift, Otter got the shaft Much of the grief Gov. Otter is now enduring over the public schools budget stems from a 2006 tax shift engineered by his predecessor, a shift that moved basic public school support from the property tax and replaced it with a one-cent rate hike in the sales tax.
Idaho bills trample on principle of open records Gutting public records law ought to be a last resort, not the first. Bills to restrict information about CAFOs and hunting licenses have it backward.
Meet the new reps, same as the old reps? The Statehouse has an unwritten but well-established career path. After slugging it out for a time in the crowded, 70-member House of Representatives, it's common for an ambitious lawmaker to "move up" to the 35-member state Senate.
Meet the new reps, same as the old reps? The Statehouse has an unwritten but well-established career path. After slugging it out for a time in the crowded, 70-member House of Representatives, it's common for an ambitious lawmaker to "move up" to the 35-member state Senate.
Animal bills worthy of passage Mountain Home Republican Sen. Tim Corder has proposed a pair of bills dealing with animal cruelty. One would make cockfighting a felony and toughen the penalty for animal abuse. The other would create a livestock care standards board.
The Humane Society likes the first, but not the second.
Voter identification bill would provide mild deterrent A bill that would require voters to show identification has drawn mixed reaction.
Animal bills worthy of passage Mountain Home Republican Sen. Tim Corder has proposed a pair of bills dealing with animal cruelty. One would make cockfighting a felony and toughen the penalty for animal abuse. The other would create a livestock care standards board. Both bills are worth passing.
Idaho's prisons can't spend faith-based budgets Next year, Idaho will spend about $3 million less on its prison system. So the legislative budget-writing panel decreed last week.
Of course, that's based more on faith and hope than reason and facts.
House-Senate feuding harms taxpayers' interests Sometime in the next two weeks, state Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, will vote on appropriations bills that will result in the layoffs of hundreds of state employees, the elimination of millions of dollars of taxpayer funding for public schools, and a higher education budget that will result in near-double-digit increases in tuition, effectively pricing many Idaho kids out of college.
The wrong bill and the wrong path to reform Senate Bill 1303 was a morass of "flashpoint" measures aimed at combating illegal immigration, and the Idaho Senate rightfully killed the bill.
Health care conscience bill is fair and logical "Conscience" bill would allow health providers to live by their consciences while making sure everyone has access to legally-protected services.
Unanswered questions Requiring voters to show photo identification seems, at first blush, a reasonable way to deter fraud. But questions about how it would affect turnout or apply to absentee voters should be answered before such a bill is approved.
In Idaho, medical miracles cost too much Idaho has been providing up to $18,000 a year to help adult cystic fibrosis patients get the medicines they need. Last week, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted to end the subsidy completely.
User fees: A tricky - and politically volatile - issue Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is a self-proclaimed “user-fee guy.” In his libertarian heart of hearts, he likes to see folks who use state services pay for them.
Whether by design or by necessity, he’s increasingly getting his way.
User fees: A tricky - and politically volatile - issue Increased user fees, whether for college students or public parks visitors, run a real risk of putting the public's resources beyond the public's means.
Keep records public, for the benefit of the public Government should strive for transparency, instead of using "personnel matters" as a catch-all excuse for secrecy.
'Gov. Mike's' antics reflect on his boss Coming off a lackluster first term, Gov. Otter is about to ask Idaho voters for a second. How he handles his alter ego - Department of Administration director Mike Gwartney - in the coming months will tell you something about what may happen in the next four years.
Skip on ahead: Early graduation bill makes sense The idea of early graduation has been gaining momentum lately and Idaho could potentially take the lead if the legislation is approved.
Idaho needs to remember its pledge on wolves A week ago, as the season entered its last month, hunters had bagged only 162 wolves, 58 short of the allowed 220, and now the director of the Department of Fish and Game is saying more aggressive wolf management is needed. But a higher target would cast doubts about the state's commitment to maintaining a sustainable wolf population.
Idaho strikes another blow for closing public records Transparency took another blow this week when a bill to make the names of hunters and anglers exempt from Idaho public records requests was approved by the House.
Christmas in spring - political filing season For political junkies, today begins the 10 filing days of Christmas. Sometime after 5 p.m. on March 19, Idahoans will know exactly who is running for what.
As Idaho prisons overflow, another state lockup stands empty South of Boise a $50 million, 432-bed drug- and alcohol-treatment prison stands empty because Idaho's budget crunch has left no money to operate it.
Local control best amid cuts The legislative budget-writing committee's decision to cut public school funding by $128 million for the upcoming fiscal year is a bitter pill to swallow, and it's hard to see how the state's classrooms will weather through without some ill effects.
The knives are out for Idaho's schools Last year's schools budget was a mere toothache. With the cuts JFAC approved this week, next year will hurt like a root canal.
Otter supports solving a problem he created Lawmakers outlawed severance packages in 1993, but some state workers received payments into their pension account as an incentive to retire early. The Governor supports a bill to outlaw the practice.
Nasty or naive? These days, it's both This has become a season of unappreciated politicians expressing their disappointment at not being sufficiently appreciated. Is there something to this complaint?
Childhood vaccines: A shot in the arm This week, the Senate passed and sent to the House a modest bill to do a better job reminding parents when it's time to get their children immunized.
Market will decide if college fee hikes work Idaho's colleges and universities are raising fees, laying off employees, and cutting course offerings. Market competition will ultimately determine whether these decisions help or hurt enrollments at particular institutions.
Cheers & Jeers Jeers to GOP JFAC members who voted to kill funding for the state's adult cystic fibrosis program; Cheers to the state senators from eastern Idaho who supported a bill that would require all sales tax exemptions be periodically reviewed by the Legislature.
One 'yes' vote, one 'heck no' vote The voter ID bill makes sense. Voting for members of urban renewal agency boards on a countywide basis does not.
Sucker punched JEERS to JFAC's anti-teacher agenda; CHEERS to two north Idaho senators for voting against the so-called "freedom of conscience" bill.
Bike-safety bills deserve to be passed The Idaho Legislature can help advance the cause of safety by passing four reasonable, common-sense bills addressing bicycle safety. But first, the bills would need to get a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee.
The budget crisis will hit home, next school year The Legislature's 20 citizen budget-writers surely understand the implications of the public schools spending plan they approved Wednesday.
Why don't fees concern today's students? Tuition and fees at Idaho's college and universities are about to escalate at double-digit rates. Current student leaders usually go along with proposed increases, but no one is speaking on behalf of high school students who will have to pay these new fees.
The ax falls hard on Idaho public schools We've known since the Legislature convened on Jan. 11 that the cuts coming to Idaho public schools in the 2010-11 school year would be hard to take. On Wednesday, we found out just how hard.
Fed bashing an 'Olympic' sport for Idaho lawmakers Idaho legislators have got things under so much control they have time to throw a federal government-bashing festival in Boise to impress the states-righters throughout the Gem State.
Questions for leadership State leaders feel picked on by the media for making tough budget decisions, but why haven't some alternatives to deep cuts been seriously considered?
