Idaho Opinions

Indian Health Service must be on Congress' priority list next year Another year, and congressional session, has passed and comprehensive reform of the long-ailing Indian Health Service has again fallen by the wayside, a failing that Congress should immediately address in the opening days of its 111th session.
Great Falls Tribune 12/3/2008

New hope for Idaho's salmon now that 'legion of doom' leaving office In January, President George W. Bush, Idaho Sen. Larry Craig and U.S. Rep. Bill Sali will be out of their respective offices, and the opportunity for a new dialogue on salmon recovery in Idaho will begin.
Idaho Statesman 11/24/2008

Obama would do well to follow Kempthorne's example in the West As President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take the helm, he should pay attention to the lessons learned from the recently-announced Klamath River deal as well as the continued controversy over the Clinton-era "roadless rule," and follow Interior Secretary's Dirk Kempthorne's collaborative model to reasonable policy.
Idaho Statesman 11/17/2008

Congress should pass Wyoming public-lands bills this year Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Mike Enzi should do what they can to get the Wyoming Legacy Act and the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act through the lame-duck session of Congress that begins Monday.
Casper Star-Tribune 11/13/2008

Park Service's winter plan for Yellowstone simply inadequate The National Park Service should set the daily limit of snowmobiles allowed in Yellowstone National Park at 720 until a final winter-use plan is in place.
Casper Star-Tribune 11/9/2008

Western Democrats say Obama will change public-lands policies Barack Obama's administration will likely focus on climate change and alternative energy, but environmental groups hope the Democratic president will also roll back some of the Bush administration's public lands policies. An analysis.
Idaho Statesman 11/5/2008

As Election Day nears, questions about new public lands boss arise After Election Day, the next president will select a new Interior Secretary to manage the nation's public lands, most of which are in the West, and speculation abounds about just who would be on the short list.
High Country News 10/31/2008

Hysteria mustn't drive bad bailout bill through Congress Idaho's congressmen were divided on the $700-billion bailout bill that failed in the U.S. House on Monday, but it's hard to tell whether Rep. Mike Simpson's approval of the bill or Rep. Bill Sali's opposition of the legislation was correct, as only time will tell.
Twin Falls Times-News 10/1/2008

Western states in play in U.S. presidential race Voters in the Rocky Mountain West will play a pivotal role in this year's presidential race, with New Mexico leaning toward Democrat Barack Obama; Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming tilting toward Republican John McCain; and Colorado, Montana and New Mexico too close to call; issues such as energy and alternative energy are getting a lot of attention in the resource-rich region, although it's the economy that's stealing the show this campaign season.
The Guardian 9/29/2008

Picking Palin could deliver the West to McCain Republican presidential nominee John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has energized the Republican Party and that decision could capture Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and maybe even Colorado, all of which had appeared to be leaning toward Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
High Country News 9/10/2008

Idaho's roadless plan could map the way for future compromises The agreement between Idaho and the federal government on how the 9.3 million acres of federal roadless forest lands should be managed shows that there is room for compromise in the West, and Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch deserves some of the credit for brokering the deal during his seven-month tenure of governor of the state.
Idaho Statesman 9/3/2008

Congress should set up a dedicated firewise, not firefighting, fund Even though the legislation crafted to create a federal fund to fight catastrophic wildfires brought together the odd ideological couple of Idaho Republican Rep. Bill Sali and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the bipartisan effort on funding the wildfire fight should instead focus on firewise projects which could keep fires from reaching disastrous proportions.
Idaho Statesman 8/3/2008

Idaho cities need to push transit options The success of commuter rail systems in Denver and Salt Lake City could be repeated in Idaho's Treasure Valley, where higher gasoline prices have fueled a 58 percent increase in residents' use of Valley Regional Transit since October; the state Legislature could ease the way by allowing local governments the authority to raise sales taxes to help fund transit projects.
Idaho Statesman 6/10/2008

Growing urban areas change West's political landscape This year's presidential race has unearthed a rural-urban divide in the Rocky Mountain West, and neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have found a unifying message that appeals both to the rural hook-and-bullet crowd and the urban, outdoor-minded voters.
Boise Weekly 5/29/2008