A bad day for patients, a good day for lawyers A Senate-approved bill designed to cover all medical conscience issues - emergency contraception, abortion, stem-cell research and treatment, embryonic cloning, end-of-life care - is a lawsuit waiting to happen if it passes the House and is signed by the Governor.
Compassion? Don't look for it here, Butch Speaking to the Idaho Press Club last week, Gov. Otter contended some newspapers have portrayed him as relishing the role of budget cutter but said, "It's not fun." Whatever the governor's experience, it's not the job of the press to give politicians a break.
Idahoans ought to be up in arms over immunization rates Third-world countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka have higher immunization rates than Idaho for diseases like measles and polio.
Otter needs to have thick skin to govern With an election looming, massive state cuts in the making, and the recession continuing, Gov. Otter has suddenly taken notice of the media and doesn't like how he's being portrayed.
Legislature’s ethics policy has worked fine, so far Idaho ethics rules allow a lawmaker to vote on issues in which they have a possible conflict of interest, as long as they disclose that up-front. Parma Republican Sen. Melinda Smyser Smyser did that before she changed her mind — and her vote — last week regarding a bill to ban dissolvable tobacco products.
Gwartney's problems are Otter's problems With a friend like Mike Gwartney, Butch Otter doesn't need enemies. The governor's hand-picked choice to run the state's Department of Administration, Otter's longtime confidant has become one of his political liabilities.
Let's get smart about poultry before chickens arrive With California's adoption of stricter welfare laws for farm animals, that state's poultry industry could begin to migrate to places like Idaho, which could learn some important lessons about what to do - and not to do - from the nation's No. 1 poultry producer, Arkansas.
Imagine that, Butch - politics is a rough 'sport' Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter pleads for compassion for the hard budgetary decisions he's had to make, but there are a lot of ways to obey the constitutional mandate to balance the budget, and they don't all include gutting education or doing away with public television.
Government enrichment of workers is bad politics In difficult economic times, Idaho can't afford to fund sweetheart early-retirement pension deals for favored employees while other agencies struggle to perform important services with inadequate funding.y.
Idaho's governor admits he'd like some compassion Gov. Otter has learned that cutting a government he's always said was too big is harder than he figured.
The precarious politics of paper and plastic A sampling of Idahoans - online contributors to the Efficiency.Idaho.gov Web site - are urging the governor to impose a tax on plastic grocery bags. The idea deserves a look.
Vote switch on tobacco pushes limit of credibility Legislator whose husband is a tobacco lobbyist votes against bill to bar dissolvable tobacco lozenges, strips and sticks from being sold in the state.
BSU explores the magic of the marketplace Boise State University asks for changes in state tax law to allow a private company to finance and build a $50 million, 900-bed dormitory on the campus.
Privacy, openness need balance Although there are few reasons to make public records private, issues of personal and family safety do provide a reasonable rationale to consider whether public safety officers' or hunting license-holders' names should be out for public display.
Hidden hero of school funding In voting against state Supt. Luna's request for $52.8 million of additional funds from the state Land Board's endowment, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden was following his constitutional duty.
Smart spending: Save teacher jobs, put pay raises on hold School districts will get fewer dollars, but more discretion, from the 2010 Legislature. Key lawmakers, state schools Superintendent Tom Luna and education groups have agreed on several ideas to shift money out of mandated programs, for one year, to add to districts' pot of "discretionary" money.
Cheers & Jeers Cheers to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter for sticking up for retirees and taking a common-sense approach to protecting air quality in the Treasure Valley. Jeers to the eastern Idaho Republicans who supported the PERSI cost-of-living cut.
Budget writers make wise choices JFAC deserves credit for the approach to spending it hammered out last week. It takes into account the economic realities of the times and helps the state adhere to its constitutional obligation to balance the budget. At the same time, it makes things easier on education.
None of the public's business? Well, actually it is There are legitimate exemptions to Idaho's public records laws, but proposed bills on public information related to CAFOs, officers of the courts, and hunting licenses don't meet the legitimacy test.
Land Board should get more from prime property The state not only should be getting more than $4 million a year from the prime real estate it leases along the shores of Payette and Priest Lakes; it is legally obligated to do so.
Protecting public records Idaho's public records law is loaded with (mostly) defensible exemptions. But special interest bills for additional exemptions appear to be solutions in search of problems that don't exist.
Idaho open records caught in the crosshairs In their quest to prevent harassment of wolf hunters, lawmakers are considering an overreaching, misguided closure of public records.
Pension blowup threatens short session for Idaho Legislature A botched vote on killing a 1 percent cost-of-living increase for PERSI retirees creates bad blood - again - between House and Senate.
After the deluge: What's next for Idaho gov't? If Idaho's legislators and executive officers don't take the time during the present crisis to fundmentally re-think the role and purpose of state government, then any major budget increases in the future will simply waste the taxpayers' money.
Don't give university presidents too much power The State Board of Education wants to beef up the authority of the institution's presidents to include wage reductions of tenured and nontenured faculty and some staff members. That power does not belong directly in the hands of the presidents.
Consider charter cap bill carefully Idaho charter school advocates have long pushed the state to lift its cap on the number of new charter schools it allows — six. They’ve had State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna in their corner, too.
That dream could be closer to becoming reality.
Coeur d’Alene Republican Sen. John Goedde has proposed a bill that would lift that cap — sort of.
Consider charter cap bill carefully If lifting the yearly cap on new charter schools can help the state better serve kids who really need it, while also helping the state get federal grants, it's worth consideration.
Create savings in corrections before cutting education A significant number of Idaho inmates will tell you they don't belong in prison. A small number of them are right - particularly when you consider the cost of keeping them there.
Burley lawmaker Wood sticks his neck out for the public good Years from now, when your community has improvements to an airport or a new hospital, or lower municipal electric rates than the neighboring town, you can thank state Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, and his legislative colleagues for their political courage.
Government secrecy, not a wolf, is at the door One of the best ideas ever to come from Idaho was the state's public records law. It presumes you have access to government records. Access keeps the process honest. The system is constantly under assault. In the two decades since the law took effect, legislators have tweaked it here, trimmed it there.
Now, they're trying to pull from public view the name of anybody who purchased a hunting or fishing license or game tag.
Buy a Coke, save a park? It could happen in Idaho Is a park still a park if it has a corporate logo on it? That’s a question New Yorkers are asking these days — and soon perhaps Idaho as well.
Its purse empty, higher ed seeks a bank account Every time Idaho lawmakers slice into the higher education budget, the cuts become permanent. When the good times return, the money doesn't.
The funding valleys and the spending peaks continue the same downward trajectory, which puts pressure on programs and student tuition.
Redistricting? Why Idaho's reapportionment system works Idaho voters got it right in 1994. That’s the year they approved a constitutional amendment to create a bipartisan citizens’ commission to handle legislative and congressional redistricting every 10 years and to remove — as much as is possible — politics from the process.
Now a politician wants to put politics back in.
Cutting retirees' COLAs a bad move Idaho's retired state employees spent years of their careers paying into a fund they presumed would help support them in their later years.
But this year, some Idaho lawmakers think those retirees' cost-of-living pension raises should be cut to save the state some cash.
The F-35 is a good fit for Idaho State and local leaders have made a strong case for the F-35 project, and we support it.
Critics have raised noise concerns that should be taken seriously - and must, ultimately, be resolved by Air Force and local officials. And we must note, again, the irony that some of the state's conservatives have set aside their skepticism about Uncle Sam in the interest of chasing a lucrative federal project.
GOP stumbles, but Democrats drop the ball Watching Idaho's dysfunctional legislature try to yank a meager 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment from retired public workers teaches a couple of things.
Republican leaders hear what they want to hear. But Democrats wouldn't know how to seize an opportunity even when it's right in front of them.
Could Nike swoosh into Idaho? Nike founder Phil Knight is hopping mad at $727 million in tax increases on corporations and the wealthy in Oregon. Idaho leaders long to catch their rich neighbor's eye.
Let’s get more kids on child vaccination registry Idaho is second-last in the nation when it comes to getting its kids immunized. A proposal to change the state's child immunization registry policy to get more kids on it would likely raise the state's ranking.
Cheers and Jeers Jeers to the State Affairs Committee for voting against a 1 percent cost of living increase for retired state and local government employees. Cheers to the Idaho congressional delegation for standing up for discounts enjoyed by senior citizens and disabled public land users.
Education enterprise State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna ran on a platform advocating that schools be run like a business. If that's really the goal, here's how to do it, explains columnist Arthur Kull.
Picking sides Last week Idaho schools Superintendent Tom Luna persuaded the Idaho Land Board to drain an extra $22 million from an endowment reserve account to soften the budget hit on public schools. This week, he derailed a proposal to pump more money into it by raising rents on state-owned lakeside cottages.
Land Board is skirting constitution Former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Marilyn Howard responds to editorial comments on her opposition to the recent state Land Board decision to draw down reserve funds for school support.
Texting and driving is a dangerous combination Banning texting while driving isn't a personal rights issue so much as a personal safety issue; a proposal to do so should be supported.
Selling land could soothe Idaho’s lease headaches Tenants who lease state-owned lots on North Idaho's Priest Lake will have to wait another month to learn how much the Idaho Land Board plans on charging them beginning next year. Ultimately, the state should get out of the vacation-rental business altogether.
At some point, a backlash is coming over state cutbacks The political pendulum swings, even in a one-party state. And with the insistence - especially by the GOP leadership in the House of Representatives - on unprecedented reductions in the size of state government without seeking ways to mitigate the damage, Republicans are assuring that it will swing faster.
Butch Otter's budgeting - Version 2.0 Gov. Otter says he'd like to get agencies such as Idaho Public Television, the Human Rights Commission and the Parks and Recreation Department as close to self-funding as possible, but claims that he wasn't serious about zeroing them out completely.
Olympia eschews Boise's budget games In Idaho, politicians determine the anticipated revenue for an upcoming budget year; in Washington, an independent commission makes the forecasts. Whatever the accuracy of either approach, there's much to be said for divorcing politics from the business of predicting tax revenues.
Sundown for sales tax exemptions? That's a great idea The combined exemptions and exclusions from Idaho's sales tax now total more than the taxes collected, an absurd situation given the state's financial condition; lawmakers should give serious consideration to proposed legislation that would require such exemptions and exclusions to be reviewed at least every five years or to sunset all exemptions as of Jan. 1, 2012, unless specifically extended.
A bad track record It's not just the recession that is forcing legislators to cut school budgets, writes columnist Mary Haley. School budgets are being cut in favor of tax favors for the wealthy.
Is help actually on the way for higher ed? Higher education seems destined to endure even more budget cuts for 2010 and 2011. Proposals for new scholarships and a rainy day fund are designed to help Idaho's colleges and universities find their way to a more sustainable future.
High school is more than dollars and cents To help trim the state budget, Rep. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, is proposing a bill that would encourage students to complete their coursework and graduate from high school early, potentially saving the state up to $100 million.
Idaho can't fix immigration mess; that's Congress' job Without true national immigration reform - something that's eluded Congress for decades - Idaho's efforts to enforce immigration law will come to nothing.
Texting bill would help keep Idaho roads safer Caldwell Sen. John McGee says texting while driving is as dangerous as driving while drunk. He's right.
Looking into the crystal ball, with a partisan eye In a party-line vote last week, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee accepted a set of low-end revenue forecasts for the next 16 1/2 months, rejecting the forecast of the state's longtime chief economist, who continues to forecast an uptick in state revenues.
Wasden sticks to principles on school funding In votes on state cabin leases and the proposal to draw down the Public Schools Earnings Reserve Fund, Idaho attorney general Lawrence Wasden has demonstrated he's consistent in his approach to managing the state land endowment for maximum long-range returns.
A politician's conflict too obvious to miss Sen. Jeff Siddoway, and sheep rancher, contends Fish and Game's wolf hunting quota of 220 was too low. The question is: Too low for hunters or too low for sheep ranchers?
Dairy industry wasn't always against local control Now that some counties have asserted their right to regulate dairy operations' effect on local water systems and the environment (a right upheld by the Idaho Supreme Court), the dairy industry is fighting back with a bill that would restrict a county's regulatory authority.
Boise's game isn't Powerball, it's lowball Last week, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) officially assumed that state revenue over the next 18 months will be $200 million less than what other forecasters are predicting. Is their forecast misguided, or are they secretly hoping for a surplus that they can apply to business and personal income tax reductions?
A license to picnic? You've got to be kidding Midvale Republican state Rep. Judy Boyle wants the Legislature to make Idahoans buy a $10 conservation permit to picnic or bird-watch on state lands now maintained with revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.
House bill a waste of time and money Idaho's economy is in shambles. Deeper cuts to K-12 and higher education are inevitable. State agencies are being consolidated and closed. The Legislature's response? A bill that would require Idaho to sue the federal government over any health-insurance mandates handed down as a result of national health-care reform.
Voters should OK big-ticket local improvement district items Eagle Republican Rep. Raul Labrador has introduced a bill in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee that would require voters to approve local improvement districts to pay for big-ticket items.
Cheers & Jeers Cheers to three-fifths of Idaho's Land Board for voting to release $22 million from an endowment fund reserve account in order to boost K-12 funding. Jeers to former Superintendent of Public Instruction Marilyn Howard for not helping current Supt. Tom Luna fight for additional public school funding.
A sensitive and sensible update to state law Sen. Les Bock (D-Boise) proposes a bill to replace five words and terms that still lurk within state code: "mentally retarded," "mentally deficient," "handicapped," "lunatic" and "idiot."
Raw-milk dispute reveals covert culture One of Idaho's most powerful businessmen has allied with an underground movement of raw-milk drinkers to take on the biggest force in Idaho agriculture - the $2.1 billion dairy industry.
Blowing It JEERS to the Land Board for only approving $22 million in endowment funds to help cover cuts to K-12 funding. CHEERS to a Garfield-Palouse High School senior for receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Looking behind the labels A bill to remove "archaic" words such as "Mentally retarded" from Idaho code may be this session's most interesting legislation, but cuts to budgets that serves the developmentally disabled will arguably have a more harmful long-term effect.