Simpson's move on Idaho wilderness bill a crap shoot U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson has spent years crafting his Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act, carefully balancing environmental and economic interests, and his recent amendments to the bill could upset the fragile compromise he's worked so hard to create.
Twin Falls Times-News 5/21/2008

Snake River bill has ample protections for Idaho water users The objections coming out of Idaho to the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act of 2008 have nothing to do with the act, which clearly states that nothing in the bill would affect existing water rights in Idaho and Wyoming, but are merely machinations to wrest management of the river away from the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
Casper Star-Tribune 5/16/2008

Kempthorne should pay off his own election debt When former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne was tapped to head up the Interior Department for President Bush in May 2006, he still owed about $26,000 for his successful 2002 gubernatorial run, and you'd think with his $191,300 annual salary now he'd be able to pay off the remaining $15,000, rather than resorting to a fundraiser scheduled next week in Idaho.
Twin Falls Times-News 5/14/2008

Protecting Idaho irrigators from Wyoming rivers bill imperative The worst-case scenario for Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo's Owyhee Canyonlands wilderness bill would be if it gets tossed in with Wyoming's Snake Headwaters Legacy Act, a measure Idaho water users oppose unless an amendment is added to include language similar to that in the Hells Canyon Recreation Area Act of 1975; Idaho lawmakers must work with Wyoming's congressional delegation to ensure both bills pass and Idaho's irrigators are protected.
Twin Falls Times-News 5/13/2008

It's about time Congress saw the error of their ethanol ways The facts against corn-based ethanol haven't changed: it still takes 1,700 gallons of water and 51 cents in tax credits to create one gallon of ethanol, and it's still the case that more petroleum-based fuel is used to plant and transport the biofuel than it ever saves commuters; but it is refreshing to see some die-hard supporters finally recognizing just how wrong-headed the ethanol push is.
Las Vegas Review-Journal 5/12/2008

Congress should pass Idaho senator's Owyhee Canyonlands bill Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo has spent the last seven years crafting legislation that would protect the Owyhee Canyonlands as wilderness as well as creating a new all-hands-in process for such measures, and Congress should reward Crapo's painstaking process and give Idaho it's first wilderness area in 28 years.
Idaho Statesman 4/20/2008

Give teachers a voice After struggling over the issue of how - and how much - to compensate Idaho's public school teachers, state officials now join teachers in a collaborative process.
Idaho Falls Post Register 4/7/2008

Who knows what lurks in the minds of senators? Shortly before adjourning, the Senate voted to require voters to choose a particular party's ballot before voting in primary elections, and to authorize the state to record their choices.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 4/7/2008

Evaluating teachers key to future of merit pay plan Our view: At last, Superintendent Tom Luna is bringing interested parties to the table to develop standards for evaluating teachers in a pay-for-performance system.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/7/2008

Otter's squandered legislative session The governor is not entirely to blame for a squandered legislative session, but he sets the agenda. When the governor produces flawed ideas and then executes them poorly, there's nobody to fill the void.
Idaho Falls Post Register 4/6/2008

Legislators head home on their potholed roads Gov. Butch Otter and legislative leaders let ideology and ego stand in the way of a primary responsibility: to keep the transportation system on which Idaho's economy depends running smoothly.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 4/6/2008

Where have you gone, Phil Batt? Our view: Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has a lot to learn about the untidy business of give-and-take.
Twin Falls Times-News 4/6/2008

2008 Legislature ignores long-term needs The 2008 session went on too long and achieved too little.
Idaho Statesman 4/6/2008

Blaming Otter for road funding failure ignores complexity of politics To suggest the Governor lost his fight to boost funding for roads and bridges because of a failure of leadership not only is unfair, but misreads the facts and discounts the complexity of persuading a conservative Legislature to raise taxes.
Idaho Statesman 4/6/2008

Luna starts fresh - and well - on teacher pay New task force charged with devising a better way to evaluate teachers' performance will include members who weren't part of the discussions on pay and performance last year.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 4/5/2008

Grading the Legislature: It's a D The 2008 legislative session goes down as largely a waste of time, marred by a lack of action and an inability to unify and focus.
Idaho Press-Tribune 4/5/2008