State should keep IDLA, phase out IPTV funds Bottom line: Idaho Public Television is no longer a vital role of government. Idaho Digital Learning Academy is.
Haggling yields a half measure for schools The Land Board gave public schools another much-needed $22 million Wednesday. It wasn't the $52.8 million state schools superintendent Tom Luna wanted. And it won't do much to forestall deeper cuts to school budgets next year.
Boise bridges a schism in Indian country Maintaining tribal control over law and order on an Indian reservation while at the same time respecting the constitutional rights of nontribal members demands - but seldom gets - the wisdom of Solomon. So it's going to be settled at the legislature in Boise.
State Land Board shortchanges Idaho schoolkids The state Land Board voted to give public schools only $22 million of the $52.8 million that Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna had requested from the state school endowment funds. That means, in effect, deeper cuts in teacher salaries, the math initiative and transportation.
Obama's budget sends mixed message on nuclear power President Obama spoke out in support of new nuclear power plants in his State of the Union address and recommended a $36 billion increase in federal loan guarantees for new nuclear power project in his 2010-2011 budget proposal; the same budget contained no money for continued work on a national nuclear waste repository in Nevada's Yucca Mountain, a stance that suggests politics is once again trumping science on federal policy.
Idaho voter fraud? What Idaho voter fraud? House Majority Leader Mike Moyle has introduced legislation that would require voters to show a valid picture ID before casting their ballots. But with no history of voter fraud in Idaho, this is a solution in desperate search of a problem.
Early grad plan worth serious consideration Reps. Steve Thayn (R-Emmett) and Branden Durst (D-Boise) have proposed the Master Advancement Pilot Project, which would provide financial incentives for high school students to graduate early and attend an in-state college or university.
Tom Luna’s land fund idea should get serious scrutiny On Wednesday, the Idaho Land Board will address a very important question: Should an additional $52 million be taken from the endowment reserves generated by state-owned lands and investments to offset a huge budget cut planned for education? The answer isn't obvious.
The feds: a kindly uncle — or nuisance of a nanny? Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter took a strong stance against the federal government and its spending habits during his State of the State speech four weeks ago, but he talked a different story Monday when he urged the federal government to give Mountain Home Air Force Base and Gowen Field the new F-35 fighter jet mission.
Merger saves money, keeps important work alive When Idaho Gov. Butch Otter set the Idaho Human Rights Commission on a four-year glide path to extinction, some innovative thinkers took charge. Now it looks as if the commission will be merged with the state Department of Labor and the important mission will be preserved.
Put more felons on the street? We don't think so If the Legislature cuts the Idaho Department of Correction budget more than Gov. Otter has proposed, it will have no choice but to put 250 felons back on the street. The Legislature should look elsewhere for cuts.
Luna's school plan puts Land Board in hot seat The state schools superintendent is betting the state can afford to use an endowment reserve to backfill Idaho's K-12 budget. He is also wagering that he can sway a couple of Republican votes on the state's Land Board.
Another black eye for Idaho Transportation Spending $70,000 on a public relations campaign for completed road and bridge projects in the middle of vast joblessness conveys an air of indifference to the suffering.
Close Idaho primaries? That's crazy for GOP Since 1937, when open primary voting was allowed in Idaho, Republicans have dominated elections for governor, U.S. senator, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Why do they now seek to close their primaries?
State should use reserve funds In a tough year for state budgets nationwide, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction has come up with a good idea to cushion the financial blow schools may have to endure.
Luna's smart idea — tap reserve dollars to help Idaho school kids State schools Superintendent Tom Luna has hit on perhaps the smartest budget solution of the 2010 legislative session, a creative way to backfill the 2010-11 public schools budget.
Millions for subsidies, not one cent for services Idaho's leaders are all ears to any proposal subsidizing private enterprise, such as tax breaks for Micron or Cabela's, but when it's a matter of supporting public investments, such as state parks, state ears, and wallets, close shut.
Luna to the rescue of Idaho education budget State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna proposes using $53 million from the Public Schools Earnings Reserve Fund to offset up to $130 million in reductions in the state budget. He also proposes shifting $5 million in reserves in driver training and safe and drug-free schools to the public education budget.
Schools key to budget solutions Public Safety, Health and Welfare, and education together make up 94% of the overall state budget. So, state officials argue, major adjustments in education spending must be made in order to have any hope of balancing the overall budget.
Public TV too valuable for Idaho to abandon Before weighing whether to eliminate funding for Idaho Public Television, the Legislature should first weigh what would be lost.
Another loss for Otter, but a big win for Idahoans The state's Park and Recreation Board has forcefully - and swiftly - ditched the notion of unloading some of the state parks.
Idaho has chance to spend a little, make a lot It appears state officials would rather cut spending on vital state services - like public education - and let tax cheats and scofflaws off the hook by not giving the Idaho Tax Commission the money it needs to track them down and collect what is owed.
Self-sustaining state parks? We're skeptical Idaho isn't alone in its quest to make its state parks self-sustaining, as many other states in the nation are dealing with slashed budgets and rising costs. But it's doubtful Idaho will be successful in making its state parks self-sustaining, as no other state in the nation has succeeded in doing so.
Wyoming needs to abandon its ill-advised approach on wolves Wyoming's stubborn stance on wolf management has kept wolves in the Cowboy State on the endangered species list, and it may also affect how Idaho and Montana manage their wolves, which would be a shame as those states appear to have been successful in showing that regulated hunting of wolves can work.
A billion-dollar tax cut Gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell argues that just cutting across the board in state government won't solve Idaho's economic problems.
Early graduation bill worth looking at Fifteen-year-old high school graduates? You might see a few kids that age clutching diplomas if a Treasure Valley lawmaker's idea gains traction in the Statehouse.
Idaho should go after tax dodgers Nobody likes a cheat. Not even a tax cheat. Not even in Idaho. Tax cheats cost Idaho $250 million a year. If we could recoup half of that, we wouldn't need to make any cuts in the state's education budget.
The cool kids vs. curmudgeons on the streetcar The Boise streetcar proposal has divided Downtown's big hitters. Also: a proposal to limit the length of legislative sessions.
Region's lawmakers can fix backyard mess An outmoded residency law is preventing a north-central Idaho district judge from serving his region efficiently.
Idaho is failing to collect taxes while cutting education Penny-wise and pound foolish: employee layoffs and furloughs at the tax commission have kept the state from recovering revenue that might might otherwise be used to prevent even deeper cuts in essential services like education.
Events do little for taxpayer confidence Even in the best of times, $70,000 spent on ribbon-cuttings is a waste, no matter how it's spun by the governor's office.
Luna's budget focuses on today's student State schools Superintendent Tom Luna proposes using some of the surplus in the Idaho Endowment Fund, collected from timber sales on state endowment lands, to help prevent further cuts to state education budgets.
Luna faces uphill battle despite good funding idea Education is expected to take another hit this year - about $135 million. To help close the gap, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna proposes shifting about $54 million in earnings from state endowment fund reserves to the ed budget.
Two stories, one governor Two stories - the former chair of Gov. Otter's election campaign in Bonneville County switching sides to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred and the revelation that the Otter administration has spent nearly $70,000 since June on seven ceremonies celebrating road repairs - suggest Otter's re-election campaign might be in trouble.
We pay a lavish price to move a few shovels of dirt In a time of supposed austerity, the Idaho Transportation Department burned through nearly $70,000 on seven groundbreaking events to celebrate road projects.
Will Otter play Samuelson to Allred's Andrus? This year's political circumstances are eerily similar to those of 1970, when Democrat Cecil D. Andrus defeated Republican incumbent Gov. Don Samuelson. Can gubernatorial hopeful Keith Allred take advantage and do the same to current incumbent GOP Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter?
Oregon soaks rich, so bring 'em here Oregon's recent vote to raise taxes on corporations and households making more than $250,000, coupled with Idaho's deep cuts in education, social services and all state government services, gives people on both sides of the "raise taxes vs. cut budgets" issue a real chance to prove who is right.
Sirloin Row sizzles if Idaho looks out for itself Under pressure from conservationists and courts, the legislature is considering new rules for bidding on and managing leased state public lands. The cattle industry, accustomed to cheap grazing fees, is fighting the changes.
Keep Legislative Sessions to 90 Days If Idaho legislators can't make quality, informed decisions in 90 days, then voters ought to think about electing people who can.
Wanted: Ideas to save livestock center, and soon With state and private funds in short supply, the proposed $30 million livestock research center near Jerome may never see the light of day unless a solid funding roadmap is created, and soon.
Unify on immigration measures Idaho lawmakers who want tougher laws to govern employment of illegal immigrants have valid concerns. Legislators must work together to combine the best of three separate bills if they want to achieve a unified result.
A case for dollars for higher education, landing with a thud Where is the public outcry - or even public heartburn - over proposed cuts to higher ed budgets? Does Idaho believe in higher education's power to change lives and drive economic growth? Or is that cheap talk in a legislative session defined by tight budgets?
Open minds in short supply at Idaho Legislature Wayne Hammon, the governor's budget chief, says that "eliminating" the Human Rights Commission and four others is not the governor's intention. But proposals other than cutting and eliminating are hard to come by in the GOP-dominated legislature.
How to really benefit Idaho A north Idaho financial planner urges the state to re-structure benefits packages for state employees by cutting the amount of leave time employees are eligible for.
Merging of Idaho school districts worth a look Idaho Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna wants to examine public school district consolidation. It's good to see him exploring ways to cut costs in a year where funding cuts to education are all but inevitable.
Back and Forth: A state amphibian: a small gesture or giant waste of time? Statesman editorial writers Kevin Richert and Bill Manny debate whether the legislature should spend time, energy, and money designating a state amphibian.
Cities mum on local-option taxes - this year Times are so tough that the Association of Idaho Cities held its annual lunch with legislators Thursday and didn't ask for a thing.
Land Board got it right: State lands open to all Idahoans The Idaho State Land Board got it right when it decided that conservationists and sportsmen have the same right to bid on leases on state lands as ranchers; the Idaho Legislature should not overturn that decision.
Gov. Otter's initiatives are foundering on the details The governor has failed to make a case for why the agencies he proposes to de-fund should go and what should happen to the services they provide and the clients they serve.
Across the border from Idaho, a different debate and dynamic By passing a pair of ballot measures that will increase taxes on the wealthy and businesses, Oregon voters this week made it possible for its legislature to focus on creating jobs and crafting an economic strategy that will help it emerge from recession ahead of neighboring states like Idaho.
Imagining and investing, even in tough times Imagination. Creativity. Risk-taking. These are the lessons students go to university to learn. These are lessons our universities are applying to finance some new, ambitious projects, and lessons they can teach Idaho law- and policy-makers.
Otter hands state parks time, little more To preserve public ownership of Harriman State Park in eastern Idaho, Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter pledged to preserve Idaho's Parks and Recreation Department. How he will accomplish such a feat remains to be seen.
Full-time benefits for lawmakers a credibility issue In November, the state raised health insurance premiums for part-time workers. But the increase didn't apply to all part-timers on the state payroll - legislators have full-time benefits at more affordable rates.
Idaho Public Television is Government Waste The arguments once used to validate the existence of taxpayer-subsidized government television no longer hold true.
Speak up if you want to save Idaho Public Television The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee will consider the future of state funding for the public broadcaster when general manager Peter Morrill presents the agency's budget.
Bacon comes home in thinner slices A year ago, freshman Congressman Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, announced he would not seek earmarks for his district. The stance, Minnick said reflected his commitment to fiscal restraint. In a rural state that's extremely dependent on federal dollars, that political stance could have far-reaching effects.
As predicted, property taxes are inching up Four years ago as then-Idaho Gov. Jim Risch pushed his tax shift plan through a one-day special legislative session, critics predicted it would lead to another round of property tax increases. Since then, school patrons across the state have voluntarily imposed upon themselves $114.2 million each year in supplemental property taxes to support schools, about $35 million more than they were paying in 2006.
E-commerce: a large and growing tax loophole Given that this year is an election year in Idaho, it's doubtful that any legislator will have the political will to sponsor a bill closing a loophole that allows Idahoans to buy online and dodge the state's 6 percent sales tax; when Idaho's leaders get serious about tax reform, Internet sales must be on the list.
GOP has good reason for caution on budget GOP leaders are skittish, but with cause. They're two weeks into a session where the overriding question is how much the state will cut from budgets - and where to impose the pain. They seem desperate to avoid a repeat in 2011. So, on Wednesday, the Legislature's revenue projections panel slashed $69 million from Gov. Butch Otter's 2009-10 revenue forecasts, and another $59 million for 2010-11.
Will Idaho Public TV get the ax? Here's my best guess Parks enthusiasts raised cain over Gov. Butch Otter's ill-advised plan to shut down the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. On Friday, Otter blinked, patching together a plan to keep Parks and Recreation alive.
A bipartisan group of leaders wrote a sharply worded appeal to save Idaho's Human Rights Commission. On Friday, the state cooked up a plan to keep the commission going, under the auspices of the Idaho Department of Labor.
Idaho needs human rights commission It looks like there are a number of people working really hard to make sure all of Idaho's people will be protected. We hope our elected officials are included in that group.
Idaho can't afford to leave federal dollars on the table For every $1.00 the state cuts from Medicaid funding, it loses $3.75 of federal matching funds. So far this fiscal year, Idaho has lost $54 million in federal Medicaid funds; with proposed budget cuts, it will lose millions more.
Why cut public TV? State liquor is quicker If the governor wants to privatize something and raise additional revenue for the ailing state budget, he's not asking the obvious question: Seventy-seven years after Prohibition's repeal, why is selling liquor a legitimate function of government?
Idaho governor's plan saves state parks but exacts a high toll Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter announced at the end of last week that he was backing away from his plan to get rid of the state Department of Parks and Recreation, but the decision to save the agency means park user fees will rise while service at those parks will fall.
PARKS: Don't cut the funding Gov. Butch Otter in his recent State of the State address stated he wants to disband the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Department. He says he wants to do this to help save the state money. This would be a big mistake.
Director of the Department of Labor, Roger Madsen, makes another save One of the great fixers to ever serve in Idaho government has conjured another rabbit and salvaged the Idaho Human Rights Commission.
Who needs facts? Tax-cutters have faith House leaders want to cut personal and corporate income taxes. Budget experts suggest the proposal would cost the state $55 million in 2012 and $250 million by 2021, but the true believers say tax cuts will make the economy bloom and revenues rise.
Robots at work JEERS ... to the Idaho Legislature's Joint Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee for a gloom and doom forecast. CHEERS to former Idaho Secretary of State Pete T. Cenarrusa for saying Gov. Otter's plan to abolish the state Parks and Recreation Department would be a mistake.
Making the sacrifice Rather than cut schools and other vital services even more deeply, it's time for Idaho's wealthiest residents to pitch in.
Idaho must keep fight against hate Gov. Otter: Take your proposal to "wean" the Idaho Human Rights Commission off government funding off the budget-cutting table.
Part-time legislators get full-time benefits Idaho's legislators have it both ways. Though often boastful about serving in a part-time Legislature, lawmakers are full time when it comes to state benefits.
Do revenue estimates have to be political too? As if Idaho didn’t have enough problems, now even the estimate of the amount of tax revenue the state will collect through the rest of the 2010 fiscal year and for 2011 has been politicized.
Outlaw mentality doesn't work for Idahoans Rep. Jim Clark's (R-Hayden) bill to fight federal health-care reform is premature, if not unconstitutional, and is clearly a sign of a lawmaker with too much time on his hands.
Would you walk away from $23 million? With rising costs and a changing healthcare landscape, now is a good time for the legislature to re-evaluate the Catastrophic Health Care Cost Program.
Rebuilt Idaho Capitol leaves some feeling lost The new layout at Idaho's expanded Capitol is making it harder for citizens and lawmakers to interact with each other.
Congress must meet the Feb. 28 deadline on Cobell settlement American Indians have already waited far too long for the federal government to make right its mismanagement of Indian trust lands and accounts, and Congress must find time in its busy schedule to abide by the latest deadline set by the court to approve the settlement of the Cobell class-action lawsuit.
Idaho can't afford not to have Human Rights Commission Maybe Idaho can do without a Commission on Hispanic Affairs, a State Independent Living Council, a Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or even state-funded public television.
But it needs to keep the Human Rights Commission.
The Aryan Nations state cuts civil rights cops As thousands of Idahoans observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter was poised to take civil rights in their state down a notch or two by proposing to phase out state funding for the Idaho Commission on Human Rights.
Let political parties do their own fundraising Idaho provides taxpayers with a voluntary income tax checkoff, with the money helping to finance candidates for public office. Boise Republican Rep. Lynn Luker has written a bill to repeal the checkoff; it deserves bipartisan backing.
With broken lances, Idaho jousts with windmills The Idaho Health Freedom Act, sponsored by state Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle and Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, is a waste of time and taxpayers' money as it breaches at least a couple of articles of the U.S. Constitution; if those legislators need something to do, perhaps they should spend some time working with the state's federal delegation to improve the final health care bill that comes out of Congress.
Idaho Democrats have gone to the dark side The minority party legislators, with just 18 House seats and seven in the Senate, made the decision to caucus behind closed doors to maximize their effectiveness.
Luna places schools above party loyalty Many of Idaho schools Superintendent Tom Luna's fellow Republicans talk as if the current round of cuts is comparatively mild - about $27.9 million in the current school year and then another $14 million next. Luna says otherwise - that the loss is closer to $130 million.
Ah, c’mon . . . not public television The commitment of Idaho Gov. Butch Otter to hold tight to the purse strings of the state in a down economy is admirable, as a good leader should do. But the fact that Idaho Public Television is on the cutting block is too much.
Otter promises 18 more months of gloom Contrary to forecasts by the state's chief economist as well as other third-party economists, the Governor's budget assumes that business profits, employee wages and retail sales will be frozen at today's levels and that the state will yield not one dime in new tax revenues.
Avoid across-the-board cuts With plans to trim millions of dollars from the state budget, it's tempting for lawmakers to call for across-the-board cuts of a particular percentage rather than a more surgical approach. They should adopt the surgical approach.
Making Parks and Rec go away is a mistake Wall Street mogul Averell Harriman, whose family donated their 11,000-acre ranch on Henrys Fork to the state in 1961, got it right when he insisted on professional management of the property he gave to Idaho. Only that can insure access by all Idahoans to the best of their lands.
Losing taxes JEERS for Governor Otter's stand on taxes, even if it means cutting $130 million out of public schools and another 14 percent from higher education.
Cheers and Jeers Jeers to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter for his recommendation that the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation be eliminated. Cheers to Jerome Republican Maxine Bell for recognizing that Idaho Public Television has value.
The tax debate: two one-sided arguments Some Republicans want to cut corporate and personal income tax rates. Democrats propose bringing in additional tax dollars by expanding Idaho's sales tax base and repealing some exemptions.
What? GOP has plan for tax cuts It may seem odd to cut taxes when state revenues fell 15 percent last year. But some House Republicans are drop-dead serious about a plan to cut income tax rates - both personal and corporate - by about a third.
The road ahead for Luna: Public-schools partisan Twenty-five years ago, a Republican superintendent of public instruction stood before a GOP-dominated Legislature and said lawmakers weren't doing enough for the state's kids. Tom Luna, a Republican who is the current state schools' superintendent, could find himself in a similar situation.
To save thousands, Otter wastes millions Whatever Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter's reasons are for cutting public television's budget, saving money isn't one of them.
Budget: Challenges ahead for Idaho Sen. Mike Jorgenson says the guiding principle for next year's budget should be: Tighten the state's belts and ensure we still have some emergency funds set aside in our rainy day accounts.
Pay a visit to your new Statehouse The newly renovated Idaho Statehouse was officially rededicated on Saturday, and if you haven't seen it yet, make plans to do so during this legislative session.
The government takes on 'government TV' The public TV budget has been a perennially popular pinata around the Statehouse. But it has taken desperate times to force the issue - and give conservatives their bright and shining opening to stop paying for something they derisively call "government TV."
Idaho higher ed and its 'lost budget decade' Higher education is in the heart of what is becoming a budgetary lost decade: Otter's proposed $218.2 million budget for 2010-11 barely exceeds the $218 million received in 2003-04. Commentator Kevin Richert hopes, ultimately, universities wind up faring better. But they'll have to justify it.
IdahoPTV programming worth every state dollar Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's plan to eliminate annual state funding for Idaho Public Television is more than a surgical budget cut; it's a TV lobotomy.
From Otter's perch, Idaho looks different To anyone who has kept a job or run a prosperous business these last three years, Gov. Otter offers a friendly, hands-off government and no new burdens. But if you're among the expanding ranks of downtrodden looking for a hand up, Otter doesn't know you.
Otter’s address out of touch with Idahoans United Vision for Idaho director Adrienne Evans argues that the governor's budget proposals award advantage to the "haves" at the expense of the "have-nots."
Idaho ‘Pork Report’ may help lawmakers While the Idaho Freedom Foundation's "Pork Report," like any other such think-tank report, should be taken with a grain of salt, legislators should recognize that it represents the voices of many people who don't like the idea of their tax dollars paying for things such as live vulgar poetry performances.
Boise Public Television The recession has given religious conservatives and libertarian proper-role-of-government types the opportunity they've long desired: to cut taxpayer funding for "government television."
The grocery tax — a promise to keep, and a promise to fight for Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter hasn't done much to push lawmakers out of their comfort zone, but if legislators balk at finding the $15 million needed to expand grocery tax relief, Otter needs to stand up and do what's right - and what he promised.
Should we really take the public out of public TV? IPTV's future without the Idaho taxpayers would almost certainly be successful. But would Idaho taxpayers do as well without IPTV?
A wise decision There's an awful lot to dislike about Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's proposed budget for 2011. Cuts to schools and higher education are disastrous and shortsighted. But the governor deserves credit for his recommendation that lawmakers spend $1.6 million to fund the Center for Advanced Energy Studies in Idaho Falls.
Otter offers a mixed, sketchy message Short on details and long on optimism, Gov. Butch Otter presented a strange view of the state's budget crisis in his 2010 State of the State address.
Otter the incrementalist just getting by Gov. Butch Otter cut his teeth in the '70s as a back-bencher determined to dismantle Big Gub-Mint. Now that he wields real power, Otter's lost his bite.
Maybe there were worse days for Idaho; we can't think of any Monday, Jan. 11, set a new standard for Idaho: We, as a state, pulled the plug on our kids.
IdahoPTV Not Answering the Phone this Afternoon Governor proposes four-year plan to phase out state funding for the agency during his State of the State address.
Why the state needs its own college fund Too often in its budgets, the state pays for K-12, prisons and Medicaid, and then higher ed gets the leftovers. To counteract this habit, higher education should get its own "rainy-day fund," similar to the savings account that has helped public schools during this recession.
Where's the rainy-day fund for Idaho higher education? Lawmakers and Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter have been all too willing over the past couple of years to treat Idaho's college students like ATMs they can use to plug the holes in other areas of state spending. That must stop.
Idaho's governor can choose a third way Monday, Gov. C. L. (Butch) Otter will outline a budget that offers Idahoans a bleak choice: Hack away some more at schools, colleges and universities, health care programs and basic government services. Or raise some cash.
Cutting Idaho's corporate tax rate would attract companies The chairman of the Boise Valley Economic Partnership argues that Idaho's high corporate income tax rate of 7.6 percent (compared to other intermountain states) is a disincentive for companies looking to relocate to the Treasure Valley.
We must strengthen Idaho's cruelty laws For years, bills to improve Idaho's weak cruelty laws have been shot down by the Legislature's agricultural committees, due to nonsensical fears of the adverse impact such laws might have on agriculture, hunting and other animal-related activities.
It's time for a short agenda, and a short session This should be a one-issue legislative session: Balance the budgets. Minimize the damage for K-12 students, college students and Medicaid patients. Go home.
What can we expect from Idaho's crisis Legislature? The second session of the 60th Idaho Legislature convenes Monday in the most troubled economic atmosphere in generations. What follows are our hopes, and expectations, of the folks we send to Boise, and of the governor who all Idahoans elect.
The millions Idaho lawmakers leave behind Idaho is so hard up for cash that it has to reduce public school and other budgets. Yet it's leaving millions of dollars of sales tax uncollected.
Balance budget, protect schools As the legislative session approaches, it appears Canyon County's delegation has the right focus in mind: Balance the state government's budget and protect public schools as much as possible.
Lawsuits: An Idaho growth industry? There won't be many growth areas in state government these days. Gov. Butch Otter said as much Thursday.
Details to come, but Otter's budget moves appear wise We could all be unpleasantly surprised on Monday, but the early indications are that Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has handled the need to cut yet more from the current state budget adroitly.
Modest tax cut comes with a steep price Legislators should consider delaying the latest phase-in of the grocery tax credit to avoid steeper budget cuts to essential services like education.
Cheers and Jeers JEERS to Rep. Loertscher for implying Areva might not be fully committed in its efforts to build a uranium enrichment plant; CHEERS for Sen. Hill's proposal to reform the rape age law.
Pocatello legislator should resolve his DUI charge first Whether simple distraction or serious ammunition for opponents, the DUI charge against Sen. Edgar Malepeai suggests he can't be an effective caucus chairman for Democrats until he gets the issue resolved.
Legislators have to get it right this time around Addressing our very real economic problems and attendant social ones cannot be delayed any longer. Both the Idaho and Washington state legislatures should aim for immediate solutions and viable long-range planning.
Why can't irrigators pay their own bills? Idaho agriculture uses 85 percent of the water in this state. If irrigators paid the full cost of administering the use of an increasingly scarce resource, they would have a more robust Department of Water Resources to work with. And ordinary Idahoans would have millions more to spend on their schools.
Health care bill needs changes to keep Idahoans in their homes A provision in the health care reform bill that cuts more than $42 billion over the next 10 years in payments to home health care providers for Medicare patients will mean rural Idahoans with medical issues will be forced to go to nursing homes or hospitals - which will not save anyone any money in the long run - and Idaho's congressional delegation must make sure this provision is eliminated.
Are Idahoans willing to pay for their parks? People who use Idaho's network of parks don't pay for all the services they receive, so Idaho taxpayers have to make up the difference. That's tough to justify when more essential state services like education are being cut.
Idaho politics (finally) returns home Commentator Kevin Richert says there is only one People's House and, despite the tough session coming up, he can't wait to get acquainted with the new, improved, expanded model.
Spend one dollar, get another six back Whenever Idaho has invested resources toward pursuing uncollected taxes, it's reaped a substantial dividend.
State’s focus must be finances Even though economic indicators hint that 2010 will show a stronger economy, Idaho lawmakers need to keep their eyes on a lean budget when they move into the renovated Statehouse a week from Monday.
Impressive new Statehouse designed for the people Commentator Wayne Hoffman finds the newly remodeled Statehouse "impressive: exquisite but not gaudy."
Idaho at 2010: Our state's maturing politics The past 10 years' election results clearly favor Idaho Republicans, but debates on higher education and early childhood education, on transportation and tax policy have thankfully transcended simple partisan boundaries.
IDAHO'S BUDGET CRUNCH - A downturn collides with growing demands Even during the depths of the current recession, Idaho's population continued to grow, intensifying the pressure on Idaho's basic services such as schools, colleges, health care, and prisons.
Good for Luna for not lifting charter school cap Until there's a comprehensive study of charter schools, the lid should stay on the number of new schools allowed each year.
This isn't the time for another tax cut Before even considering any tax cuts, Idaho's legislators should answer some basic questions: Are Idaho's income tax rates indeed too high? Is the corporate tax really a roadblock to business growth? If so, is there a trade-off? Can the state rescind some of Idaho's 70 or so special-interest sales tax breaks that do nothing to grow a 21st century economy?
As state education spending dwindles, property taxes go up Three years ago, the Idaho Legislature shifted taxes by increasing the sales tax to 6 cents while providing property tax relief. Now, as lawmakers seem on the brink of cutting significantly more of the education budget, the property tax is making a comeback.
What Does Wayne Hoffman Have Against Big Bird? Despite the blogger's allegations, Idaho's arts and public television are not being supported on the backs of cystic fibrosis patients.
What Boise could learn from Olympia Last week, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire detailed how balancing the state's $2.6 billion budget deficit by simply slashing programs would appear. Then she outlined her plans to seek $700 million in tax increases and where the money would be spent to rescue programs now on the chopping block. Idaho governor C. L. (Butch) Otter should study the example of his neighbor to the west.
Cheers and Jeers: Cut it out Jeers to those lawmakers who suggest fighting the recession by cutting corporate income taxes, and to State Board of Education members who voted for double-digit college fee and tuition increases. Cheers to former Idaho Secretary of State Pete T. Cenarrusa on his 92nd birthday.
State calls a time out — thanks to Uncle Sam Several months ago, state schools superintendent Tom Luna was in a big hurry to expand Idaho's charter school network.
If this isn't a financial crisis, what is it? Idaho's State Board of Education has granted its public college and university presidents limited authority to impose furloughs and cut salaries for tenured faculty. But the budget hole requires a bigger, more permanent fix - downsizing - which can only be achieved if the state board declares a financial exigency.
Arts funding isn’t just government waste Artist Teresa Burnett argues that cultural expression, including publicly-funded arts programs, enrich our communities and also draw tourism and commerce into local areas.
The lid comes off the cost of higher education Thank goodness for the College of Southern Idaho Foundation. For some students next year, it's going to be the difference between going to school and not.
Allred closes one void, creates another Keith Allred, founder and head of the Common Interest, a nonpartisan citizen activist organization in Boise, announces he's running for Governor.
Agriculture can pay for its own research Shouldn't the money to keep the University of Idaho's research and extension centers come from Idaho's ag producers? After all, who benefits from research yielding seed potatoes or table grapes?
Budget choices go from bad to worse What is the last thing Idaho's colleges should do during a recession? How about pricing students out of the market? Or driving away quality faculty or staff?
Budget ax will fall on Idaho's public schools Through budget cuts by the Legislature and a series of holdbacks by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, the 48 percent of Idaho's state budget not devoted to public K-12 education has borne the brunt of budget reductions. And there's little left that can be cut.
Idaho Land Board should sell off contentious cabin sites The 521 cabin lease sites along Payette and Priest lakes have been a problem for the Idaho Land Board, with members of the board caught between a constitutional mandate to get the best return on those leases and the long-term leaseholders who have successfully pressed their case to keep rates down; the best solution for the mess may be for the state to simply get out of the summer-home business.
There's a lesson for Idaho in shift of Rural Schools funds The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, originally approved by Congress in 2000, was crafted to provide counties hurt by the loss of federal timber royalties with stop-gap funding; the new formula in the reauthorization of the act cut funding to Idaho counties, which now must focus on developing new economic bases - and wean themselves off federal funds that were never meant to be a permanent entitlement.
Arts and gov't TV: Good candidates for the budget ax Columnist Wayne Hoffman argues that Idaho shouldn't spend money on arts and public television in light of so many other competing budget needs.
The Democrats' wonkish standard-bearer is Twin Fall's Allred Idaho Democrats couldn't coax the usual suspects into running for governor, so they found a true outsider.
Cobell settlement a first step in improving U.S., Indian relations Congress and the federal courts should move quickly to approve the $3.4-billion settlement of the 13-year-old class-action lawsuit.
Idaho AG to be commended for state lease stance Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden evidenced political will few other state leaders have shown when he confronted the State Land Board over the pittance the state gets on resort real estate leases and sales, and he is to be applauded for his courage.
Short-term tax increase is better than cutting vital state services State revenues have not met levels expected when the budget was set for fiscal year 2010. And at the end of September, Gov. Butch Otter declared another budget holdback of 4 percent - almost $100 million. Basic services - public schools, higher education, public safety, health care and other safety-net services for the working poor - are in danger of being slashed to catastrophic levels.
Encouraging novice economists As of Wednesday afternoon, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's new interactive website - http://efficiency.idaho.gov, where citizens can suggest ways to balance the state's budget - had received 338 suggestions, ranging from the sublime (getting rid of Idaho's unused and grossly expensive death penalty) to the ridiculous (eliminating PBS).
Vox pop: Idaho citizens insightful about hard times Citizen suggestions submitted to Gov. Otter's new interactive website (http://efficiency.idaho.gov) show that Idahoans are willing to sacrifice. Are their legislators and their governor listening?
Why has Sweeney's chair stayed empty? North central Idaho has lacked its own voice on the state transportation board since Bruce Sweeney died of cancer Aug. 18.
Can we afford Idaho's public health system? Could Idaho's seven public health districts run leaner? Probably. So like every other aspect of state government, the Legislature should take a hard look at them during the upcoming everything's-on-the-table session.
Streetcar flap doesn't justify 'fix' Taking advantage of the controversy over the Boise streetcar proposal, Reps. Mike Moyle and Raul Labrador want to derail one of the few taxing tools at the cities' disposal: the "local improvement district," or LID. The editorials posted here are provided by permission of their original publishers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Idaho Public Television. Legislative NewsGeneral Idaho News |
Idaho News MediaNewspapers and News sitesIdaho Statesman (Boise)RuralNorthwest.com (Bonners Ferry) South Idaho Press (Burley) Challis Messenger Coeur d'Alene Press Sho-Ban News (Fort Hall) Wood River Journal (Hailey) Idaho Falls Post Register Island Park News Idaho Mountain Express (Ketchum) Latah Eagle (Latah County) Lewiston Morning Tribune Sun Valley Online Montpelier News-Examiner Moscow-Pullman Daily News Mountain Home News Idaho Press Tribune (Nampa) Idaho State Journal (Pocatello) The Standard Journal (Rexburg) Spokesman-Review (Spokane and North Idaho) St. Maries Gazette Record Twin Falls Times-News Idaho Unidos Boise Weekly Idaho Business Review IdahoReporter.com NewWest.net (Boise) Broadcast MediaIdaho Public Television (PBS)KBOI TV-2 (CBS - Boise) KIVI TV-6 (ABC - Boise) KTVB TV-7 (NBC - Boise) KTRV TV-12 (Fox - Boise) KIDK TV-3 (CBS - Idaho Falls) KIFI TV-8 (ABC - Idaho Falls) KLEW TV-3 (CBS - Lewiston) KPVI TV-6 (NBC - Pocatello) Northwest Public Radio Boise State Radio BlogsEye on Boise (Betsy Russell of the Idaho Spokesman-Review)Idaho Politics (An inside look at Idaho politics and government from Statesman reporters) Commentary: Kevin Richert (Kevin Richert of the Idaho Statesman) Ridenbaugh Press/Northwest (Randy Stapilus; covers politics in ID, OR, and WA) Capitol Confidential (Times-News coverage of politics wtih Ben Botkin) |